Pashmina

Gr 4-8--Priyanka is a teenage girl who loves to draw. Her mother emigrated from India years ago, leaving Pri's father behind. Pri is eager to learn about her father and her Indian heritage, but her mother refuses to discuss the subject. Then Pri finds an old pashmina in her mother's suitcase, and when she puts it on, she is magically transported to the India of her dreams. Pri is greeted by an elephant and a peacock, who offer to show her around the country. Though they provide some answers, they inspire even more questions, and Pri must figure out how and why reality and her dream world overlap. This heartwarming story about family problems and female empowerment will inspire readers to make their voices heard. Much of the artwork is reminiscent of the illustrations in Vera Brosgol's Anya's Ghost: black-and-white with clear thick lines. Whenever someone dons the pashmina, the pages are suddenly drenched in rich colors. VERDICT This dazzling blend of realistic fiction and fantasy is perfect for fans of characters who have to overcome obstacles on their way to growing up.--Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Priyanka is the teenage daughter of a single mother from Calcutta who won't answer her questions about why she came to the U.S. or who Priyanka's father is. "In India I would never talk this rude way to my mom," Priyanka's mother chastises. Mean girls make school rough; drawing is Priyanka's only solace. A silk pashmina in her mother's closet gives Priyanka the ability to see India, the homeland she's never visited, in sequences that explode with vibrant color, in contrast to the dark purples Chanani uses for Priyanki's everyday life. When she's finally able to travel there, her aunt answers the questions that have blighted Priyanka's relationship with her mother, and the pashmina gives her a mission. Newcomer Chanani's figures lean toward cuteness, softening the story's darker moments. Most impressive is the way Chanani keeps the story's distinct and fascinating plot elements spinning. One work can't represent a whole subcontinent, but readers will come away with a living sense of a small part of it--and characters to care about. Ages 10-14. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (Oct.)