Age Group: 12+ Years

Description:

The narrator of this sharp, funny coming-of-age novel has been judged a "number 9"—far too dark for the fairness-obsessed standards her conservative grandmother holds dear. Worse still, in her grandmother's eyes, she keeps her hair short, adores sport, and refuses to stay out of the sun. As if that weren't enough to make growing up complicated, she's also dealing with an irritating older brother, a father who feels increasingly distant, and a best friend hiding a secret romance. And now she's set her heart on winning a Sports Federation scholarship—so is she really supposed to worry about her tan, too?

A warm, witty, and refreshingly honest young-adult story that takes aim at India's obsession with fair skin while celebrating a spirited girl determined to live life on her own terms. Ages 12+.