Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

Red, White, and Whole
by Rajani LaRocca

Red, White, and Whole

Grades 5 & up

Historical Fiction

A Midsummer's Mayhem
Mirror to Mirror
Much Ado About Baseball

Book Summary:
Reha was born in America, but her parents weren't, and their dreams and expectations for Reha are sometimes different from what impresses Reha's non-Indian middle school classmates. Middle school is a time of transition and awkwardness and change for everyone, and Reha is no exception. But when her mother becomes ill, she realizes she would give or do anything for the luxury of parental embarrassment, or awkwardness, or disagreements again.

Book Review:
Written in verse and set in the 1980s, this is a beautifully written coming of age story that portrays a character walking in two worlds - weekends spent with the Indian community her family has built in their town, and weekdays spent with gossiping 13-year-olds, trying to earn good grades, and trying not to care too much about what anyone else thinks. Although there are a number of stories with similar plot lines now, this one is worth the trip. Reha is relatable to contemporary readers, and the writing is excellent.

"Sometimes, I want to be like everyone else.
I am American. I want to do American things.
Sometimes,
I just want to have fun.
But out loud,
I say nothing."
p. 69