Red, White, and Whole
by Rajani LaRocca (Author)
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Booktalk: Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she’s the only Indian American student, and home, with her family’s traditions and holidays. But Reha’s parents don’t understand why she’s conflicted–they only notice when Reha doesn’t meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked–Reha means “star” and Punam means “moon”–but they are a universe apart.
Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick. Her life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia
Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can’t stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She’ll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma’s life.
Snippet:
Expectations
I am expected to focus on my studies,
which I do,
and I like them.
My family did not come to America
to be mediocre.
I am not expected to like boys.
I am not expected to date.
But all day long on the radio, people sing about falling in love,
about hearts breaking and mending
and breaking again.
And I wonder what it would be like
to follow mine.
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