Friends. Every classroom needs this book. We have not had this book yet and we NEED this book.

I loved the many thoughtful moves in this book. I loved the family in this book (and the nuanced/important/difficult conversations they had!). The message is spot on for any age but especially middle grade/ middle school. It's just spot on.

It was really hard to read at times (often) but it's because it is honest and real and depicting levels of oppression and society that hurt. They need to hurt.

I happened to especially adore some of the side characters most, and the conversations that they allowed the author to bring into the story. What does friendship that holds space for everyone look like? What does it look like to speak back to hate based on who you are/ the situation? It's complicated! To stand up for yourself (and be safe?!) to be an ally? To apologize?. To be a POC/ POC family in a particularly hate-spewing political time? What does it look like to grow together?

I will warn you that if you like food (especially Indian food) then WOW you should not read this while hungry because there are (properly) a ton of food references that made me so hungry. Well I had both food envy and outfit envy, to be honest.

Anyways. You need this book. Your classroom needs this book. This is the all class read aloud you've been looking for!!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wanted this so badly and it not only did not disappoint but it made me so grateful/excited for where authors are taking middle grade lit!

I absolutely loved this book! The character development and growth was realistic and so well done. The writing was engaging, and unapologetically bilingual, which I loved. This story is about family, friends, racism, finding yourself, and so much more. It is also unfortunately timely in the way our political climate is right now, with a lot of racism and xenophobia coming from elected officials. We see how that trickles down to your neighbors and classmates. We also see how sometimes it is hard to stick up for yourself and others. It was great to see realistic character growth, and to also see that it doesn’t always end the wya you want it to. Great middle grade novel for those who enjoy realistic, character-driven fiction.

Middle grade novel focused on racism, having pride in one's identity, and what being "American" really means. I encourage readers who are initially put off by the MC's disdain for "FOB" (Fresh Off the Boat) immigrants to push onward.

An excellent novel essential for our current times. American as Paneer Pie tackles issues of xenophobia and racism as well as the struggles of identity among diaspora communities. Despite these large themes, Kelkar expertly highlights MG universal themes such as friendship and finding your voice. Highly recommend this title.

An e-ARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.

I don’t know if I’ll ever have the words to express what I think about this book but know that I totally loved it. The premise seems simple: a young indian-american girl in a really white town, juggling between her indian heritage and the image she shows at school, an image she has because she doesn’t want the white kids to pick at her.

But American as Paneer Pie is so much more than that and I wish everybody out there would pick it up just because I tell you it’s an amazing book. I believe Supriya Kelkar wrote the perfect story to tell in a political and social context like ours. It’s a story about standing up against hate, against racism. But it’s also a love story to all the children who feel like they don’t fit because they’re parents are immigrant. It’s a love story to tell you that you can embrace your culture in a predominant white country and that you shouldn’t feel ashamed for it.

Lehka is one of the most relatable character I had the chance to read about in years. I felt in my heart everything she went through because like her, in school, I was seen — and I’m still seen — as a stranger. Why? Because I’m not white, because my name doesn’t sound white enough. And it is so absurd because I was born in France as Lehka was born in the United States. Anyway. Lehka goes through racist micro agression everyday at school. It goes from people not even trying to pronounce her name right to people asking her intrusive and dumb questions they wouldn’t ask to their white peers. This was a part of the story I enjoyed — not like I enjoyed seeing Lehka going through all of these — because the author showed that racism takes several forms. Racism isn’t just saying stuff like “go back to your country,” or “i hate asian.” Racism goes beyond that. Racism is also all the small thing you can say about someone else ethnicity, making feel bad because of who you are. Saying stuff like “but where are you really from?” “why does your food stinks?” are micro agressions we, people of color, have to go through everyday. I appreciated how the author went deeper on that subject especially in a book targetting a young audience so that it shows to kids how their words can hurt.

I said that American as Paneer Pie is a story about standing up against hate and I truly believe that. But, standing up against hate isn’t that easy. We like to think that in a situation of injustice, we’d stand up for what is right, we like to think we’d be that hero. I believe it’s a commendable way of thinking. The author showed that it isn’t always that easy. Lehka avoids confrontation, especially when someone tells her something about her indian heritage: she doesn’t correct people when they butcher her name, she doesn’t eat indian food at school for fear of being laughed at… and maybe some of you will think something like “she sould have said something” but it isn’t that easy. To be honest, I believe Lehka is far more brave than any other protagonist I’ve read about in middle grade books (and honestly, so much braver than me). She grows, going from staying silent to speaking up during a racist senator meeting.

It is always hard to speak up when a bunch of people wants you to remain silent and you’re asking yoursef if you should speak up because what’s the point when racist people will probably stay racist, right? Some may choose to remain silent in fear of repercussion, other may want to speak up, other may choose to ignore the situation… and Supriya Kelkar explores all of that.

American as Paneer Pie is such a deep story, navigating how difficult it can be to grow up in a white-dominant country. It’s a story I needed, a story that everybody should at least give a try because it’s an important one.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for allowing me to read a digital ARC of American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar. This beautifully written and thought-provoking middle grades novel will be releases June 1, 2020. All opinions are my own.

Lekha Divekar is the only Indian American kid in her small town of Oakridge, Michigan. She feels as if two versions of herself exist: Home Lekha and School Lekha. At home she loves eating Indian food, watching Bollywood movies, and celebrating Indian holidays. At school, though, things are different. Her classmates mock her birthmark, a small dot in the center of her head resembling a bindi, and make fun of her for being Indian. Then a new family, from India, with a daughter Lekha's age, move in across the street. Lekha is excited to have a Desi friend, someone who will get it. However, she soon realizes that Avantika, her new friend/neighbor, is new to America and not as like her as she thought she would be. Unlike Lekha, Avantika doesn't take the bullying at school lying down. She talks back and stands up for herself and Lekha. After a racist incident shocks Lekha's family and community, she realizes that she has to decide to either continue to remains silent in the face of racism and bullying or to find her voice and stand up for herself, her family, her friends, and her culture.

There is so much to love about this middle grades book. First, Lekha's voice is honest, pure, and raw. Her struggles are real as she navigates the prejudices of her small town and learns the power of her own voice. Lekha's story brings to light the horrible reality that many Americans face on a daily basis: racism and xenophobia. Many middle grade readers are not familiar with this topic and this novel is a great way to introduce it and start discussions. While not all middle grade readers will be able to relate to the fear and anxiety connected to xenophobia, many will be able to connect to Lekha's struggles to fit in at school. Some might even see themselves in other characters, like Liam or Aidy, and realize something about themselves and how they treat others. I love that though this book is about a serious topic, it is approached with humor and heart. The characters and relationships are real and relatable. I love how the title plays into the novel and that the author includes a recipe for paneer pie. Overall, I think this is an accessible, well-written, and engaging middle grade novel that I can't wait to add to my classroom library. I think it's perfect for those who loved Amina's Voice or Other Words for Home.

A lovely, heart-felt story that does a brilliant job of looking at everything from friendship to racism from the very believable perspective of an eleven year old.

Lekha is a great middle grade heroine. She's smart, funny, and trying so hard to both be herself and to fit in - at home, at school, and at swim practice - that the reader is pulled right into her story and can't help but cringe and cheer along side of her. Her pain is easy to connect with, her missteps are real and oh-s0-relatable, and her triumphs are just the right size to make any reader see that growth, change, and forgiveness is possible.

Great supporting characters - including present and realistic parents - round out this story and make it one of my current favorites.

A must read!

Beautiful, accessible writing. I would gladly share this book with a wide range of readers. Really nicely done.

This is a coming of age book geared for readers ages 9-12. The novel is about fitting in and the extra challenges youth may face when their families come from different ethnic backgrounds in a predominantly white, mid-western small town. Our protagonist must make her own journey toward acceptance before she can learn to stand up for herself and others. American as Paneer Pie is unique, adorable and a timely read.

Lekha was an Indian-American living in a small town an hour away from Detroit. She was used to fielding racist comments from her classmates and microaggressions from teachers, and instead of confronting them, Lekha has ignored them and tried not to attract attention. So when Avantika moves to town and started challenging the casual racism, Lekha feels both conflicted and exposed, yet also happy to have someone else who can share her love of Bollywood movies and Indian food.

More casual racism pops up throughout town as a local politician runs a senatorial campaign on an eerily real-life "us versus them" platform. And Lekha also qualifies for a competitive swim team, whose team members quickly urge her to be more "American" and ditch Avantika.

I'm East-Asian, not South Asian, but so much of what happens to Lekha and her family resonated with me. I admit to acting just like Lekha's mom on occasion, trying desperately just to keep her family safe in a world that seems increasingly hostile and dangerous. Yes, I've used curbside groceries for the reason her mom did! Lekha's path to speaking her truth was monumental, filled with kindness, and so very brave. I feel that this is an important book, and I will definitely buy a copy for my children.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.