Copyright Date:
2024
Edition Date:
2024
Release Date:
04/23/24
Pages:
326 pages
ISBN:
0-316-45063-4
ISBN 13:
978-0-316-45063-8
Dewey:
Fic
LCCN:
2023007020
Dimensions:
22 cm
Language:
English
Reviews:
School Library Journal Starred Review
(Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2024)
Gr 3–7— Maple Grove Community Center: it's rough around the edges, in desperate need of renovation, and is a hub of activity for the South Asian community of Maple Grove, NJ. It's where Chaya wins her first chess tournament, and where Maha finally apologizes to her cousins at her aunt's mehndi ceremony. It's where Chen flashes a smile at Steven for the seventh time, and Jeevan learns that even though he never wants to eat it, he loves to make sabji. For so many, Maple Grove Community Center has become home. Lately, it's also become the target for anti-Asian sentiments brewing in town—but the kids of Maple Grove aren't going to let racism win. They plan to let the town know, once and for all, that they belong here. What begins as a sweet constellation of stories orbiting around a shared community center quickly develops into a fiercely proud, unflinching look at anti-immigrant, anti-Asian vitriol through the lens of South Asian American kids growing up in New Jersey. Midway through the anthology, readers will begin recognizing characters as they appear in other stories, and by the end, they will have laughed, cried, cringed, and celebrated their way into adopting Maple Grove Community Center as a home to them, too, ready to fight for its continued existence. VERDICT A monumental achievement and exquisite testament to the power of collaboration and community, this novel moves beyond the reality of diversity into the necessity of it.— Amira Walker
Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.
Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won't make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji-- he just can't eat it).
These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.
Check yourself
/ by Veera Hiranandani
Alok at the dance
/ by Maulik Pancholy
Wedding blues
/ by Aisha Saeed
Smile number seven
/ by Matali Perkins
Sweet and sour
/ by Reem Faruqi
A taste of something new
/ by Simran Jeet Singh
How to spell "disaster"
/ by Supriya Kelkar
Out in the open
/ by Rajani LaRocca
Answered prayers
/ by N. H. Senzai
Can I get an ameen
/ by Hena Khan
The map of home
/ by Sayantani DasGupta.