I'm from Here Too

April 29, 2024
In this moving verse novel by Sheth (Nina Soni, Perfect Hostess), a 13-year-old boy navigates loss and threats of violence. Anoop is aware that his brown skin and patka headwrap make him stand out (“I am a first-generation Indian American Sikh,/ surrounded by mostly white students./ A brown crystal of sugar,/ in a bowl of white sugar”). The protection afforded by Jacob, “my friend from first grade,” ends as they enter eighth grade; they don’t have any classes together, which makes Anoop anxious. “Without him standing by me, for me,
I feel vulnerable,” especially when he remembers how a recent attack on Sikhs in nearby Oak Creek, Wis., resulted in “more than a half dozen dead.” After he learns his beloved Baba is sick in India, Anoop and his father travel there for a visit. In his grandfather’s serene presence, Anoop ponders how Baba, orphaned by the violent partition of India at the end of British colonial rule, holds fast to his Sikh faith. Sheth evocatively explains Sikhism in this compassionate story in which
characters combat hate with reason. An author’s note concludes. Ages 8–12.

May 15, 2024
A story of faith and courage. Wisconsin eighth grader Anoop is bullied because of his Sikh religion; his classmates call him unspeakable names. Meanwhile, the gurudwara where the family worships is patrolled by the police; another Sikh temple in Wisconsin was attacked several years ago. Thirteen-year-old Anoop is part of a loving family, surrounded by siblings and friends, although his parents are worried about the health of Baba, his grandfather back in India. A visit to see Baba over winter break gives Anoop a feeling of "not belonging in either place / ... / dangling between / India / and / America." But as he begins to look deeply into his faith, he finds strength there and is able to assert that, despite what some people say, he is "anchored by invisible roots / that will keep me from toppling / ... / No matter what happens. / No matter how they treat me." The straightforward verse contains some bursts of sparkle but overall reads more like prose, and although a lot happens, the plot feels static. The novel contains a great deal of information about the Sikh religion. One of the most moving parts of the book is Sheth's author's note, in which she explains that she was raised Hindu and was sincerely moved by learning about the commitment of Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to equality as well as the Sikh community's reaction to the 2012 shooting at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, gurudwara. An informative coming-of-age journey. (Verse fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2024
Grades 4-7 A Sikh American boy grapples with bullies, his family heritage, his faith, and his relationship with his distant relatives in this succinct novel in verse. Anoop knows that his hair is his pride and that the Sikh religion values it, but the bullies at his school only notice his differences and hurt Anoop because of them--something he struggles to find the words to express to the adults in his life. Poetry is a place where Anoop easily finds his words, though, and that's especially true when he visits his baba in India and unlocks his faith further. Though a touch on the pedantic side and with a voice that doesn't quite sound like a preteen boy, this relatable account explores Anoop's experiences of middle school and being Sikh in the U.S. in an atmosphere of racist attacks. Anoop struggles, like many do, to voice that he is being bullied, but his usage of poetry is responsive rather than reflective. While the pace drags at times, the story could serve as a strong introduction to Sikh culture and faith for middle-grade readers who enjoy school-centric coming-of-age stories.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 23, 2024

Gr 4-7-Indian American eighth grader Anoop is the only Sikh boy in his grade. Unfortunately, his schedule for the new school year shares zero classes with his best friend, Jonas, so he feels alone. In Sikhism, hair is not cut for religious reasons, and Anoop is harassed relentlessly by the class bully and his new sidekick for wearing a patka (head covering). Because his Baba (grandfather) in India has fallen ill, Anoop hides the bullying from his parents so as not to worry them with another issue. When the opportunity emerges to visit India with his father, many cultural, familial, and historical anecdotes are shared that facilitate Anoop connecting more with his heritage before his upcoming Amrit coming-of-age ceremony. With so few books for youth featuring Sikhism, this is crucial representation of one Sikh boy's experience. The novel-in-verse format includes couplets, free verse, and contrapuntal styles of poetry. While the form provides insight into Anoop's narrative, the poems have line breaks that feel more like broken prose. However, the poetry is chock-full of powerful metaphors, many of which are sensory, and the food descriptions are tantalizing. The intergenerational relationships are introspective and detail historical events from the Partition and the Sikh tenets of honesty, justice, equality, and service, giving Anoop compelling strategies for dealing with bullies at school. Content advisory for racism, xenophobia, bullying, and slurs. Middle grade readers ready for young adult books can find more Sikh representation in Navdeep Singh Dhillon's romcom Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions. VERDICT A worthy coming-of-age story with heart and hope.-Lisa Krok

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.