Author: Hena Khan
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arrango
Rating:
.JPG)
Summary (provided by publisher): Deena’s never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her parents argue about money, when it’s time to go to school, or when she struggles to find the right words. She manages to make it through each day with the help of her friends and the art she loves to make.
While her parents’ money troubles cause more and more stress, Deena wonders if she can use her artistic talents to ease their burden. She creates a logo and social media account to promote her mom’s home-based business selling clothes from Pakistan to the local community. With her cousin and friends modeling the outfits and lending their social media know-how, business picks up.
But the success and attention make Deena’s cousin and best friend, Parisa, start to act funny. Suddenly Deena’s latest creative outlet becomes another thing that makes her feel nauseated and unsure of herself. After Deena reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help and that, with the right support, Deena can create something truly beautiful.
My opinion: There are a lot of aspects of this book that we can talk about and praise: the importance of creativity; perceptions of other people; family dynamics and the immigrant experience. But what I really want to focus on is Deena as a character. Khan has found the perfect balance in Deena, making her a universal character while keeping her Pakistani culture an essential element. Many kids will relate to her anxiety and fear, not knowing how to advocate for herself and needing to put up a front of being okay. While the specifics of the expectations upon her are defined by her experience, the general themes will be understood by a wider variety of readers.
More information: Drawing Deena releases February 6.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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