There really should've been a trigger warning page inside this novel. I hope there was one in the final version. I'd read the synopsis but I didn't expect to see the details of what she was doing to herself. Overall, this was a really great story about love, family, and friendship. I was glad to see that Henry was actually a decent guy and didn't mean to lead Nitasha on. I was also glad to see her and Ava make up as friends The ending was pretty good too. I expected a little more from Nitasha's dad. I wanted him to stand up sooner to his own mom but I guess it makes sense for it to happen at the end.

Took me long enough to get through but it could be the combination of my life currently being in shambles and the subject matter of this being very heavy. It’s all handled incredibly well, but I do need to leave TW for self harm, attempted *uicude, and alcoholism. I love the layers in this graphic novel and appreciate the artwork being really clear throughout. Plus the mental health resources at the end were fantastic. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Pretty good, though the romance was a bit shoehorned in. Difficult subject matter. Unfortunately I think the graphic novel format limits the quality of writing possible.

Definitely an interesting read. It gives you a lot to think about in terms of family dynamics and experiencing mental health issues. I think I did face some discomfort with the internalized racism that the main character experiences so I’m not completely sure who I would recommend it to our how to recommend it as a graphic novel. Overall a very interesting exploration.

This. book was a bit darker than I thought it was going to be. I wonder if it needs a trigger warning for suicide attempt.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for a review

I feel like the conversations around such a heavy topic of self-harm and stigma's within a culture were a bit difficult to get through. For some reason I missed the part in the synopsis that mentioned cutting so when I got to that part of the story, it was honestly triggering. Very appreciative of the resources at the end but also a content warning at the beginning would be good.

This novel was quite the read. It is definitely one of those books that makes you think about the issues it discusses through the characters. It is about an Indian girl named Nitasha, who struggles to fit in at school and meet her family's expectations. She doesn't get along well with her mother because she isn't up to par with her standards, as her older brother is a doctor. Nitasha also can't seem to find the solution to fitting in at her school either, since her friends are not interested in her, but a new student. This book can be difficult for some to read due to the dark themes it contains regarding mental health.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a copy to review.

Nitasha is a young woman caught between cultures - she is not 'Indian' enough for her parents, and she is not quite 'American' enough for her white classmates. Nitasha is a good kid, who gets good grades, but feels like she can never live up to her parent's expectations. She tries to keep up with her best friend Ava, but Ava seems to be getting closer to the new, blond, beautiful rich girl. When things become too overwhelming, Nitasha turns to alcohol and harming herself. Things spin out of control, and Nitasha will need all the help she can get.
The art is crisp and beautiful, and the characters are relatable. Every teenager feels left out at some point, and can relate to Nitasha's struggles on some level.

Fitting Indian was not what I was expecting, in the best way possible. I feel like Chand brought up a lot of different issues that impact the Indian-American community while still finding a way to show the awkwardness of a teenager experiencing high school for the first time and the humorous things that come along with that experience. As a note to potential readers, this book has several content warnings to be considered prior to starting the book including: alcohol abuse, self-harm, mental illness, and other difficult topics.

Please read trigger warnings.

This is definitely a heavy read with heavy topics. The graphic novel is a powerful depiction about the mental health struggles as an Indian girl that is trying to to fit in. I deeply resonated with the story, as someone who is also part of the South Asian diaspora where it can be difficult to balance the complexities of cultural expectations and personal identity. The novel perfectly captures the tension between traditional expectations and the desire for individuality while living with immigrant parents, as well as the complexities and dynamics of familial relationships and friendships.

With the struggles of self-identity, there is also the parallel struggles of mental health, which can be a taboo subject in the immigrant community. It was a difficult and triggering read (I cried A LOT) but it serves as a crucial conversation starter about mental health in communities where such topics are often taboo.

This was a very well-depicted graphic novel that describes the cultural difficulties that a young Indian-American girl faces in her family, extended family, and religious community. She longs for more freedom, and for her parents to see her as separate from her accomplished brother and sister-in-law. Even her friendships at school are superficial and some students and teachers call her by a "nickname", India. When Nitasha becomes overwhelmed, she spirals into alcohol abuse, cutting, and eventually attempts suicide. This short novel finds redemption and healing, and Nitasha is able to find agency and purpose at the end of the book.

I highly recommend this book for teens, high schools, and libraries.

A lot of my students can relate to the main character in this book. Also, the pictures and humor are a nice touch. This book is not for me, but I can see a lot of my students gravitating towards it.

Before anything else, I'd recommend that you take the content warnings for this book very seriously. It's a book that discusses mental illness and self-harm, and since it's a graphic novel, it can get very graphic and potentially triggering. Take care of yourself while you read and feel free to ask me if you'd like more precisions in that regard.

I'm really happy that this book exists because mental illness, the painful and difficult aspects of it, is something that is rarely discussed in certain BIPOC communities and especially when it comes to girls and women. Nitasha's story is one that I think will resonate so much with anyone who's grown up in strict environments while being someone who doesn't fit people's expectations of the kind of person you're supposed to be.

It is a very painful story but also one filled with hope, and especially the hope that anything, regardless of how seemingly rooted in a culture, can be changed if it's harmful. I really loved seeing Nitasha and her mother growing into talking openly about the pain they've kept inside, the way they protected each other and tried to find a way to extend their healing to others. I've cried so much reading this book but I'm extremely grateful it's out there for other people, especially other girls, to find to let them know they're not alone and that healing is possible.

This is a very important book and I find it really nice that it's a graphic novel because I think it makes it accessible to a larger audience. The art is so lovely, the characters are drawn in a semi-realism style which inspired me a lot as it's close to how I like to draw. There is an attention to detail in the clothing patterns that was so beautiful too.

Again, if you're going to check this book out, pay close attention to the content warnings, which are also available in the first pages of it. I think if you're someone who's struggled with mental illness, especially if it's related to navigating this world as BIPOC woman or girl, you will find a lot of yourself in this book, but above all I hope it brings you a reminder that you're not alone in this.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

The quest for perfection is heavy for many immigrant kids to hold, and in this case, it results in cutting. A difficult and triggering topic is dealt with carefully, and in a beautiful GNOV format. I can see this book being a big hit in my library, although I'll check it out with trigger warnings. I think our counseling center will definitely have interest in sharing this book during mental health awareness events.

Jyoti Chand's "Fitting Indian" is an engaging and insightful book that tackles head on many topics that are often ignored or suppressed in South Asian communities. The book shines a spotlight on the damages caused when teens must always excel and shows the vary real dangers of substance abuse and untreated mental health issues. The overall coverage of these issues is fairly comprehensive and the included list of resources is a nice touch. Another very nice touch for this book is the portrayal of the support and love that the protagonist eventually receives from friends, family and community members as she begins to navigate her her path to recovery. Detracting slightly from the over all impact of the book is the overly tidy Hallmark style ending which is likely to leave many members of the intended audience rolling their eyes. However, the book has a strong hopeful message and has much to offer readers from a diverse number of backgrounds.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperAlley, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This emotional read is inspired by Jyoti Chand’s personal experience. It’s a coming-of-age YA graphic novel that profoundly discusses the themes of mental health, depression, alcoholism, and suicide.

Nitasha grapples with the pressure to meet her Indian parents’ expectations, feeling like a disappointment and an outcast at school. In her struggle, she turns to detrimental coping mechanisms such as self-harm and alcoholism. Seeing Nitasha navigate all of that while feeling so alone hurt my heart.

These pages reflect on the stigma surrounding mental health within the South Asian culture, illustrating how many suffer in silence. It also emphasizes the transformative power of seeking professional help. The panels are vibrant and rich in color, allowing the emotions to resonate deeply.

This story is a reminder that it’s ok to be vulnerable, to break generational stigmas, and to seek therapy. It’s hopeful in showing the power to heal after reaching rock bottom.

I read this entire graphic novel in one sitting. It was that good.

A friend of mine loves graphic novels and has recently gotten me interested in reading a few myself! Jyoti Chand also spoke in Tempe and while I was unable to go, I knew I had to read her debut YA graphic novel. Thank you to Jyoti Chand, Tara Anand, HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperAlley and NetGalley for the e-ARC copy of "Fitting Indian." Let's get into the review!

The graphic novel follows Nitasha, a high schooler trying to navigate friends, family and mental health, all while feeling like she can't stop disappointing her parents, especially her mom. She isn't the perfect Indian daughter her parents want her to be, her best friend and her crush at school are more interested in the rich new girl than her, and she feels like she will never be enough. Nitasha uses drinking and cutting herself to take the edge off, and when she feels she is most alone, she finds out: maybe more people than she realizes have wondered if they are enough, too.

This graphic novel is so beautifully written. It takes topics that are challenging and difficult and so human and makes sure the reader knows: they are not alone. Stigma and societal pressures impact all of us, in many cultures more than others. Especially when it comes to suicidal ideation or attempt, depression, anxiety and trauma, stigma and cultural norms around mental health can be at best draining and at worst, devastating. And "Fitting Indian" works very hard to make sure readers know: You are not crazy or abnormal. Your feelings are real. You are not alone. There is help.

I personally connected deeply with the moment when Nitasha finds out her mother also attempted suicide and is a survivor. It was so raw and heartfelt, and showed that the courage to stay alive truly does have a ripple effect. I have struggled with my mental health throughout my life and the times where I felt the most alone are also the times when I dared to reach out, and much like Nitasha finds, I found too: I was not alone. Many other people know the suffering I was feeling quite well, and we are stronger because of it. We are stronger together.

Thank you, Jyoti, for sharing this story. It is so needed.

Nitasha's main goal in "Fitting Indian" is, well, to fit in. Many of her high school relationships are broadly relatable, between her longtime best friend that she's jealous of for always having a boyfriend, and her crush, a guy she's hoping asks her to the homecoming dance.

She's also Indian, and while this is important to her, she often feels stifled by her family. Her parents want her to grow up to be a good wife, and her brother is the golden child: a doctor engaged to an Indian woman. Everything Nitasha does gets thrown back at her, whether she's trying to be like everyone else or trying to be herself. This causes a great deal of inner turmoil, leading Nitasha to often drink to excess and self-harm (both of which are illustrated in detail).

As Nitasha struggles to balance being the girl she hopes her crush likes and the girl her family desires her to be, a series of poor decisions and a very public betrayal lead to massive consequences. Everyone in her life has an opinion about what happened, and she's not sure she can handle being alive anymore.

This story says a lot of smart things about mental health and mental wellness in general, but filtering them through the lens of Nitasha's Indian family and friends offered important cultural insight into Nitasha's journey. And while "Fitting Indian"'s resolution reflects more the ideal outcome for all parties than the "realistic" outcome, I still found it an important scene to set for anyone who hopes for more awareness and knowledge around mental health and mental illness. (Also, for anyone looking to support someone who's struggling with their mental health!)

At times, I was confused by the order of the speech bubbles, and whether a sudden color change indicated a shift in tone, a flashback, or something else. But taken as a whole, the story was easy to follow and Tara Anand's illustrations are beautiful.

As someone with their own mental illness background, I was grateful that self-harm in particular — not to mention the desire to not be alive anymore — was discussed in the detail it was. Waving away these very real thoughts and experiences can perpetuate the stigma that mental illness and its internal and external manifestations are too difficult, too graphic to talk about. While Nitasha's story may come off strong to some readers — not that it isn't a powerful story, but with regards to the aforementioned discomfort when it comes to talking about mental health — I deeply appreciated the (often self-evident) risks that Jyoti Chand took in telling it.

This was a powerful story about the difficulties growing up Indian in an American world!

Fitting Indian touches on struggles with mental health, not feeling Indian enough and not feeling American enough, and the overall issues of not fitting in even when you're trying your hardest.

A lot of this graphic novel was like looking right into my own past. I felt so bad for Nitasha and how much she wanted to be like everyone else but ultimately wasn't. Not being allowed to date and also feeling like she was growing apart from her friends are such relatable experiences growing up - especially as an Indian teenager. The "you'll date after you're married" hit close to home for me too.

Addressing the mental health stigma in South Asian communities was a big theme in this book and such an important one at that. I loved how this was approached and handled throught the book. The resolution was impactful as well and I definitely teared up. It's such a necessary topic and I'm so glad Jyoti Chand wrote this book to communicate that.

The art style was perfect for this type of novel and I loved it! I really enjoyed the framing, pacing, and dialogue of everything. It was a great graphic novel. I highly recommend it!


Thank you so much to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!

What a powerful story! This graphic novel is short but covers such heavy topics in a very realistic and painful way. The stigma around mental health in South Asian culture was represented well, and I enjoyed seeing the conversations with friends and family members about its importance. Content warnings are needed for this story, but it is one I would definitely recommend to teens who feel safe reading it.