Born Confused by Tanuia Desai Hidier

Dimple Lala just wants to be a normal American teen, but her traditional Indian family keeps putting a glitch into her ideal. Dimple wants desperately to be like her best friend, Gwyn, who is blonde and thin- very much Dimple's idea of the American girl. Gwyn, however, is trying to find her own identity and loves the traditional culture and look of Dimple's family. Just when Dimple is beginning to succeed at pulling away from her family's traditions, being Indian becomes cool. Gwyn suddenly wants to borrow Dimple's traditional clothing and accessories, and Dimple's parents find a "suitable boy" for her to meet. Dimple loves her family, and does not want to hurt them, so she puts up with meeting the suitable boy, Karsh. Karsh comes to meet Dimple and her family with his family. He does not meet Dimple's expectation for the American boy she want to be with someday. Karsh is very Indian, down to his appropriate clothes. Dimple dismisses him as a nerdy guy she would not be interested in. She soon changes her mind when she finds out that Karsh, like Dimple, has another side to him. Karsh turns out to be one of the hottest Indian DJ's in New York City. This artistic side appeals to Dimple as she herself is an artist. Dimple wants to be a photographer. She finds that she likes Karsh after all. However, Dimple has already told her friend, Gwyn, that she would have nothing to do with Karsh, and Gwyn thinks Karsh is up for grabs. What should Dimple do? Tell Gwyn that, sorry, she wants to go after Karsh after all? or let Gwyn pursue Karsh? Making matters more complicated, Gwyn and Karsh seem to be hitting it off. Suddenly, Gwyn is acting like the good Indian girl that Dimple's parents wish she would be. Dimple always wanted to just be American, but maybe it's not so bad to mix the two cultures after all. Dimple is conflicted about betraying her true self, but first she needs to figure out what her true self is. Is she purely American, Indian, or a mixture of the two?

I loved this book and was almost sad to finish it. Although she is confused about herself, Dimple stable character contrasts greatly with Gwyn's self destructiveness. The story has a great lesson in discovering that people are not always as they seem and that a person does not have to claim one single identity to "fit in" or please others. Nothing is simple in this story, and, in the end, the characters learn that is okay. The author's writing will pull you into Dimple's life, and you will find yourself rooting for her in whatever she wants to do. Hidier is very good at portraying the angst and desires that go along with being a teen.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780439510110; New York: Scholastic Press, 2003

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

In 1959, missionary Nathan Price takes his wife and four daughters to the Belgian Congo on the African continent. The story is told in turns by Orleana Price and her four daughters, Rachel, the oldest at 16, twins Leah and Ada, and Ruth May, the youngest at five years old. It is the tale of a family falling apart and a nation struggling for independence. The Price family has chosen what may have been the worst time to try to convert the people of the Congo who are suspicious of all whites as they are fighting for their independence from Belgium. Nathan Price either doesn’t get that he is putting his family in danger or just doesn’t care. For example, he is determined to baptize the people of his chosen village in the river even though it goes against their traditions and sense of safety—there are crocodiles and poisonous snakes in the river. The village is suspicious and fearful of Nathan Price, but begins to accept the daughters as children who need protection. Leah in particular begins to fit into village life as she learns the village ways and traditions. However, even she is considered unconventional as she insists on learning to hunt, a man’s task. Rachel just dreams of going back home to school dances, rock and roll, and in-style clothing. Ada lives in her own world of backwards writing and palindromes while she observes the affects of the experiences on those around her. Ruth May is the first to make friends with the village children and becomes a leader in their games. The first half of the book covers the family’s life in the village and their attempts to fit in. The second half of the book follows each family member after their escape to various locations when Congolese rebels revolt against the Belgian government. Orleana and Ada make it back to the U.S., Leah stays in the Congo, which becomes Zaire, and Rachel runs to South Africa.

Warning: This book is a page turner that is very difficult to put down! Each daughter's tale is a story in its own, and you will have trouble deciding whose story you like the most. The book looks long, but the tale flows so well that you will finish before you are ready. The author is very good at describing the Congo environment and making her readers feel as if they are there. The story takes place during real events but never gets preachy. You will find yourself looking up the history to learn more for yourself and to see if the U.S. really was as involved as described in the book. Found in the adult section.

Book; ISBN 978-0060786502; Thorndike: G.K. Hall, 1999

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

What would you do if you contracted leprosy? Would your friends and family still love you or would they be ashamed to know or be related to you? This is what Rachel Kalani has to deal with when she contracts the disease. Rachel is 5 years old in Honolulu, Hawaii when her mother first sees the tell tale sign of leprosy (today known as Hansen’s Disease). Her mother, knowing what will happen to Rachel and her family if anyone finds out, tries to hide the sore that won’t heal and succeeds for a over a year. Unfortunately, Rachel’s condition is outed at school, and the health inspector finds out. This rest is the story of Rachel’s life at the Kalaupapa leper colony on remote Moloka’I island. She is sent there at 7 years of age and raised in dorms with a group of children who also have leprosy. Rachel and the others in the colony live their lives in isolation, forbidden from ever seeing family and friends again in case they might spread the disease. Any infants born at Kalaupapa are taken away from their parents and given up for adoption so they won’t contract the disease too. Many characters in the story are based on real people, including Father Damien, who devoted his life to caring for and treating lepers until he himself contracted leprosy and died. The story follows Rachel’s and her friends and family’s lives for about 80 years. The story unravels as Rachel’s granddaughter tries to uncover her family’s mysterious ties to the island only to find out her own grandmother had been a patient and resident.

This is a beautiful book about the ways people make the best of their situation and manage to live their lives in spite of the conditions while their families back home try to pick up the pieces and move on. It is a tearjerker whose story will stay with you for a long time. It is not a difficult read although sometimes it is not clear for a few sentences when the author has switched between the story of Rachel and the story of her granddaughter. Found in the adult section.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9781429943239; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2003

Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

Secret Keeper is about Asha Gupta and her family's move from cosmopolitan Delhi to live with her uncle's family in Calcutta while her father looks for work in New York. The plan is for Asha, her sister, Reet, and their mother to join Baba (the affectionate term for an Indian father, kind of like "Dad") in New York once he finds a job. However, finding a job takes longer than expected and Asha must learn to cope with living in her uncle's house with her critical aunt and grandmother. As her family runs out of money, they are increasingly dependent upon her uncle's charity. Furthermore, this is the 1970s, and the Gupta family follows traditional Indian customs, such as arranged marriages, while Asha and Reet are ready for the changing, modern world. Soon, the family is looking for a suitable match for Reet, who is not ready for marriage. Accentuating the clash between traditional and modern worlds, Asha has met the boy next door and begins to have feelings for him while also dreaming of going to college to become a psychologist. When tragedy strikes the Guptas, they must find a way to pull together, even if that means making more sacrifices with their dreams.

This story will suck you in and make you want to read late to see what will happen to Asha, Reet, and their family. Will Baba get a job before his daughters are married off in Calcutta? Will Asha find a way to go to college? There are no easy answers for the characters in this book, but that is a part of what makes it so endearing. Perkins wrote a book that flows very well and does not waste the reader's time. There are no "long" parts to this book. Every word is important to the story. Mains themes include tradition, culture, depression, sacrifice and family.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-0385733403; New York: Delacorte Press, 2009.