 | No purchase necessary Author: Marianayagam, Maria | |
| Price: $14.99 | ||
Summary:
A poignant, humorous coming-of-age story about a Tamil Sri Lankan boy whose life spirals out of control when he wins a prize in a stolen candy bar, pushing him to navigate his identity amidst his ever-watchful family.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.60 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 556289 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (11/01/24)
School Library Journal (+) (12/01/24)
Booklist (+) (01/01/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (A) (00/12/24)
The Hornbook (00/03/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 01/01/2025 *Starred Review* In a warm and thought-provoking tale that explores thorny ethical issues and the pressures of belonging to a strict immigrant family, eighth-grader Ajay finds himself hiding things from his Amma and Appa, beginning with a horrifying 79 on a language-arts assignment and going on to include a forbidden friendship with a girl and, scariest of all, the million-dollar prize he discovers he’s won in the wrapper of a candy bar he stole from a shop at the behest of a bully. Though some readers may wish they had Ajay’s problems, most will understand that, aside from the fear of being shipped off to relatives back in Sri Lanka before he can get into further trouble, his biggest concern is finding some way to make things right—which he does, with help from his priest, his loving parents, and other allies both expected and decidedly otherwise. The author rolls generous quantities of Sri Lankan food and customs into a story that is blessedly free of moralistic lectures, for all that it’s centered on the virtues of honesty, and adds an array of spicy side dishes ranging from sweet budding romance and a dollop of redemption for the bully to sharp insights into Robert Frost’s poetry. Not to mention a Tamil glossary, a list of biblical and literary references, and a set of discussion questions as lagniappes. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
