Red, White, and Whole

Red, White, and Whole
Rajani LaRocca
Quill Tree/HarperCollins, 2021
209 pages
Grades 5-8
Fictional Memoir/Narrative Poetry

Thirteen-year-old Reha narrates her life growing up in a mid-western town in 1983 through narrative poetry. She is straddling two cultures: an American girl during the week, as she attends her private school and has fun with her school friends, and a devoted Indian daughter on the weekends, when her family gets together with the extended Indian community to share culture and support one another. It is not easy fitting in at her school, because of looking different from the other kids and living within her parents strict bounds. One day Reha's devoted, yet sometimes smothering, mother is feeling peaky. As the illness persists, she is eventually diagnosed with Leukemia. Reha must now battle her fears and guilt as she supports her mother, eventually learning to lean on her father. Both sides of Reha's life rally to her aid and through the devastating loss she learns how to merge both parts of her identity.

For folks looking for a book similar to the author's popular Midsummer's Mayhem, a blend of humor and light magical realism (of which I am a huge fan :), this book is much different. Quite serious in theme and mood, LaRocca delves into her past and delivers a carefully written account of her own fictionalized childhood. Conveyed fully in verse, the writing is beautiful and every word counts. By using this format the author is able to truly explore emotions that may not be adequately communicated through traditional narrative. Readers are sure to feel emotional by book's end, which is terribly sad, yet somehow hopeful. We know that not only will Reha be okay, but she has grown and matured significantly and has learned to appreciate and fuse the two sides of her identity. I work in a community that serves many bicultural kids and this book seems to really capture the experience and emotions. Although Red, White, and Whole is one of the best books I have read this year and is sure to win awards, it may struggle with connecting to its audience. I don't think the cover helps it. Educators and parents may need to do some hand-selling of this title, but once read by the right person, especially fans of Young Girl Dreaming, it could be a game-changer and is certainly a book that I will keep with me for a long time.