Book Review: Red, White, and Whole
- Monica Fumarolo
- Mar 26, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 28, 2023
Red, White, and Whole
Rajani LaRocca
Quill Tree Books, 2021
Book Source: Library
I actually finished reading this book a few weeks ago before writing this review, and that's because when I finished this book, I couldn't jump into review mode right away. I had to stop and think and process because WOW. This book is so emotional and honest and makes me want to jump up and down and say "This! This is what I've been talking about when I say I want books for my students that are written about middle schoolers and is at their reading level and realistic with their stage of life!"
Reha is an only child, the only Indian-American student at her school, and the only person she knows who both wants to be a doctor and passes out at the sight of blood. She also feels torn between her American life and her Indian life, not feeling like she really belongs in either circle but also knowing that her parents love her even if they don't understand her. But her relatively stable, predictable world gets turned on its end when her mother gets incredibly sick. Everything about Reha felt believable to me, particularly her relationship with her parents - there was a genuine conflict between wanting her parents to understand and not having the words to explain her feelings adequately. The fact that this is a novel in verse just made that tension so much stronger. Additionally, I initially missed the fact that this book is historical fiction, taking place in the 1980s. While the librarian in me knows I should move it from the realistic fiction section to its proper place in my school's collection, I also think that the struggles and situations are timeless. At no point did I feel like this story was particular to the time period.
If you are a reader or have a reader in your life that enjoys stories that pull hard at your heartstrings, make sure this tale finds its way to them. I've already been talking it up to my students, and can't believe I missed this book when it came out in 2021. Better late than never, that's for sure.
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