Purchase to Support Our Program

“When her father lands a job in the United States, Shalini’s family relocates from Bangalore, India, to Los Angeles…Shalini is miserable in high school, where her foreign manners and dress target her for ridicule…Daswani…portrays a contemporary immigrant family and community with empathic insight and humor. Straddling two very different worlds, Shalini remains authentic and appealing throughout her metamorphosis.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Lovetorn

Written by Kavita Daswani
Published by HarperCollins

Shalini is new to L.A. Not new like from New York City new—or even Kansas new. New like from India new.

And in the U.S., she has it all wrong: the way she dresses, the way she talks, the way she wears her hair. And then there is the ring, which makes her way different from everyone else—because Shalini has been engaged since she was three to Vikram, back in India.

Shalini’s life has been turned upside down. She doesn’t fit in, her mom is depressed, and email is no substitute for being with Vikram.

But when she meets Toby at school, Shalini’s heart gets turned upside down, too. Just looking at Toby makes her stomach flutter. She thinks she loves Vikram, but he never made her feel like this.

Primary ISBN: 9780061673115
Publication Date: January 2012
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Young Adult, Age 13 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: India (Bangalore), United States (Los Angeles CA)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.