How to Find What You're Not Looking For

How to Find What You're Not Looking For
Veera Hiranandani
Kokila/Penguin 2021
372 pages
Grades 5-8
Historical Fiction

Its the summer of 1967 and Loving v. Virginia has finally passed, allowing for interracial marriages across the nation. What does that mean for twelve-year-old Ariel? Her devoted older sister Leah is secretly dating Raj, a recent immigrant from India. Ariel's assimilated Jewish parents are fearful of Leah facing a life of discrimination and forbid the relationship. Leah runs away with Raj to New York City, breaking ties with her family and leaving Ariel to pick up the pieces of her shattered home. Meanwhile, Mom & Dad are facing financial troubles and may lose the family business. Ariel finds solace in school as she is at last "seen" by a new teacher. Although writing has always been a source of struggle, the teacher diagnoses her learning troubles as dysgraphia and allows Ariel to use a typewriter, encouraging her to become a poet.  All is not rosy as Ariel endures constant insults from a classmate for being Jewish and must learn to find her voice. Finally, Ariel takes the Leah situation in her own hands and decided to go to New York to find her sister. Can she navigate the big city and find Leah? And what can she do about the class bully?

Writing in the second person, which is rare in children's literature, Hiranandani presents an intimate glimpse into what life may have been like for her parents, who shared a similar experience as Leah and Raj. Very different from Newbery honor winning The Night Diary by the same author, Hiranandani proves that she can write in different styles and explores another component of her culture. Readers will be shocked to learn that interracial marriage was against the law in many US states until 1967. The lingering effects of Jim Crow did not just disappear with the legislation and folks who fell in love outside their culture found (and in some cases still find) it hard going. Ariel grows and matures throughout this novel thanks in part to a caring teacher. She learns that sometimes parents aren't always right and they may need help with the way forward. As Ariel becomes a poet, her poems are captured within the pages of the book, perhaps encouraging readers to try their hand at the same. The author leaves us with the message that love conquers all and can break any barrier. The book ends hopefully, though not perfectly and full closure is offered. An author's note includes more historical information, as well as the author's own family history in which the novel is based. One quibble: I wish the author included the recipe for the black and white cookies Ariel bakes. The author does lead readers to the website where she found the recipe and I have printed it to try out:)