This is a heartbreaking middle grade novel about a 13 year old girl in the 1980s. She struggles between two different lifestyles, that of her American friends and her traditional Indian parents. When her mother is diagnosed with a terminal illness, she relies on her Indian folklore to help her through the grieving process. This is a beautiful historical fiction story written in verse that will be sure to leave a lasting impression on every reader.

This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read! This is 100% going to be on my top 10 books for 2021, probably even top 5. Halfway through my arc of this, I placed my pre-order for the physical copy because I knew already this book was/is going to hold a special place in my heart. I had no idea what this book was about before starting which made it even more special to me. I loved how vulnerable and heart wrenching this was. I read another review of this book that said as soon as they finished they wanted to hug their mom and I have to agree. Can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy and do a reread.

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca is a story told in verse about thirteen year old Reha who struggles in identifying who she is when she’s the only Indian student at her private school and also part of a family and community that embraces her heritage. Is she American, or Indian, can she be both?
Reha loves and adores her mother but worries she’s not meeting her mother’s expectations and chafing a bit under the weight put under her when she wants to live like her friends.
Amidst her struggles her mother, or Amma, gets sick, and is diagnosed with leukemia.
Reha has a whole new set of struggles ahead of her now, but maybe if she’s the perfect daughter it’ll be enough to bring her mother back to her.
***
This was an emotional read. As someone who lost their mother to cancer it definitely hit hard.
The verse style of storytelling makes reading this story a breeze, I found myself tearing through this book aching for Reha and wanting for things to be okay.
The story beautifully weaves Reha’s heritage into the story painting beautiful images, and I was hungry every time they talked about food. (It all sounded delicious.)
Red, White, and Whole builds a story about family, community, and friendship and how we really aren’t in it alone, even if we feel like we are. Reha gets many important lessons on that throughout the book.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Who doesn’t love to see themselves in a character? Red, White and Whole by Ranjani LaRocca introduces 13 year old Reha and her search for her place in the world. Her parents see her as a traditional Indian girl, but Reha’s heart beats to the comfort of American friends, and, importantly, American music. 80s pop music is the soundtrack for Reha’s story, told in verse. This is a compelling tale of fitting in as Reha puts together the pieces of the puzzle of her life as her Amma struggles for her own.

Thoughts: Red, White, and Whole is a book that originally caught my eye as a book that my 8th Graders would love and connect to. I have seen this parent-child struggle up close in the classroom, and many of my students would probably strongly relate to this book. The references and relationships ring true. What I didn’t expect is how much this book would speak to me, too!

This book drew me in quickly- I love the novel-in-verse style. The descriptions, characters, and storyline were clearly meticulously created, and it developed into a stunning story. While It’s not a completely new-to-me tale (think Devi Vishwakumar In Mindy Kaling’s “Never Have I Ever”, with a more serious tone), it is beautifully told and I was hooked into Reha’s story. My mom might recognize some of the 80s musical references more than I did, but that’s just me. My thoughts are that this book is sweet and relatable. Definitely worth picking up!

5 stars

WHAT a fantastic novel!

_Red, White, and Whole_ features Reha, who is endearing and round, particularly in light of the brevity of this work. She struggles with a sense of placelessness: not fitting in the U.S. and not fitting in India. Much of her attention focuses on the discrepancies between cultures and expectations, and unlike many of her literary peers, her focus is really just on defining in most cases versus privileging one over the other. Reha's relationships with friends, with possible romantic prospects, and especially with her family members are moving and meaningful, and this comes to light most obviously when Reha's mother is diagnosed with Leukemia.

There are aspects of this novel that are devastating, but I also loved it. The final message and tone - in the true fashion of works written for this target audience - are hopeful in the face of despair.

Highly recommended -

Red, White, and Whole written by Rjani LaRocca is a heart-breaking story written in lyric. This story is about Reha, an Indian-American student with immigrant parents, and her struggle to feel as though she belongs with the world around her. When her mother gets sick, Reha struggles to balance her life at home with her life at school.

The setting of this book is the United States in the 1980s, switching occasionally from Reha's past and present day. While there are plenty of music and MTV references, there also references to Indian mythology and other aspects of Reha's culture. The way the the book seamlessly travels between both aspects of Reha's identity builds a deep understanding of Reha's struggle to fit in for the reader. It is clear that she recognizes her family is different than her classmates' in a deeper way than the fact she is the only brown student at her school.

Red, White, and Whole is an Own Voices novel written by an Indian-American author. It is evident the care LaRocca puts in her stories to create meaningful representation in the middle grade fiction genre. I enjoyed learning about Reha's culture: from the food she ate, the stories she was told, and how she celebrated Westernized holidays. This book is a must for any bookshelf or classroom library.

Thank you to #NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca. All opinions are my own.

Red, White, and Whole is a novel-in-verse set in 1983. It's narrated by 13-year-old Reha, an Indian American girl, who is torn between two worlds: her immigrant community and her friends at school. Her life is conflicted further when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia, and she becomes torn in a different way.

This is a beautifully written story of heritage, identity, family and growing up. I love the novel-in-verse style which helps evoke emotion and move the narrative along. LaRocca seamlessly interweaves science and pop culture into the narrative and uses them as metaphors for Reha's conflicts and desires. I love symbolism and meaning behind the name of the novel. This book is full of emotion and by the end, I was in tears. Reha's emotions and feelings are relatable and authentic. There are a lot of 80s references. As a 90s kid, I was able to pick up many of them (though I'm sure I missed some) and enjoy them, but I feel that some may go over the head's of many middle grade readers. While they may not get all the references, I know that many middle grade readers will be able to relate to Reha's feelings even if they've never gone through what she experiences. This is the perfect addition to any middle grade classroom or school library.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books - Quill Tree Books - for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I've read a few novels in verse over the years, but not many. However, recently I've been looking to read more so I was excited to find another upcoming novel in verse. The story is filled with emotions as an Indian American teen is navigating the world of middle school with dances, crushes while trying to juggle the feeling that she is growing up in two worlds...her schoolday American world, and her weekend Indian world.

I think this book would not be ideal for younger MG readers due to the themes and storyline of the book. Additionally, I think many MG readers would miss a lot of the 80's cultural references. But overall, a good OwnVoices novel in verse.

LaRocca has written a book that beautiful and touching. Reha feels like she's pulled between two worlds - that of India where her parents are from and the United States where she was born. The author's choice to write this tale in verse emphasizes the duality in Reha's life. It's a theme repeated in her friendships, her activities, and her interests. When Reha's mother becomes ill, it forces Reha to truly examine what is important to her and who she wants to be. Reha's feelings are relatable and authentic. I laughed and cried with Reha and thoroughly enjoyed the 80's setting. It added to the nostalgia. I will for sure purchase this one for my library as I am sure most middle school children can relate to Reha's feelings even if they have never lived her experiences. Thank you, NetGalley for providing the ARC for my honest review.

A wonderful addition to our collection of novels in verse. This book takes the reader on Reha's journey to discover who she is an Indian living in America. She feels both out of place in her class and when she travels to India when she visits her family. Slowly, she makes connections in both worlds, and discovers they aren't as opposed as she had originally thought. This is also a wonderful exploration of how parents can difficult to relate to, but ultimately loving and understanding.

The book has music references I’m not sure all my students will get from the 80s, but that I appreciated as a child of the 80s.

This book in verse is full of heart and emotion as it follows an Indian American teen navigating first dances, crushes, and personal goals as she feels torn between her two worlds. The way the author covers the mother’s sudden sickness (leukemia) and treatments is both beautifully done and heartbreaking. I will definitely plan to purchase this for the middle school library.

Growing up in the 1980s, this beautifully-written novel-in-verse was very relatable to me; but it will just as easily be intriguing and appealing to today's kids, fascinated with the lack of technology their parents grew up with and because what is true about growing up is still and will always be true - the awkwardness of a first dance, the conflicting feelings of love and embarrassment toward parents, the feeling of wanting to belong, to fit in. Whether they are first-generation Americans whose parents immigrated from other countries, or kids who feel different because of religion, family trauma, or their own interests, kids will connect with Reha and her friends.
Reha's parents immigrated to America before Reha's birth. While Reha embraces her Indian heritage, she also struggles to be "just like everyone else," standing out as she does in her private, very white school. When her mother becomes ill with cancer, Reha's worlds begin to collide as she finds both support and strength in family, friends, and her own dreams.
As the mom of daughters right about Reha's age when I first fought cancer myself, this story hit home. It's a story that needs to be told, and I am so grateful that Rajani LaRocca opened her heart to share it with the world. I highly recommend it for kids in grades 5 and up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this lovely book.

Heartbreaking, raw and inspiring....this novel in verse packs a punch! The story of Reha as she tries to figure out her place at school as the only Indian American will stay with you long after the last page. She has two different worlds between school and acting one way and then she has her life at home with its food, clothing and culture. If that's not hard enough, Reha's life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia. Reha has so much to work through once her mom goes into the hospital. The struggles are hard and real for her on a daily basis. As she continues to hope for the best for her mother, she continues to struggle with navigating school and friendships. This book will make you smile, cry and want to share it with everyone around you. #RedWhiteAndWhole #NetGalley

I got an ARC of this book.

I must have missed the part that said this was written in short poems. I would not have requested this one if I had known. I am not a poem person. I do not understand why people lime poems. I get either no meaning or no emotions from them. They either feel underwritten overwritten. So my main issue with this book was it was poems. There was nothing else really wrong since all of my issues came down to poems.

The book read incredibly fast, so I often didn’t know what time period it was. There would be a line about her age and then it was over. I was not sure for how long she was eight after it said she was eight for example. It was a bit confusing. The first part of the book jumped ages a lot, but mostly in order so if I was a little off with dates it was ok. The flashback poems were more difficult.

I didn’t get a chance to really know any of the characters. I was told a lot of things, but never shown. So I knew the mother and sister were close, because they wrote letters and talked on the phone. The letter writing was mentioned a few times. The format got in the way of showing that they cared for each other or showing more of that relationship. There was a lot lost by having the poem format for me. I really didn’t get to see that the MC felt torn between worlds, I was just told that. I didn’t really get the emotions or thoughts, since the poems were so short. It felt like this book was wasted on me.

Overall, the idea behind the book and the plot were wonderful. I just really don’t like poems, I don’t understand why this is such a popular format. So honestly, give this one a shot, it wasn’t for me, but you might not be as difficult as I am.

I loved this book. The main character is sweet and realistic, and I love the way she shares her feelings. I definitely cried at multiple points in this book. When it says "heartbreaking' in the summary, they mean it. The only thing that I might say is that there is an underlying maturity that I think would make this book for more of teen audience. I think the description lists this as grades 3-7, and I think that an older age-range would appreciate it more (maybe 5-8).

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful, honest, and heartbreaking, this lovely and fast novel in verse was about adjusting to life as an Indian-American teen who doesn’t feel like she truly belongs anywhere. A great read.

Reha is a thirteen year old in 1983. Her family is one of the few Indian ones in town, although they have quite a network in the larger area, and spend weekends with "aunties", "uncles", and plenty of delicious Indian dishes. Reha is concerned about common middle school issues, like wearing the same clothes as her friends, but also understands why her parents want her to study and do well in school. Her friend at school, Rachel, is Jewish and has a much more exciting family life than Reha's quiet existence as an only child. WHen REha's mother falls ill and it turns out to be leukemia, Reha's world is shaken. An aunt comes from India to help out, and it is hoped that she can be a bone marrow donor, but she turns out to be pregnant. Reha hopes to be a donor, but isn't a match. Against the background of her mother's illness, Reha continues with her middle school existence, hoping to go to a school dance and having a budding relationship with Pete. Will she and her father be able to cope with whatever happens to her mother.
Strengths: There are lots of good details about tween life in 1983; music, movies, fashion, and the only instance I can recall of a MIX TAPE! Love that there is a description of how to make one, since my students will have no idea! The portrayal of the two separate parts of Reha's life is interesting, and will speak to many of my students who have family backgrounds in other countries. The fact that this is set almost forty years ago makes it even more fascinating.
Weaknesses: The first Star Wars movie is referred to as "Star Wars: A New Hope". I don't think it was referred to as anything but "Star Wars" in 1983. (The year I graduated from high school!)
What I really think: I enjoyed the cultural aspect of this, with Reha having an "American friend" and an "Indian friend" and spending her weekend "Indianing", but my students would be much more likely to pick this up if it hadn't been in verse, which is a shame. I want them to read a lot more books about how different tweens navigate their cultural lives.

Red, White, and Whole is a must-have for my middle school classroom library. Written in verse, the novel is told from the point of view of 13-year-old Reha, an Indian-American girl struggling to balance her "American" side and her "Indian" side while also dealing with her first crush and her mother's illness. Rajani LaRocca does an excellent job in creating a character that is relatable - Reha is strong, compassionate, and also a typical teenager focused on dances, music, friends and first crushes.

ARC Provided by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is truly a work of the heart and you can hear LaRocca's voice, her passion, her heartbreak and her love pour out of the pages of this book.

This novel in verse about an Indian American girl, Reha, whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Before (and during) the diagnosis, Reha feels torn between her "two lives" - her life at school as the only Indian American student, and her life at home filled with her culture, religion, and traditions.

This book was heartbreakingly beautiful and I will certainly be ordering a copy for my classroom library. I think my middle school students will LOVE this novel and the way it is written in verse. I could not put this book down; I finished it in one sitting. I can't wait for more people to discover, read this book, and fall in love with it the way I have.

Brava, Rajani LaRocca.

Red, White and Whole is a beautiful novel in verse about what it means to feel out of place and to be always searching for where you belong. It’s about friendship, family and budding crushes. It is about community and supporting one another. There is so much meaning! So many insightful words and explorations of what it meant to be Indian American in the 1980s. Full of 80s pop culture that makes it ring true to the time period, and even gets some songs stuck in your head. There’s so much here for both the adult and the young reader. So much that tugs at the heartstrings. A book that will be well loved by many! A huggable one if I do say so.