The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

Starred review from April 4, 2011
Krishnaswami perfectly captures movie-star infatuation, best-friendship, geographical displacement, and youthful determination in this exuberant blend of American tween life and Indian village culture. When 11-year-old Dini's physician mother gets a grant to work at a clinic in the tiny village of Swapnagiri in India, Dini is plucked out of her contented life in suburban Maryland. Distraught about abandoning her BFF Maddieâwho truly understands Dini's passion for Indian movie-star Dolly Singhâand their plans to attend Bollywood dance camp, she nevertheless remains optimistic as she tries to plot her new life, and those of the people she meets, as a screenplay. Krishnaswami (Naming Maya) interlaces Dini's story with lighthearted portrayals of the Indian film industry and postal system; she neatly and satisfactorily resolves every dilemma, suggesting elements of magic ("hen you are moving... to a place whose name means âdream mountain,' your mind begins to open up in strange ways") while remaining firmly grounded in reality. An out-of-the-ordinary setting, a distinctive middle-grade character with an unusual passion, and the pace of a lively Bollywood "fillum" make this novel a delight. Ages 8â12.

September 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-Dini and Maddie, 11-year-old BFFs, are together again in this sequel to The Grand Plan to Fix Everything (S & S, 2011). In this novel, the girls are just as starstruck with dazzling Bollywood actress Dolly Singh and eagerly await her arrival in Washington, DC, where she will have her first U.S. fillum (film) premiere. When the celebrity arrives at the airport dripping and dropping her jewelry in typical Dolly-fashion, she discovers that her passport is missing. Dini comes to the rescue, and the plot springs into a comedic romp to retrieve the passport, find a rose petal milkshake (the only thing that can soothe Dolly's nerves), and locate an elephant for the big event. With the help of her friends, the intrepid girl takes care of the unfortunate mishaps that continue to pop up in the days before the premiere, leaving her feeling "slightly heroic." The narrative is light and lilting, with some dialect woven in, and the details will help kids visualize the story's cultural nuances, while Halpin's black-and-white sketches effectively animate significant events. Dini remains grounded and honest throughout the narrative, even as she begins to doubt her friendship with Maddie when a third girl enters the scene. The protagonist also realizes that even though Dolly is beautiful, sweet, generous, and a true star, she is also slightly egocentric and spoiled. Humorous, entertaining, and with a sprinkle of stardust, this book is an enjoyable treat for the tween set, including reluctant readers.-D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

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