Description
A Junior Library Guild Selection 2017
Amazon Top Twenty Children’s Book of the Year 2017
Amazon Best Book of the month December 2017
Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2017
Texas Maverick Graphic Novel 2017
Northern California Indie Bookseller Association Long-List Title
Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri’s mom avoids these questions—the topic of India is permanently closed.
For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she’s ever dared and find the family she never knew.
In this heartwarming graphic novel debut, Nidhi Chanani weaves a tale about the hardship and self-discovery that is born from juggling two cultures and two worlds.
This title has Common Core connections.
About the Author
Nidhi Chanani was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She holds a literature degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She creates illustrations that capture love in everyday moments. In 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. Her illustrations are often featured at Disney Parks. She’s the author of the graphic novel Pashmina; Shubh Raatri Dost/Good Night Friend, a bilingual board book; and illustrator of the picture book I Will Be Fierce. Nidhi draws and dreams in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kid.
Praise For…
"Chanani masterfully turns the complex immigrant narrative into a magical and captivating work of art." —New York Times
"Chanani’s debut graphic novel is a charming blend of fantasy and reality with a feminist twist." —Washington Post
"In this spectacular debut graphic novel, a young woman searches for the truths of her past." —Teen Vogue
“Colorful and deeply personal, Pashmina illuminates the experience of an Indian-American teenager and invites us to contemplate the power of our choices.” —Gene Luen Yang, national bestselling author of American Born Chinese
"Pashmina is filled to the brim with magic and heart.” —Victoria Jamieson, author or Roller Girl
"Most impressive is the way Chanani keeps the story’s distinct and fascinating plot elements spinning. One work can’t represent a whole subcontinent, but readers will come away with a living sense of a small part of it—and characters to care about." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This dazzling blend of realistic fiction and fantasy is perfect for fans of characters who have to overcome obstacles on their way to growing up." —School and Library Journal, starred review
"An original graphic novel written and illustrated by an Indian-American creator, this is both a needed contribution and a first-rate adventure tale." —Kirkus
"Chanani’s debut is a lively, engaging exploration of culture, heritage, and self-discovery." —Booklist
"Fantasy with humor and substance, this is a book for girls seeking empowerment and agency." —The Bullitin of the Center for Childrens Books