An excellent story about dealing with misconceptions and prejudice, learning to appreciate yourself and your culture, and being proud of who you are. American as Paneer Pie will be an excellent fit for kids who like Front Desk or Amina's Voice!

Indian-American sixth-grader Lekha is really two people: shy "School Lekha" and outgoing "Home Lekha." When her new neighbor turns out to be a girl her age who has just moved from India, Lekha is worried that they will be lumped together and made fun of at school. Lekha's friend and neighbor Noah wants to write op-eds about injustice and standing up for what's right, but has a hard time putting words into action when it comes to standing up to bullies on his or Lekha's behalf. But Avantika is more confident than Lekha (or Noah); she easily corrects people who mispronounce her name, and talks back to kids who try to make fun of her. Meanwhile, Lekha has finally made the Dolphins swim team but has trouble navigating the waters with her white teammates - Harper, Kendall, and Aidy - some of whom make fun of her and whose families support the anti-immigrant candidate for senator. At last, a hate crime spurs Lekha to write her own op-ed and deliver it at a town hall event with the senator.

What a fabulous and timely book! I love the whole story, the characters, and especially the word play! The descriptions were amazing- I was constantly hungry while reading this book!

I enjoyed reading this book! I love reading diverse and inclusive middle grade books and look forward to sharing this book with students and coworkers.

Beautiful. Truly was perfect from the very first pages to the last. I am a sucker for a shy girl standing up for herself so when Lekha did it was beyond perfect. I didn't expect to connect to her so much but the thing about not correcting people when they say your name wrong - that is me till this day. I find my name so easy to say but I always get Andrea... Of course, I connected with her shy nature because that's totally me as well. I loved how much Lekha grew as a person and all that she learned. Her friendship and biases regarding Avantika brought on great discussions that can be easily be used with any American born and Immigrant families within the same culture. Everything this book was, was perfect.

A relatable and poignant story of a young girl learning to find her voice.

Lekha is an Indian-American girl living in small town outside of Detroit. She loves competitive swim, silly puns, Bollywood films. Readers will empathize with her as she learns to balance her true self at home and school. Lekha learns to speak out against racism and stand up for herself with hope, humor, and heart. Highly recommended!

I wish I could have read this book when I was a young teen. I really struggled sometimes with my desire to fit in and be as "American" as possible instead of appreciating my own culture. I like how the MC gains the courage to stand up for herself and her friends and to be proud of her heritage. Highly recommended.

Supriya Kelkar has a way with her words, as it was so easy to connect with Lekha from the first few pages. Lehka is an Indian-American girl who feels like she can't blend her two different lives together. She was born in the US, but her home life is 100% Desi. When she goes to school she doesn't blend in, instead she is teased. A rude white boy named Liam calls her "Dot" because of her bindi birthmark. He also makes unruly remarks about her smell, and she just can't seem to get away from him. Not only does she have problems at school with her culture, but she also does in her community. An anti-immigrant white lady is running for Congress and is known for her phrase "Don't like it? LEAVE". Lehka is always running into issues with finding her voice and her identity. What I love about this story is how Lehka slowly, but surely overcomes her identity struggles and finds the power of her voice. The beauty from seeing her from the beginning to the end is special. Kelkar has many cultural references that I know readers who can relate to Lehka will enjoy, and will even intrigue readers who may not know what bhel or paneer food is, or even Bollywood movies. I had to do some research throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This will be a great read for kids in 5th grade and up.

In American as Paneer Pie, Supriya Kelkar introduces readers to a delightful, strong, and imperfect character named Lekah whose family is Desi. While this book does involve issues of discrimination and ethnocentrism, it also celebrates Lekah's culture. There are not many Desi characters who star in juvenile fiction and so children in the United States who identify as Desi rarely see themselves reflected in the books that they read. There is something powerful about being inside the mind of a character with whom you share similar experiences and a cultural identity.

Lekah wants to fit in at her school and not to stand out. She wants people to stop making fun of her name and of the bindi that she and other female members of her family sometimes wear. So when another Desi family moves into the neighborhood, Lekah is thrilled. This feeling doesn't last long when Lekah discovers that unlike her, Avantika grew up in India. Lekah doesn't want people to start thinking that they are the same.

The idea that our differences do not need to fade away into one big American melting pot is one that we have been wrestling with for hundreds of years. That we can all have our own cultures that are of equal value is hard for the majority of adults to understand, let alone children who are being influenced by popular media. Lekha's story helps every reader to see the beauty in diversity and will hopefully encourage children to fight to encourage its continued expression.

Lekha struggles with code switching between the school version of herself - quiet, studious, unseen - and her family persona - perfect Indian daughter. Then a girl from India moves into her neighborhood and Lekha starts questioning her identity and pushing back against the microaggressions she experiences. This is both a heartbreaking and uplifting story about friendship, family, identity, culture and racism that fans of middle grade fiction will devour. Great as a class read aloud, as well as for book clubs.

11-year-old Lekha is the only Indian kid in her school, and one of the few people of color in her small town in Michigan, and has been faced with acts of racism, large and small, her entire life. So far, she hasn't managed to speak up for herself, but the new school year - in which Lekha wins a coveted spot on a swim team and Avantika, another Indian girl, moves to Lekha's neighborhood - might prove to be different...

This was an interesting one.

I absolutely loved how it dealt with various intricacies of discrimination. Sure, there's the obvious school bully and the conservative politician who ignores conversation in favor of talking points, but there's also the well-meaning teacher who still embarrasses you, the authority figure who can't be bothered to pronounce your name correctly, or the best friend who you wish would realize you want him to stand up for you. The book does such a good job of showing how even well-meaning interactions can be hurtful (intent, after all, isn't magic), how multiple microaggressions can build up to be just as painful as one big thing, how political figures' views can embolden people in everyday interactions, and how, sadly, even standing up for yourself often won't change much (but it might change something, and maybe that's good enough) and there aren't any quick answers to dealing with deep-seated prejudice. The amount of nuance shown in tackling all these issues was beyond what I was expecting and I was really impressed by it.

That said, I still primarily care about storytelling in a book, and this is where "American as Paneer Pie" suffered somewhat. Specifically... oh, Lekha. Look, I'm genre-savvy enough that I knew where this was going. The young protagonist needs to face both external and, more importantly, internal prejudice in order to grow as a person and find her voice. I get it. And I get that the best characters are flawed ones. But somehow a book needs to make me want to root for them in spite of (even because of?) their flaws, and Lekha... just didn't inspire that feeling in me. I can't really put my finger on why it is or what could have made it better, but I found her unlikeable enough that I only wished her well out of a sense of duty rather than really caring about what happens in the end. More often than not, I found myself wishing I were reading about Avantika, who I kept wanting to know more about.

Also, can I please have all the Indian food right now? Every dish mentioned here sounded amazing and I want all of them.

In this own voices book,, Lekha is trying to navigate the middle school bullies, win a place on the swim team, and convince her best friend Noah to have sleepover. When a new girl from India moves in next door, Lekha learns the meaning of friendship and finds her voice. Perfect middle grade read to immerse yourself in Indian culture. I love a good coming of age story! Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I LOVED this book. It is an authentic, heartfelt story about friendship, family, and identity struggles. Lekha is a first-generation American, born in the US but completely ‘Desi’ at home. She tries to fit in at school all while dealing with racial prejudice happening in both her school and community. I loved seeing Lekha grow from the beginning of the book, to when a new Desi family comes to town, to the end, finding pride in her identity and her voice.

I loved this from an Indian perspective and learning more about Desi culture and traditions. I cannot wait to share this with my students!

Such an important book for kids to see themselves in their Indian-American culture and for others to learn about Indian-American culture. Lekha is learning how to find her voice - to stand up to kids who make fun of her birth mark, her Indian culture, and the color of her skin. She befriends her new neighbor who recently moved from India but is conflicted when her swim team wants some of her time too. A hate crime happens and she is forced to find her bravery to speak up against a new senator, who clearly is racist and wants immigrants to "go back where you came from" Middle grade readers will find their own strength in Lekha's story and learn how to be an ally and to stand up for what's right.

Eleven-year-old Lekha Divekar may be a first generation Indian American, but she couldn't be prouder of her Indian heritage, culture, and her Hindu faith. And there's nothing Lekha enjoys more than a good Bollywood movie, some delicious Indian food, and playing raas at home with her best friend Noah. But these enjoyments belong only to the at-home Lekha. At-school Lekha is a different story.

As the only Desi* in her school in Oakridge, Michigan, Lekha tries her hardest to fit in and not be noticed. But that's kind of hard when she has a dark-brown birthmark in the spot on her forehead where a bindi would normally go. This earns her the unwanted nickname Dot by a white boy named Liam, who seems to have it out for her. Each time she passes him, he asks "What reeks, Dot?" in a sneering, condescending way and insinuating that Indians smell and adding to her feelings self-consciousness. Is it the wonderful Bengali food her mother makes and that she enjoys so much, or the coconut oil she uses in her hair, or none of this and just plain racism? she wondered. His mocking only increases when Lekha makes the school swim team and Liam doesn't, making fun of her for not shaving her legs:"She needs a lawn mower." to the delight of his friends. And how does Lekha deal with these insults and other microagressions, like students and teachers always mispronouncing her name and not correcting them? "I knew exactly how loud my voice would be when facing a bully. It would be totally silent."

When a new girl moves in across the street, Lekha couldn't be happier. At last, a Desi friend at school and someone who would soon get what it is like to have two lives, an Indian life at home and an American life at school. But Avantika Savarkar may be fob (fresh off the boat), but she is also a proud Indian and doesn't care who knows it. And she is not afraid to stand up to Liam and his racist bullying. Lekha is amazed at this brave girl who speaks accented English and brings homemade Indian food for lunch, but she still wishes to just fit in and not be noticed.

When a white candidate runs for Congress on an anti-immigrant platform with the slogan "DON'T LIKE IT? LEAVE, Lekha refuses to even think about it, unlike her friend Noah. Noah has always been annoyed that Lekha refuses to speak up when she's make fun of. Even after a racist incident is directed at her family over the Christmas holidays happens, Lekha keeps her mouth shut about it and is only angry that Noah writes about it and it is published in the school paper for everyone to read.

When a violent hate crime impacts her family and people she loves, will it be enough to get Lekha to finally find her voice to speak out against the racism she and her family face day after day and stand up for the culture she loves so much?

I found American as Paneer Pie to be an interesting novel and Lekha a very complex, flawed character as she grows and changes over the course of sixth grade. She is the first person narrator and while she can sound a little whiny and self-pitying at times, readers (myself included) need to remember, racism and xenophobia aren't occasional incidents in her life. It's also the ongoing day-to-day barrage of microaggressions, like not bothering to learn how to pronounce her name, comments about smelly Indian food, a pushy white swim teammate named Aidy insisting they lost a match because Lekha didn't shave her legs, even though it was Aidy's poor performance that caused the loss.

While this is a story that nicely highlights Lekha's journey toward discovering the power of her own voice, Kelkar has included a richly detailed picture of her Indian family's life, including lots of interesting references to their culture, traditions, and, of course, food. One thing that did bother me was that there is no glossary for the many Indian reference that are probably not going to be familiar to many readers.

If you are looking for a thought-provoking, accessible novel that presents difficult but timely themes in an age appropriate way, then look no further than American as Paneer Pie. A recipe for Paneer Pie is included.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an ARC provided by the publisher, Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

*Wondering what the word Desi means? So was I. Very simply put, the online Oxford dictionary defines it as "a person of Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani birth or descent who lives aboard." Desi comes from the Sanskrit deśa meaning country or home.

I absolutely loved this story and cannot wait to get into my classroom. This book is valuable in teaching its readers about casual racism, and about another culture.

"It is no wonder that when I saw the book “American as Paneer Pie” by Supriya Kelkar I had to read it. Not only was the title encapsulating and delectable, but a quick Google search told me it addressed a crucial conversation that was tricky to navigate: racial prejudice in the classroom and beyond. Intrigued by this concept, I avidly read the novel in one sitting. By the end, not only was my mouth watering with all of the delicious Marathi dishes described, but my middle school emotions were validated."

Find more about my review here: https://www.browngirlmagazine.com/2020/07/book-review-american-as-paneer-pie-by-supriya-kelkar/

Lekha tries to be invisible at school, hiding all that makes her who she is; she is bullied by other students who make racist comments to her. She tries to avoid standing out, and does not take her favorite foods to school, tries to hide her birthmark that looks like a bindi, and creates a school version of herself. However, things change when another Desi girl, Avantika, moves to the neighborhood. Avantika stands up for herself when others bully her, and she doesn’t understand why Lekha hides. After a racist person is elected to office in their community, others feel empowered to be crueler, and Lekha needs to decide whether her continued silence is helpful or harmful.

This book drew me in and invited numerous connections to current events. It clearly shows the harm that political campaigns can do to children, especially when the politician targets particular groups of people. This is one that will serve as a mirror, window, and door (Bishop, 1990) for readers. It would be a great read aloud and book club book. I also think that teachers and pre-service teachers will benefit from reading this book.

American as Paneer Pie follows Lekha who always has struggled fitting in at school, being the only Indian girl. Then a new family moves in next door and they are also an Indian family! Finally someone understands the culture Lekha has come from, but it turns out Avantika has a very different attitude towards bullying, she does not take this quietly as Lekha always have..

Finally getting around to write a review for this, even though my video review has been up for ages. This middle-grade book is a great story with a lot of heart. Lekha finding pride for where her family comes from, discovering her voice and finding a real friend that understands her was heartwarming to read about. Her trying to fit in at school, dealing with the racism that happens in the community was heartbreaking, but still important and gut-wrenching. I think the author balanced everything that was happening in this book well. The character growth and everything Lekha goes through seems very real and authentic. It has some really great moments and hopefully lots of different young people can find joy in this book. Would recommend a lot. 4/5 stars.

This YA ARC was suggested as to-read by a couple of friends who are school librarians (middle and elementary), and their notes caught my eye as well.

A quicker read, touching in on important topics of immigration, fitting in, and prejudice, American as Paneer Pie should become a must-read in middle grade classrooms (putting on my former teacher hat too).

In American as Paneer Pie, Lekha is used to being the only Indian American kid in her school, in a suburb an hour or two away from the larger Indian American community in Detroit. As she struggles through daily micro aggressions, her only ally is her friend Noah, until another Indian family moves across the street. Avantika has no interest in putting up with her fellow classmates' attitudes and stands up for herself when harassed. After a racist event targets Lekha's family, she too must decide how to handle the community . All this is juxtaposed against a local election, targeting immigration, with a candidate whose slogan is "Don't Like It? Leave," fueling the drama between the local population.

As stated, this needs to be brought quickly into late elementary or early middle school as a read-aloud or a classroom reading choice. The issues presented are all too real and the views of characters like Lekha and Avantika need to be heard as well.