This is a contemporary graphic novel that will appeal to fans of books like Roller Girl and Paige by Paige. It's a story that lots of readers will relate to - dealing with family changes, wanting to know more about where one comes from - but the cultural details and the #ownvoices experience make this one stand out. Black and white artwork bursts into color during the vision sequences when Pri puts the pashmina on. This is a really nice effect and differentiates between the day-to-day storyline and the fantasy world that the pashmina shows.

E ARC from Netgalley

Priyanka has trouble fitting in to her high school, although she has a good friend and a lot of artistic ability. She doesn't get along terribly well with her mother, who came to the US right before Priyanka was born and won't talk about Priyanka's father. Luckily, family friend Uncle Jatin makes time to take her to an Indian dinner and picks her up from school. When his wife is expecting, Pri worries that the new baby will cut down on the amount of time he can spend with her, and she prays to Shakti that this won't happen. When baby Shilpa is born prematurely and has health problems, Pri feels horrible. Finding a shawl of her mother's that affords her visions of life in India helps her feel a little better. Her mother still won't talk about India, but when Pri wins $500 in an art contest, she wants to go visit her aunt there. After praying to Shakti, her aunt calls and asks if Pri can come and stay with her since she is also expecting. When Pri gets to India, she is sad that the shawl no longer offers her visions, but by talking to her aunt and exploring the country, she is able to learn the background of the shawl as well as her own parentage. She returns to the US with a renewed appreciation for her mother.
Strengths: The artwork is very beautiful, and I loved the use of color for the fantasy sequences and the black and white for every day. I'd love to see more graphic novels that talk about the process of settling in the US. Many of my students were either brought to the US when very young, or are the first generation born here, and I'm sure there are lots of interesting stories. There is a lot of good cultural information in this, not only about food and clothing, but about attitudes and mores as well.
Weaknesses: Priyanka seemed more like a middle school student than a high school one. There were a fair number of reviews on Goodreads that weren't as happy with this as I was, and I think the disconnect between the stated age of the character and her reaction to events might be behind that.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. Readers of El Deafo, Roller Girl, and Sunny Side Up will love this one!

I loved this graphic novel. The mother daughter story was very touching. I loved that she wanted to learn more about her heritage and culture. That grew and became more mature by the end of her journey to India. I was a little shocked that the mom was so against her traveling to India and meeting family but I realize the mom had moved on from her own troubling time their and didn't want to drudge it up again. I do feel like in a few place the transitions to the next scene could have been a little smoother. Sometimes it jumped around to abruptly. But over all a wonderfull read.

Beautiful book. It's so wonderfully written and it literally takes you into the MCs world and you can experience everything with her. 9/10

Although the main character is older and the topics a little more intense, Chanani's "Pashmina" is an oddly magical adventure that will appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier. Which is great, because finding readalikes for those fans is always challenging.

Priyanka discovers a magical Pashmina that allows her to see things others can't. When a letter from her aunt arrives from India, she is convinced that is where her destiny lies. This book takes us along as Priyanka is forced both to mature and to come to terms with her culture and heritage. A must for middle-school students who enjoy graphic novels.

A truly unique story! Pri and her discovery of the magic Pashmina that shows one's choices, were captivating and beautifully executed. The choice of greyscale for reality and color for the pashima's world was excellent, and lent well to the story.

I really really wanted to like this and while it was okay, it wasn't great. It seemed like there were missing panels because the storiy would jump so drastically to one event to another without any explanation. I really didn't the way one of the characters called eyeglasses "a date killer". Young girls need to know that it's perfectly fine to wear glasses. They don't make girls ugly. The art was relatively good. The color panels were obviously better with greater detail than the black and white. Overall, the story didn't really have much impact. It touched on some really profound ideas but didn't really do anything with it.

Priyanka is an Indian-American young woman, living with her single mom, in California. She's got so many questions: Why did her mother leave India to raise her daughter in the States? What's India like? Why doesn't she ever talk about India? And the big question: Who's her father, and why hasn't she ever met him? For Priyanka's mom, though, the topic of India is closed. She will only say that things were different for women in India, and that's that. Left with her questions, and feeling emotional after her uncle - her only father figure - becomes a new dad, Priyanka stumbles across one of her mother's old suitcases, containing a beautiful pashmina shawl. She wraps it around herself and is transported to a magical, beautiful place: India. She also meets two guides: Kanta, an elephant, and Mayur, a peacock, who show her a breathtaking India. Priyanka gets the feeling she may not be getting the whole story - especially when the two guides keep shooing away a mysterious shadow that lurks by them - but she's determined to find out more about her heritage and her birth.

Priya gets the opportunity when her aunt calls to reconnect with her estranged sister. She's pregnant, and Priya's mom agrees to let her fly to India to spend time with her. Thrilled, Priya embarks on a journey that will provide more answers than she expected, and learn more about her mother - and herself.

Pashmina is brilliant, bold, and beautiful storytelling. It's the story of a child walking the line between two cultures, and it's a story about the search for identity. It's also a powerful story of feminism; the goddess Shakti guiding women to choose their own paths and the women who are brave enough to answer the call. Nidhi Chanani creates breathtaking, colorful vistas within the pashmina's world, making Priya's everyday black-and-white world even more stark and humdrum. This is a must-add to graphic novel collections, particularly for middle schoolers and teens. Booktalk and display with Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese, Na Liu's Little White Duck, and Sarah Garland's Azzi in Between.

See more of Nidhi Chanani's art at her website.

First off, I love Graphic Novels for younger audiences, I know I have said it and I am saying it again. They are a wonderful way to get reluctant readers started, they are visually appealing, and they can teach a lot though those images and limited words. I find that some graphic novels do a wonderful job taking what has meaning and preparing it in a concise way so that the reader is able to take it in easier and it ends up having more impact.

I think that this is one of those graphic novels. Nidhi Chanai uses magical realism to tell the story of a young girl who wants to know more about her mothers past and where she came from, the Pashmina scarf is her way to see India in all of its splendor. But when she gets the chance to visit India, she learns that while, yes, there are beautiful bits, you have to take everything in context. India is gorgeous through the lens of the Pashmina but India in real life, while still beautiful has some flaws.

Priyanka, the main character, learns a lot about her heritage from these trips with the Pashmina, and from her visit with an aunt. The tale is heartwarming and reflective and for those of us who have never experienced India, it is a good way for us to learn about the culture and its difference from living in the US and how people that are coming from these backgrounds do things a certain way for a reason.

The book also includes a glossary in the end of words used that non-Indian readers will find very helpful. Overall, I think this book is wonderful for SO many reasons, if you have a young reader, reluctant reader, or one that likes to learn about cultures, this is definitely a book to grab.

Blog Review will go live on Sept 25th.

I think many children will enjoy this combination of fantasy and realistic fiction.

When Priyanka discovers the powers of the pashmina shawl, showing the wearer the choices in life they have if they just let go of their fears, she turns towards her cultural roots to better understand herself. A powerful story of self identity and acceptance and coming of age complimented with vibrant and engrossing graphics. -Jesica Sweedler DeHart

I love the illustrations for this story! It's a very interesting tale that spins in the diverse world of India. It would be a good addition to any juvenile collection, and suggested to readers who enjoy graphic novels or who may struggle with an unknown family history (or hitting a teenage phase). I do think the story could be developed a bit more in places, but is still worth the read.

This book was kind of a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed learning about the characers culture, but the magical elements, never took off for me. Maybe it was because the writer really shared the interior thoughts of the character. The artwork is simple but well done.

At times, I found this a bit hard to follow, but a lovely story overall.

Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via NetGalley.

This was a beautifully drawn, colored, and executed comic! I loved Priyanka's young, evolving voice throughout the novel. This speaks a lot to the feelings one has when they're young and unsure of their past and where their future will take them. Woven beautifully with a few glimpses at parts of Indian culture and Hindu religion, this is a beautiful and very real feeling glimpse into a girl who is unsure of where she's going because she's not sure where she's been. It was a quick read for me, but one that I feel like I could come back to again and again.

Priyanka is an Indian-American raised by a single mom. She finds that she can't relate to her mom and is teased a lot at school.. One day she finds a pashmina in her mom's old suitcase and when she puts it on, something magical happens. Filled with lots of cultural references, this graphic novel has a lot of heart. It will appeal to those who are curious about their Indian heritage as well as for those who are curious about Indian culture in general. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this. Priyanka, an Indian-American teen living in the US learns more about India and her family. Oh, and there's a magic pashmina involved. There's a nice glossary in the back for anyone unfamiliar with the Indian words and terminology. The artwork is warm and lovely.
I do still have some unanswered questions so I'm hoping for a follow up. :)

This copy was provided free via NetGalley by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Beautiful artwork and culture infused. I wish that I got to spend more time with the story after Priyanka learned what the purpose of the pashmina was, and less time with the story before that when the true meaning of it wasn't available to us. But I truly loved the concept of the pashmina and loved how the Indian culture was effortlessly woven into the story of a girl who has only known America.

While I'm sure there may have been some cultural stuff that I missed, I did still enjoy this GN. It's an interesting view into a word which I knew little about. And while the main character interest was more about finding her roots/focusing on India, I think her journey and feelings is something almost anyone can relate to.