Pashmina

August 1, 2017
In this feminist graphic novel, a young woman searches for the truths of her past with the help of a long-lost aunt; Shakti, the Divine Mother Goddess; and a mysterious shawl. Indian-American teenager Priyanka "Pri" Das, a talented artist and a bit of a loner, wants to know both why her deeply religious mother left India for California so abruptly years ago and her father's whereabouts. But Pri's mother refuses to speak of India: "That subject is permanently closed." Soon, Pri discovers a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase in her Los Angeles home. When she wraps it around her shoulders, she is transported to an imagined, romanticized India--one as colorful as a Bollywood movie, in contrast to the black-and-white images of her everyday life. There, a talking elephant and bird introduce Pri (and readers) to the country's festivals, foods, and fashion, but Pri knows this isn't the "real" India. To find "her" India and uncover her mother's secrets, Pri will travel to the subcontinent, where she learns about women's choices--especially her mother's--and living without fear. While the book covers well-worn territory about bicultural and immigrant conflicts, it also dramatically explores the ways women are constrained by patriarchy. Pri is the daughter of a single mother, a family structure rarely represented in young people's literature of the South Asian diaspora. An original graphic novel, the first written and illustrated by an Indian-American creator, this is both a needed contribution and a first-rate adventure tale. (Graphic novel. 10-14)

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Starred review from September 18, 2017
Priyanka is the teenage daughter of a single mother from Calcutta who won’t answer her questions about why she came to the U.S. or who Priyanka’s father is. “In India I would never talk this rude way to my mom,” Priyanka’s mother chastises. Mean girls make school rough; drawing is Priyanka’s only solace. A silk pashmina in her mother’s closet gives Priyanka the ability to see India, the homeland she’s never visited, in sequences that explode with vibrant color, in contrast to the dark purples Chanani uses for Priyanki’s everyday life. When she’s finally able to travel there, her aunt answers the questions that have blighted Priyanka’s relationship with her mother, and the pashmina gives her a mission. Newcomer Chanani’s figures lean toward cuteness, softening the story’s darker moments. Most impressive is the way Chanani keeps the story’s distinct and fascinating plot elements spinning. One work can’t represent a whole subcontinent, but readers will come away with a living sense of a small part of it—and characters to care about. Ages 10–14. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary.

October 15, 2017
Grades 6-10 Priyanka is deeply curious about her mother's past in India, but she won't tell her daughter anything, not even Pri's father's name. Meanwhile, Pri finds a beautifully embroidered pashmina hidden in a closet, and when she puts it on, she's transported to a fantastical version of India, full of colorful scenes, magical creatures, and delicious food, which only amplifies her desire to visit the country. A family crisis causes her mother to reconsider her stance, and soon Pri embarks on the journey she's been dreaming about. Yet when she arrives in India, it's nothing like the visions the pashmina has offered, but tracking down the garment's origin helps illuminate both Pri's relationship to India and her better grasp of her mother's perspective. Chanani's stylized cartoons shift from a palette of gray, black, and white when depicting Pri's life in California to bold, vibrant color when the pashmina transports its wearer to a fantastical reality. Although some plot mechanics are a little murky, Chanani's debut is a lively, engaging exploration of culture, heritage, and self-discovery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
In this debut graphic novel, a beautiful pashmina shows visions of a vibrant India to comics-loving teen Priyanka; when Pri travels to India herself, she solves the mystery of a shadowy figure and the pashmina's origins. Chanani's rounded figures give the illustrations accessibility, and colors are used to great emotional effect. Pri is a realistically complex, sometimes moody character; her varied interests and inquisitive musings showcase her depth. Glos.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2018
In this debut graphic novel, comics-loving teen Priyanka doesn't know much about her mom's old life in India--or about her dad ("that subject is permanently closed"). Then Pri finds a beautiful pashmina in an old suitcase. When she wears it, Pri has visions of a vibrant India, complete with talking animals and an ominous shadowy figure. When Pri travels to India herself, she solves the mystery of the shadowy figure and the pashmina's origins (the goddess Shakti gave it the power to "allow women to see their choices"). Pri learns that even though the true India isn't the enchanted land she envisioned, that doesn't make it any less special: an aunt tells her, "Do not look at the dirt. Look at the people." Pri also learns that she and her mother are crucially connected through their shared experiences with the pashmina. Chanani's rounded figures give the illustrations accessibility, and colors are used to great emotional effect. Contemporary reality is shown in grayscale; the past in sepia hues; and Pri's imagined India in rich colors that radiate off the pages. Priyanka is a realistically complex, sometimes moody character, with depth shown through her varied interests and inquisitive musings. Although the protagonist is in high school, younger readers (especially fans of Brosgol's Anya's Ghost, rev. 7/11) will have no trouble reading up. elisa gall

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2017

Gr 4-8-Priyanka is a teenage girl who loves to draw. Her mother emigrated from India years ago, leaving Pri's father behind. Pri is eager to learn about her father and her Indian heritage, but her mother refuses to discuss the subject. Then Pri finds an old pashmina in her mother's suitcase, and when she puts it on, she is magically transported to the India of her dreams. Pri is greeted by an elephant and a peacock, who offer to show her around the country. Though they provide some answers, they inspire even more questions, and Pri must figure out how and why reality and her dream world overlap. This heartwarming story about family problems and female empowerment will inspire readers to make their voices heard. Much of the artwork is reminiscent of the illustrations in Vera Brosgol's Anya's Ghost: black-and-white with clear thick lines. Whenever someone dons the pashmina, the pages are suddenly drenched in rich colors. VERDICT This dazzling blend of realistic fiction and fantasy is perfect for fans of characters who have to overcome obstacles on their way to growing up.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

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