This was a fun summer read! Who wouldn't want to land their dream job and the hot guy for the summer? Maya feels torn between what she feels she should do, what her family wants her to do, and the dreams she wants for herself. Spending the summer away from home helps her clarify things -- even though she weaves an epic weave of lies as she makes her way through. Recommended for grades 8 & up.

It wasn't you How Maya Got Fierce it was totally me. My mood has struck again and I wanted something to be faster paced and unfortunately this book was the casualty. I loved Desi characters and culture within the book and I learned a lot from it. It is something I haven't read a lot of in the past. I wish the Fierce storyline with Maya actually working at Fierce was introduced sooner in the story, but that's a personal preference. I may go back to the novel at some point, but for now it's sadly a DNF. It is no fault of the story or author's work, but completely on my mood. DNF at 52 % (Chapter 13).

I love reading #OwnVoices experiences of immigrants to the US. Really, I love reading pretty much all diverse fiction. I think it makes us all more empathetic and compassionate if we can walk a mile in someone else's shoes... even if they are fictional shoes.

So much pressure on a young person to do and be what her parents want her to do and be! I love that Maya "got fierce", but honestly I think she was Fierce all along!

I am finishing up the book tonight so I will finish writing this review tomorrow. I didn't want to miss the chance to send you feedback though!

"How Maya Got Fierce" was a quick and enjoyable read. Beyond the Teen/YA categorization, I would also tag it as multicultural/own voices, and I liked getting immersed in Maya's experience and the Punjabi perspective. The pressures of familial expectations, and the tension with coming of age and finding your own way, were nicely explored here. Not just via Maya's story, but also with the supporting cast of characters.

When I read YA, I usually use two lenses for review/recommendation. One being my own grown up preferences & perspective, the second being "would I recommend this to my tween/teen daughters?"

My own grown up perspective - 3 stars: It was a little slow, took awhile to get to the "Younger" angle with the magazine job (I think ~40%). It picked up from there, and I wish there had been a bit more of the book spent with the magazine, near misses getting caught, etc. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief that a teenager could actually pull that off (and that some grown ups would go along with it, or be blind to it).

My mom "would I recommend to my kids" perspective - 4 stars: I definitely would. I like that it gets into the BIPOC experience. I like that it shows Maya struggling with expectations vs. her own desires and going for it. I like that it shows some healthy and realistic teenage relationships. I didn't love the lying, the doubling-down on the lying, and found the resolution a bit too easy and not remotely realistic. I think this would be a great book to read along with your kid and discuss after.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Mini review:

I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was really looking forward to this but unfortunately I didn't like it.

The plot dragged and I was bored reading it. That being said I enjoyed reading about Maya's family and her growth!

I still recommend this.

What an amazing story about family loyalty and chasing your dreams! I enjoyed reading about Maya balancing family expectations and exploring the life she wants for herself. This is relatable for so many young people today. Throw in Cow Camp, deciding how she feels about two guys, lying about her age to keep a dream job, and mending strained relationships it becomes a great summer read!

How Maya Got Fierce follows seventeen-year-old Maya Gera as she experiences an unforgettable summer and learns how far she is willing to go to chase her dreams. I'm a big fan of the show Younger, so I was really intrigued by the reverse-premise of a teenager having to fake older to secretly get the job of her dreams. I liked Maya as a protagonist. She definitely feels like a real teenager, which I think makes her so relatable. She's smart and driven but also uncertain and a little bit impulsive. She navigates a lot of different things that I think teenagers can relate to – family, romance, discovering her dreams, and fighting for them. I was definitely able to root for her the whole time and found this book a nice, quick read.

I will say that it did have less drama than I expected, which did lower my overall rating a little. For me personally, it took a little too long for the main mixup to occur of her being accepted as an adult staff writer. There was a lot of general setup and some cute romantic setup, but I wanted all of the stuff with Fierce Magazine to occur sooner. And the story definitely has some drama, with mean exes and a petty boss. But I feel like there weren't enough big "almost caught" moments and that the overall fallout of everything wasn't as big as I'd realistically expect it to be. That being said, it was still an enjoyable story, and definitely encouraging for anyone who needs that reminder that their dreams are worth fighting for.

One thing I really liked was the exploration family and family dynamics. Maya's family has goals and expectations for her that differ from her own dreams, but not only does Maya love her family and want to make them proud, but she also does care about her family's farm and want what's best for it. I liked seeing a story where those differing dreams don't take away from the close and loving family relationship. I also love the exploration of changing relationships with extended family and ways that Maya sticks up for her cousin when other family is harmful. I love that family and culture play a big role in the story and shape who Maya is, which is a strength of the story.

Overall, it's a nice story and worth a read if you like fun, summer YA stories. While I do feel that some of the stakes could have been upped a little more, it was still a nice easy read. I like Sona Charaipotra's writing and am excited to read more of her writing.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
How Maya Got Fierce is a fun YA contemporary, and as the pitch promises, there’s major Younger vibes. I will say that the blurb drastically simplifies the sequence of events, as the promised point of conflict with Maya unwittingly ending up in an editor position does take quite a while to come to pass. So if you’re a reader who wants the premise to immediately pay off, this is not one of those books.
I do really like how it allows for Maya to really shine as a character. She’s a Punjabi teen defying her family’s expectations by having bigger dreams beyond the family garlic farm by pursuing her dreams to work at Fierce. However, her narrative and the stories of others working for Fierce highlight the prejudices women of color face. As a reaction to this, there’s new editorial staff working to help diversify the industry who become Maya’s allies, even if she’s initially reluctant to divulge the truth of what happened, lest she lose her big opportunity.
While I do feel the marketing does the book a disservice, it is a good book that just needs to find the right readers. If you’re interested in a character-driven look at a desi teenager interested in fashion and journalism and navigating that world more or less for the first time with a twist, following her growth as a character, I think you’ll enjoy it.

- Okay, look. 90% of this book is totally, completely unbelievable. And yet, it's so candy sweet that I tore through it anyway.
- Maya is a wonderful heroine, unhappy with the life that's been preset for her and pushing against all boundaries, from family expectations to ageism.
- This book also deals with something I've never seen in a novel: what it might be like to be part of a community that experienced a mass shooting several years after the event. I thought this book did a good job showing how something like that continues to hang over everything and have long term impact, even after the initial shock is long gone.

Thank you for this copy of How Maya Got Fierce!

After loving the Tiny Pretty Things duology and The Rumor Game, I was excited to read another book by Sona Charaipotra! This book was so cute and all about finding your place in this big world! I enjoyed seeing Maya grow as a person. I liked how she followed her heart and went after what she wanted (the internship) rather than just doing what her parents wanted her to do. Another pro for me was the “found” family. I mean they are actually family but seeing Shanez and Roop’s dynamic with Maya and how they were always there for each other made me smile.

Now, is it a little far fetched to believe a 17 year old could pass for 26, that her cousin and her girlfriend would help her get a fake ID for the ruse, that literally everyone at this magazine & HR wouldn’t have some follow up questions? Yes. It did bug me a little but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. What did was the romance. I mean Ranbir and Maya seemed like a good fit at first but then he literally ghosted her for days and she was fine? Like I get there were problems with his mom, but he couldn’t just send a text? I liked the relationship with Xander more, but I felt like it didn’t even need the romance. I was more invested in Maya’s personal growth.

I shamelessly binged episodes of Younger within the last year or two, so I was looking forward to reading a book with a similar premise. It turns out lying about one's age so one appears older is, somehow, much worse than lying to appear younger--probably because Maya is a literal teenager. Between that and her quitting Cow Camp without telling her parents, I was more uncomfortable than I expected to be. Sona Charaipotra tries to justify the lies and explain some of the suspension of disbelief (i.e., how the folks at the magazine did not know that she wasn't actually twenty-six), but it didn't totally work for me.

What DID work is the cultural aspect. I loved learning about Maya's home life and Punjabi traditions, especially her relationship with her mom and cousin. The descriptions of food are also excellent--it was almost impossible to not be hungry by the time I finished a chapter--and the trip to the gurdwara is fascinating. The romance is also cute and, though on the dramatic side, feels fairly organic.

It's not perfect, but if you can get past some of the ethical dilemmas it's a sweet read.

Thank you so much to Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ooooh this was such a fun read! Sona Charaipotra always has such entertaining novels and How Maya Got Fierce was no different. The premise of the novel was incredibly interesting. In this book, seventeen-year-old Maya, daughter of parents who run a garlic empire in Gilroy, California, being sent to cow camp for the summer only to be drawn into working for her favorite magazine, Fierce (unbeknownst to her parents). She applies for an internship at the magazine but through some miscommunication, accidentally ends up applying for a full-time editorial position (meant for actual adults, not seventeen-year-old high schoolers).

This book felt like the perfect summer teen movie, full of themes like pursuing your passions, friendship, new love, and finding your voice even as a young South Asian girl. I loved how passionate Maya was, even if she was deathly afraid of screwing up and disappointing her friends and family, as well as her mentors and co-workers at Fierce. I truly was living vicariously through her life at Fierce, and I actually really liked how the conflict and climax of Maya lying about her age when joining Fierce was resolved. It didn't feel cliché at all, and honestly more refreshing than storylines that contain this trope.

I also loved the themes of important topics within South Asian communities, such as homophobia, inter-faith relationships, and classism among diaspora communities. Maya's final piece about the young mothers among the Punjabi community in the Central Valley of California was really touching. There aren't many South Asian YA novels that focus on the families within the Punjabi diaspora, especially the families of Punjabi farmers. Even if Maya and her friends had their differences at cow camp, I really liked how they banded together at the end to help out with Maya's story at Fierce.

The romance in this book was also super cute! I'm obsessed with Maya and Ranbir and I liked how this book dealt with the complications of first/new love. However, I think the book could have gone without Xander being a love interest. Their "relationship" made me really uncomfortable considering Maya is a minor, and it was obvious that Xander was aware of that pretty early on during her time at Fierce.

Overall, I'd give this novel 4 stars! It was honestly a really short read and I think it could have easily had 25-50 more pages to not make the story as faced paced (I literally finished this within a 4-hour flight). As much as I've enjoyed Sona's previous novels, I think How Maya Got Fierce is definitely my favorite now!

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra. This contemporary young adult novel will be released July 12, 2022. All opinions are my own.

Maya is the heiress to a small garlic empire. As such, her traditional Punjabi parents send her away to Cow Camp for the summer. For families like hers, this is viewed as the first step towards taking over the family business. Maya, though, dreams of working for a magazine. Specifically, she wants to work for Fierce and help ensure that the stories of women like her get told. After arriving in New York for camp, Maya learns that her cousin’s girlfriend works for Fierce and the opportunity to intern there knocks at her door. There’s just one problem, Maya didn’t apply for an internship, she accidentally interviews for and accepts a full time, paid position. In too deep and afraid of what the truth will bring, Maya forges ahead, but how long will she be able to keep up the ruse?

I really enjoyed this book. It’s about finding your identity, being true to yourself, and family. There is a romance line throughout the book that, honestly, I could have done without. I don’t think it’s the healthiest relationship for either involved. I did enjoy the glimpse into Maya’s culture and the discussions of representation, who gets their story told, and who gets to tell it. The book also touches on LGBTQ relationships and how they’re viewed within the Punjabi culture. Classism is another big topic in the book. I felt as if the author really tried to fit a lot into this book and did amazing with most of it, but somethings didn’t get as much depth or attention because there was just one too many things. For example, removing the romance plot could have allowed for other plot elements to be deepened. The book is fun and quick paced and would make a good summer read.

As an Indian American, this book was incredibly relatable to my high school experience in terms of proving myself. While the main character gets confused for someone much older, the struggle to make sure she doesn't get in trouble for the lie but also proves herself was super super relatable. I also loved how rooted in Indian culture this was, how well rounded the family was and the detail and painstaking effort put into making this book exude love despite the tension of a massive secret. Loved it!

DNF @20%

This is definitely a case of "it's not you, it's me". How Maya Got Fierce is a YA coming of age story following a Desi girl attending a "cow camp" for heirs to agricultural empires (her parents own a garlic farm). The camp in near NYC and Maya secretly wants to work at her favorite magazine Fierce, not become a garlic farmer. Her cousin's girlfriend works there and gets her the opportunity to freelance, which is thrilling. Meanwhile, there's a will-they-won't-they romance brewing with her childhood friend, but his ex-girlfriend isn't ready to let go.

According to the description, Maya eventually ends up lying about her age (26 instead of 17) in order to work at Fierce. Which is an interesting premise but I think it takes awhile to get to that part. There's a lot to like about this book- it's a fun YA contemporary with great representation that I think a lot of teens will enjoy. It's just that I'm at a point in my life where I'm less and less interested in this kind of YA story and although I've really enjoyed this author's co-written thrillers, I think this one just isn't for me. I hope others will check it out though! There's an emphasis on fashion, talk of how people of color are really marginalized in the fashion industry, and it's clear that Maya's culture means a lot to her. All of which is great. I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a high school version of The Devil Wears Prada mixed in with a whole Romeo/Juliet story of the haves and have nots of Central Valley farmer youth. It's a fun and sweet story with a cast of characters that is memorable and unique.

I love this story. Opportunities and determination are a couple of my favorite things in stories and this book has it all.

Maya is a seventeen year old, Punjabi farm girl from Gilroy, CA, the garlic capital. In order to help her parents and family out, she decides to attend Cow Camp in New Jersey/New York. It's where all the farm kids go to learn about agriculture and to help their families with their farming businesses. However, Maya is more excited about the fact that she'll be in New York, where the headquarters for Fierce magazine is.

I love that this is Younger meets The Bold Type (two tv shows that I loved watching). Maya mistakenly gets the assistant features editor position and now has to lie to everyone in order to fulfill her dream of working at Fierce magazine.

I love how Ranbir, Shenaz, Roop and Xander support her in living out her dream, even when they know it's built on lies and can come tumbling down at any moment.

Maya has ambitions and she's good at writing. I like that she wants to diversify the publication because it means something to her.

I didn't like how her cousin, Roop, was barely in the picture while Maya was staying at her place. It felt like she didn't care much about Maya, but I like that the distance was explained.

Overall, I was happy to have read this book and loved the whole experience. Maya's story was a fun, unforgettable one.

After devouring Sona Charaipotra's novels with Dhonielle Clayton (Tiny Pretty Things, Shiny Broken Pieces, and The Rumor Game), I was instantly excited about her next YA novel -- especially considering it was described as Younger meets The Bold Type. As a fan of both those shows and a magazine alum myself, that storyline already won me one. The book, much like a diverse adaptation of the short-lived Jane By Design, was so enjoyable and fun. Had so much compelling language that drew me in, desperate to learn how this average teenager could make it as a legit magazine editor. Alongside a precious summer camp-esque romance, it's an authentic coming-of-age tale of empowering young women. So captivating.

I finished WHEN MAYA GOT FIERCE a few months ago and loved it! Maya was wonderful and funny and relatable. Also, the queer South Asian rep made me so happy! I really loved Maya's boss, Ericka. She was an incredible role model and reminds me of many badass female execs breaking barriers in creative fields. I believe in this story and related to it so much. I just started a part-time job at a creative company where everyone is older than me, and Maya's feelings of imposter syndrome mirror mine. I think this book demonstrates the importance of mentorship and guidance, and I really appreciated that.

I think there is a lot of interpretation left up to the reader. There are loose ends at the ending, and the reader is left with a lot of questions about workplace dynamics. This was an interesting choice to make, and one that left me feeling a bit angry and lost. However, after further reflection, I've realized I still liked the book because I learned so much from it. This book was honest, real, and told a story about an experience that didn't match my own- and that's okay.

I think as a reader and reviewer, sometimes when I start relating a little bit to a book, I want the whole book to perfectly match my experience. However, it's imperative that I recognize that being left with a story about a girl like me who isn't perfect, who isn't this incredible South Asian girl who does no wrong, is okay too. I had to be left with the fact that like me, this Maya makes mistakes, and sometimes life is really hard and it doesn't all work out.

All in all, this was a book unlike any other I've read. I would highly highly recommend to any readers or reviewers looking to diversify their bookshelf in terms of genre, age range, or representation!

From the synopsis I sort of figured this books would be a bit cheesy but cute. I was prepared to suspend some disbelief so that the main character could work at a women's magazine at 17.

While I liked the main character and the general pace of the story and the diverse cast of characters, I had a hard time staying in that world because of a few things. There were a lot of places where the dialogue either didn't flow or didn't feel believable. Either it felt like that character wouldn't say a certain phrase or like the author included certain phrases to sound more youthful. There were conversations that felt stilted or like a page was missing, the way the dialogue progressed. No one ever said enough, but they understood each other, which made no sense. This made me have a hard time accepting other details, like that the main character really would've gotten the assistant editor job at 17 or that her cousin's girlfriend would help her lie to the important people in her own job.

I did appreciate getting to read about a bunch of Desi teenagers from farming families, which isn't something I've seen before. I liked the diversity of the cast, and most of the characters. So I'd still try reading something by this author again in the future, I think.