by Mitali Perkins

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Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul doesn’t like change. She’s not ready to start middle school and leave the comforts of childhood behind. Most of all, Pandita doesn’t want to feel like she’s leaving her mother, who died a few years ago, behind. After a falling out with her best friend, Pandita is planning to spend most of her summer break reading and writing in her favorite secret the abandoned but majestic mansion across the street.

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What I Liked:

-I really liked the positive family portrayals. Pandita and her older sisters love and support each other, though they do disagree from time to time. And their father is an active character in the novel, while most MG parents typically aren’t involved in the book. It was a refreshing change.

-The Indian culture aspects woven throughout. Long story short, I have a special love for India and especially Indian food, so I smiled whenever Indi was cooking something.

What I Struggled With:

-Mr. Paul and Dr. Shom. The subplot of Pandita’s dad getting into a new relationship made sense, and fit with the book. But their engagement felt really rushed. Maybe my timeline for the novel was off, but it felt like they hadn’t known each other all that long, and Pandita and her sisters still barely knew Dr. Shom when Mr. Paul and Dr. Shom get engaged.

Overall:

Hope in the Valley was a sweet read.

Cautions: light romance; two kisses

*I received an e-ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*