{"id":39371,"date":"2021-07-09T22:53:57","date_gmt":"2021-07-10T02:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=39371"},"modified":"2022-02-02T17:45:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T21:45:22","slug":"review-of-red-white-and-whole-by-rajani-larocca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=39371","title":{"rendered":"Review of Red, White, and Whole, by Rajani LaRocca"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Red, White, and Whole<\/em><\/p>\n

by Rajani LaRocca<\/p>\n

Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins), 2021. 217 pages.
\nReview written April 28, 2021, from a library book
\n2022 Newbery Honor Book<\/p>\n

This is a novel in verse, so it goes quickly. Reha is telling her story and this is how she introduces herself:<\/p>\n

I have two lives.
\nOne that is Indian,
\none that is not.
\nI have two best friends.
\nOne who is Indian,
\none who is not.<\/p>\n

At school I swim in a river of white skin
\nand blond hair and brown hair
\nand blue eyes and green eyes and hazel,
\nschool subjects and giggles about boys,
\nsalad and sandwiches.<\/p>\n

And on weekends,
\nI float in a sea of brown skin and black hair and dark eyes,
\nMTV music videos and giggles about boys,
\nsamosas and sabjis.<\/p>\n

In both places I have
\ngossip and laughter
\nmusic and silence
\nfriendship.
\nBut only in one place do I have
\nmy parents.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ve read quite a few books set in middle school lately. As always, there\u2019s plenty to navigate. Reha\u2019s got her two lives, and at school is assigned to work on a project in English with a boy and wonders what that means. And she wants to go to the school dance, but will her parents let her?<\/p>\n

Then her mother gets sick with leukemia, and all other concerns fade in comparison. This book is set in 1983 and reflects the treatments available then.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tough story, but I like the way Reha\u2019s friends rally round. I also enjoyed the Indian folk tale Reha tells us about, regarding a princess who charmed Lord Death and won the life of her husband.<\/p>\n

Reha\u2019s mother\u2019s red blood cells and white blood cells need to work together. She\u2019s a hematologist, so she knows what\u2019s going on with leukemia. Just as those blood cells need to work together, Reha wants the parts of her life to work together.<\/p>\n

This novel is poignant and insightful, a quick read that doesn’t feel trivial.<\/p>\n

rajanilarocca.com<\/a>
\nharpercollinschildrens.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/red_white_and_whole.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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