Starred review from April 25, 2022
Overflowing with love, Chari’s (the Mars Patel series) heartfelt novel is an intersection of art, community, and friendship that absolutely delivers. Set in Boston amid a recession, 14-year-old Karthik Raghavan spends his summer reluctantly delivering groceries for his parents’ struggling store, but he’d rather grab ice cream and pine for his crush, Juhi Shah, who frequents his favorite local haunt, Carmine’s Ice Cream Parlor. When one of his parents’ devoted customers, graduate student Shanthi, asks Karthik to be the lead in her play about his hero, composer Leonard Bernstein, he readily accepts, but only in secret. His Indian immigrant mother stresses academic work and “safe” professions (such as a career at “a big software company”), and Karthik’s worried that his parents won’t support his artistic exploration. As he juggles rehearsals with his family responsibilities, Karthik learns to trust others and take chances, and begins to find himself. Chari’s large cast features representatives across the Indian diaspora, including bohemian Shanthi, Karthik’s entrepreneurial father, and enigmatic Juhi, showcasing a multilayered, multigenerational community. Karthik is a compassionate and deeply funny narrator, and his journey of self-discovery while balancing familial obligation and chasing his dreams endears and inspires. Ages 10–14. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.