Concerning & Potentially Concerning Content

The main character goes to a middle school dance and dances with a boy which leads to a 'courting' scene, as described in the book, where the main character and a boy share a quick kiss. There is no mention of boyfriend/girlfriend type relationship and at the end of the book the boy she kissed is described as her friend. All that said, the kiss is still something a parent would want to discuss and set expectations with for their child if they allow them to read this. The main character is Hindu and has some Hindu religious stories, cultural differences and distinctions. Reincarnation is mentioned. It is not overt and constant but it is there. The mom quits college to have an arranged marriage to someone who plans to move to America. The 'god of death' is mentioned throughout the retelling of Hindu stories. The mother is diagnosed and dies from Leukemia, there are descriptions of intubation, chemotherapy, and the general process of death. For some younger or more sensitive readers this would be a lot to handle. Similarly, there is blood-related imagery throughout the novel, which is not graphic but if you have a squeamish reader this isn’t a great pick. There is some implied racism/cultural ignorance but it is fairly common things, like someone talking loudly to the main character because they don’t know if she speaks English. These situations are not described as racism but as almost a barrier between living as a community. For Christians, this book focuses on hard work and good behavior as the pillars of having a successful life. These are certainly not bad characteristics, but in Christ Alone is our strength rather than self-derived perseverance. This certainly should be discussed.