The Whole Story of Half a Girl

I finished this book yesterday and I highly recommend it. Growing up, there were never any books with characters that were as mixed as me and as conflicted as me. Sonia struggles with not only her identity but switching schools and her father’s depression as well. This is a story everyone should read. I love the message that being half of anything doesn’t make you less of it. My favorite part was when Sonia is asked what she is and she responds that she is Indian and Jewish but that she has family from Russia as well and another country I am not recalling right now. I was ecstatic when I saw that. It wasn’t until high school that I truly embraced all I was: Guyanese-Indian from dad, Italian, Polish, Irish, and German from mom. We can trace our roots and know who immigrated from India to Guyana (my dad’s generation is first in America). We can trace roots back to Italy, Poland, Ireland and Germany as far back as great-great-greats!

My 10 yr old daughter really enjoyed reading this book, so much so that I read it too. It address some Middle School topics like fitting in while also remaining true to oneself but in a new and refreshing light. The main character, Sonia, deals with her own identity as well as confronting some more mature topics such as a parent's depression following job loss. It was great to see a realistic main character that had a multi ethnic and cultural background and it prompted some thoughtful conversations with my daughter. Overall a refreshing and thoughtful read.

Sonia Nadhamuni's life is going well until her father loses his job and she's pulled out of the private school she adores. Now in a public school, she feels out of place. Her classmates make her uncomfortable with their questions geared towards her name and looks. With an Indian father and Jewish mother, the kids focus is on who she is, what she is, and what religion she practices. Sonia tries to fit in with new friends and cheerleading tryouts, but this doesn't mean she's being true to herself. Meanwhile, at home, things are getting worse with her parents. Her mother, who works longer hours because of the father's job loss, doesn't like all the changes in Sonia's social life and her unemployed father is going through emotional changes that will rock the family. I enjoyed all the elements of family, friendship, and diversity in this middle grade novel.

This is a sensitive and heartwarming book. The story is beautifully told! The author came to our school in Brookline, MA and spoke to our middle schoolers and told them about the parts of the book that came from her own life and experiences! Highly recommend for middle school students

My daughters (10 and 12) both read this book in one sitting. They could not put it down. Such a refreshing book--tackles big social issues with wonderful dialogue--fast-paced and keeps the language at middle-grade level. The main character, Sonia, is believable and likable--she deals as best she can with her father's depression, and yet the story remains upbeat and light. So glad we have added this fantastic book to our shelf! Will certainly re-read again and again, and will recommend it to friends!

Since I am friends with the author (she's an extraordinary person, in addition to her mad writing skills), I decided to buy copies for three 9 and 10 year old girls I know so I could write an unbiased review. First of all, all three girls said "FIVE STARS!" Second, and I think this tells you all you need to know, I will report one quote from each: "I looooooooooved it!" "It was one of those books you read with the flashlight under the blankets because you can't stop reading to go to sleep" and "what are her other books--can I get them, please?"

This book was good. It had some powerful messages. It was a bit boring at times but overall it was good. I would recommend it to middle schoolers.

My daughter was just starting to read middle grades books when I discovered The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Hiranandani approaches complex topics that pre-teens are just starting to become aware of with such insight and such a wise yet approachable perspective that it felt like the perfect way to enter my daughter into a more sophisticated reading experience. The characters were fun, but they were also real and relatable. She couldn’t put it down and it made for great conversations and nights of reading together.