Chloe in India

October 15, 2015
Chloe is not happy about leaving her shady, green Boston home for life in oppressively hot Delhi, India, especially since she stands out as the only blonde American in her grade. While trying to cultivate the good graces of the it girl of her grade, the superrich, pretty, and snobby Anvi Saxena, Chloe is befriended by another new student: Lakshmi of the ill-fitting, hand-me-down uniform. Though the 11-year-old is painfully aware of the grade five hierarchy, there is something about Lakshmi that draws her in. Maybe it's her spunky dog or her sparkly eyes and sense of humor. Maybe it's that they share newness as well as a love of origami, climbing trees, and dancing. Whatever the reason, readers will cheer Chloe and Lakshmi's budding friendship, and they will also be cheered by nasty Anvi's comeuppance. Whether describing the heat of a Delhi summer or the emotions of a homesick preteen in a strange land, Darnton gets the details right, bringing characters and story to life and also educating readers about the economic discrepancies rampant in India. While some may sigh that American Chloe is underdog Indian Lakshmi's only friend (and savior?) and that the vapid, mean, rich Indian girls are completely unsympathetic, this story is a worthwhile one. Blonde American Chloe's perspective gives Western readers a way into this tale of inequality in a foreign culture, mitigating some of the stereotyping. (Fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2015

Gr 5-7-Chloe is a blonde, middle-class Bostonian who is beginning school at Class Five Premium Academy in New Delhi. In addition to being the new kid at a new school, Chloe must also adjust to a new culture, language, and country. She hates that she is the only girl without long black hair, and she misses terribly her best friend from home. Her journey from typical pre-teen to enlightened young adult takes place over the course of a few months. Though she wants to fit in with Anvi, the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in India, she finds that she has more in common with Lakshmi, the daughter of an extremely poor single father. Torn between her desire for acceptance and her genuine friendship with a less socially acceptable person, Chloe is forced to decide whether it's better to fit in or be true to herself. Darnton takes readers on a descriptive journey to India, having lived there herself with her family for five years. In this friendship story, Chloe learns Bollywood dancing, struggles with her Hindi, and enjoys eating chaat, kati, and dosas. The story flows at a medium pace and would be useful for facilitating conversations about making confident choices as well as understanding socioeconomic disparities and Indian culture. At a key point in the narrative, Chloe's mother uses her media connections to help Lakshmi and her father keep their home. The unfortunate trope of having a white character save the day is somewhat balanced by Darnton's inclusion of a diverse mix of characters and her authentic details in the setting. VERDICT A solid multicultural offering for middle grade collections. Though not as compelling a read, those who enjoyed the emotional themes in R.J. Palacio's Wonder (Knopf, 2012) or Lisa Graff's The Thing About Georgie (HarperCollins, 2008) will find some similarities here.-Pilar Okeson, Severn School, Annapolis, MD

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.