Debating Darcy

December 1, 2021
Grades 7-11 High-school forensics competitions form an effective backdrop for romance in the latest reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. Beginning with a dramatic, disastrous first encounter in a high-school cafeteria, Firoze Darcy, a senior at Netherfield Academy, an elite private school, tries to court Leela Bose, a junior at Longbourn, a public high school. Stung by Firoze's initial, unguarded comment and put off by his apparent wealth and privilege, Leela takes offense at innocuous remarks and only gradually comes to appreciate his intelligence, good sense, strong family ties, and sincere concern for her welfare and that of her teammates. A subplot involves sexism in forensics. Firoze is biracial with Pakistani heritage, and Leela is part of a Bengali American family. The remaining characters, mainly students, parents, and team sponsors, are a diverse group whose personalities and stories are reminiscent of secondary characters in Jane Austen's classic novel, though often taking on unexpected roles. While prior knowledge of Pride and Prejudice isn't a prerequisite, it will certainly add to readers' amusement and enjoyment of this cleverly conceived romance.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from January 10, 2022
An almost scene-for-scene reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, DasGupta’s (Force of Fire) YA debut centers two Desi protagonists in the high-stakes world of high school forensics. After encountering Netherfield Academy’s debater Firoze Darcy, a senior of Pakistani descent, public school speech phenom and theater nerd Leela Bose finds herself reeling from his dismissal. Standing in for the source material’s Bennet family, Leela’s multiethnic speech team tackles competitions instead of balls. Leela soon feels an easy kinship with Wickham analog Jishnu Waddedar—a debater and fellow Bengali from military academy Regimental, with whom she shares a cultural upbringing. But when Jishnu betrays Leela, first lying about his relationship to Firoze and then sexually harassing Leela’s teammate Lidia, the latter incident provides an opening for the teens to publicly address the misogyny that young women face on the circuit. Studded with references to U.S. and South Asian pop culture as well as Jane Austen–related Easter eggs, DasGupta’s astute, buoyant comedy of manners employs witty, rat-a-tat dialogue alongside social commentary about subjects including classism, colorism, and sexism. Ages 12–up. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US.

April 1, 2022
Pride and Prejudice is transported into the cutthroat world of high school speech competitions in this humorous and timely retelling. When Firoze Darcy first meets Leela Bose, she is singing her heart out while standing on a cafeteria table. The wealthy, very proper, and extremely attractive Firoze is horrified, especially after she makes a light joke at his expense. Leela, one of the stars of her high school's debate team, is intrigued when she hears from her coaches--the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet--that exclusive Netherfield Academy, where Darcy is forensics team president, will be among those competing against them. When Darcy's snobbishness becomes apparent, however, Leela declares him a rival. DasGupta's Austen retelling both closely follows the original classic and updates it in refreshing ways. Darcy is the biracial son of a Pakistani Muslim mother and White British father. Indian American Leela, who is from a Bengali Hindu family, is taken aback when she learns that his mother is the president of Pemberley, the prestigious (and costly) university she has long dreamed of attending. Nods to Austen's original dialogue are present throughout, requiring readers to occasionally suspend disbelief given the cast of contemporary teens. Class, colorism, and the complicated nature of South Asian American identity are explored, while the scandal at the heart of the book has been updated in a realistic way that gives young women space to speak up and fight back. A delight. (author's note) (Fiction. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2022

Gr 8 Up-The world of high school competitive speech and debate is rife with passion, dedication, and complexity. Fortunately, so is Leela Bose, a Bengali American feminist who is a devoted friend, a loyal daughter, and far more insecure than those who know her might guess. Unfortunately, the incorrigible competitor Firoze Darcy, also Bengali American, pushes all of her buttons. In this comedy of manners, a series of miscommunications (and very intentionally hurtful communications) drives a wedge between Leela and her speech friends and ongoing perceptions of classism continue to put Leela and Firoze into each other's chaotic orbit. This reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice centers a diverse cast of characters navigating through experiences of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia and gives voice to Austen characters who had been voiceless. But make no mistake, Leela and crew are not Austen's characters, they're DasGupta's own. VERDICT Perfect for fans of young adult realism, comedic romances, and feminist themes.-Sarah Voels

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2022
This retelling of Pride and Prejudice replaces the Bennets with a ragtag speech and debate team looking to make it amongst the more elite private academies. Leela Bose, an Indian American high schooler, is poised to reach the top this year with her fellow Longbourn High forensicators ("yes, it's a real word"). But then the team meets Firoze Darcy, a debate competitor for Netherfield Academy (and "Desi hottie"). An obnoxious comment from Firoze makes Leela, who has often faced racism and colorism, feel "ugly" in a way she hasn't felt since she left the nearly-all-white town where she grew up, and when Firoze becomes a regular presence at her high-school tournaments, she goes on the offensive. In her YA debut, DasGupta (author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond middle-grade series) balances everyday teen topics like crushes and arguments with more wide-ranging issues like sexism, sexual harassment, and racism. She evokes the feel of Austen through lots of references to the original and writes with a similar witty tone, while keeping the language contemporary and fresh. With its plucky cast of modern-day teens, this is a great entry point for new Austen fans. Amy Dittmeier

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2022
This retelling of Pride and Prejudice replaces the Bennets with a ragtag speech and debate team looking to make it amongst the more elite private academies. Leela Bose, an Indian American high schooler, is poised to reach the top this year with her fellow Longbourn High forensicators ("yes, it's a real word"). But then the team meets Firoze Darcy, a debate competitor for Netherfield Academy (and "Desi hottie"). An obnoxious comment from Firoze makes Leela, who has often faced racism and colorism, feel "ugly" in a way she hasn't felt since she left the nearly-all-white town where she grew up, and when Firoze becomes a regular presence at her high-school tournaments, she goes on the offensive. In her YA debut, DasGupta (author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond middle-grade series) balances everyday teen topics like crushes and arguments with more wide-ranging issues like sexism, sexual harassment, and racism. She evokes the feel of Austen through lots of references to the original and writes with a similar witty tone, while keeping the language contemporary and fresh. With its plucky cast of modern-day teens, this is a great entry point for new Austen fans.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)