This one really hooked me. How does a kid steal a million dollars by accident? Ajay shoplifts a candy bar at the request of a bully, and when the bully rejects it, he opens it to find a golden ticket with a winning prize! This would solve his family's financial problems, but how can he redeem it without admitting that he stole it? This sets him on a spiral of lies and lies until he can't keep up with them anymore. Real page turner, highly recommend. Audiobook was excellent.

This is an approachable and engaging middle grade book about a first generation boy trying to be a good kid according to his families values and to his school and community, even when those values conflict

Ajay Anthonipillai has a million dollar problem.
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A new school has Ajay looking for friends, but finding bullies instead who tell him to steal a Mercury chocolate bar from Scary Al’s convenience store. Ajay is a good kid: he follows the rules set by his parents and wants to be top student in school again this year, but the guilt is killing him. It’s even worse when he discovers the candy bar has a prize of $1 million! Since it’s stolen, Ajay knows he can’t claim it, despite the fact that his family could really use the money. Faced with this moral dilemma, Ajay must decide if coming clean is the way to go or finding another solution.
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What a great MG debut follows a kid who made a mistake and struggles to fix it in his own way. Many students will relate to Ajay’s family and his story. I laughed out loud several times and was so happy to see Sri Lankan representation. I highly recommend this story that’s out now!

CW: classism, bullying, theft, racism, racial slurs

3.75 ⭐️ wish I would have gotten more with the side characters

Thank you HarperAudio Children’s | HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: When seventh-grader Ajay Anthonipillai wins a million-dollar prize in a stolen candy bar, he must navigate the clash between his strict Tamil upbringing, his desire to fit in, and the moral dilemma that could change his family’s future forever.

My review: No Purchase Necessary is a binge-worthy middle-grade novel that offers a heartfelt and engaging glimpse into the life of a Sri Lankan immigrant family in the U.S. The story revolves around Ajay Anthonipillai, a relatable protagonist whose journey is easy to empathize with as he navigates the challenges of friendship, family, anxiety, and self-discovery.

This character-driven narrative masterfully blends humor and poignancy as Ajay faces a whirlwind of dilemmas: a stolen candy bar, a million-dollar prize, peer pressure, bullying, and the weight of his parents' expectations—all while grappling with a possible crush. Themes of identity and the consequences of our choices shine throughout, making this more than just a fun read.

Genres/Themes: Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes - Bullying / Social Themes - Adolescence & Coming of Age / Asian American & Pacific Islander

No Purchase Necessary is scheduled for publication on January 14, 2025, by HarperAudio Children’s | HarperCollins.

I really enjoyed the narrator, and appreciated his pronunciation of Sri Lankan words and his ability to switch between voices of the mom and dad vs. children. I think it will be helpful for readers who aren't as familiar with Sri Lanka to listen vs. read. Now onto the content: I am of two minds about this plot.

On the one hand, I felt very seen as a child in reading this book, even though I grew up in the Midwest of the U.S., and never changed schools. But I grew up in a devout Catholic family and attended Catholic school. I could understand his relationship with the parish priest and his moral conflict over stealing, parental expectations, lying, and consequences. I also won a Pepsi giveaway as a kid, but I had to call a 1-800 number and I was worried my parents wouldn't let me use our phone to call long distance so I never redeemed it! I think the author does a great job of bringing a child's inner feelings to light. I honestly could see this being a book club pick for a religion or philosophy class in a Catholic school for upper grades.

As far as reading for pleasure, I don't think I would pick this up as a child, and certainly not if I was a reluctant reader. It is so character-heavy (mostly focused on Ajay's inner turmoil), and not at all action based. He goes to school, works in a convenience store, and talks to his friends or teacher. The most exciting part--that he won a candy giveaway and could help his family with prize money--is just a vehicle to drive his inner conflict. I would have loved to see the character immediately do something and face consequences later.

As another reviewer stated on Goodreads, this is a book for adults. It imparts lessons we want kids to learn, but kids won't necessarily seek this out. It could be a great way to get a discussion going in class, so I will give it 3.5 stars for its good writing and though provoking discussions.