American as Paneer Pie

Eleven-year-old Indian American Lekha lives in a suburban Detroit neighbourhood where she faces racism and xenophobia. Through an array of upsetting situations she faces, such as racist comments, exclusionary slogans and graffiti in her neighbourhood, and overt acts of hate against her family, Lekha finds her voice and learns how to share her beliefs and opinions with others. A useful read-aloud resource to promote discussion of, and student writings on, the key topics of working through peer-pressure, family values conflicts, conflicting identities, trying to fit in and belong in a different country or culture, and the power youth voices can have.