"Celebrating the diversity of the South Asian American experience in a local community center, this heartwarming novel of interconnected stories, set in New Jersey, follows a group of local kids who gather together to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance and even save a life. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations." - (Baker & Taylor)

"A story of community, belonging, and friendship told by South Asian authors through an interconnected anthology, based in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, and centralized at the town community center"-- - (Baker & Taylor)

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won't make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji-- he just can't eat it).

These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.

Hena Khan is a Pakistani-American who was born and raised in Maryland, where she still lives. She enjoys writing about her culture as well as all sorts of other subjects, from spies to space travel. You can learn more about Hena by visiting her website: www.henakhan.com. - (Grand Central Pub)

Booklist Reviews

The Maple Grove Community Center is the beating heart of the desi families in the fictional town of Maple Grove, NJ, so when it is threatened with closure, everyone springs into action to save it. Eleven stories, written by authors in the South Asian diaspora, paint a picture of the rich cultural, geographic, linguistic, and religious diversity embodied by the people of the enormous Indian subcontinent. Each short story contains its own teen or preteen protagonist grappling with a personal matter: a chess competition, a Quran recitation, a dance, a crush. Individual stories stand alone, but cameos and references link them together beautifully. All the events and emotional resolutions take place at the community center. While the protagonists are at the core of their stories, we learn also of their families and friends, their histories, pet peeves, values, virtues, and flaws, so that each character is fully developed even within the brevity of a short story. A delight for cultural insiders that will charm and educate outsiders, this middle-grade anthology has something for everyone. Grades 4-6. Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.