Melanie Dulaney's Reviews > Drawing Deena

Wonderful book with MC learning how to speak up for herself, help her mother’s home boutique grow, handle social media and address the anxiety that is beginning to be a significant factor in her life. Deena’s family is Pakistani-American and live in the Virginia/greater Washington DC area in a middle class neighborhood. She is bright, attractive and has amazing artistic skills that are just beginning to coalescence into something that might become a future career. All is not perfect, however. Her parents are frequently overheard arguing about financial decisions, and phone/social media usage is affecting relationships. The most pressing concern is the growing feelings of nausea, inability to eat, and at times, panic and difficulty breathing. Hena Khan skillfully develops clear personalities for Deena, her immediate family, two best friends plus a cousin and aunt while revealing many good things in her life along with the challenges. By building in caring school personnel and a community-focused artist, Khan reveals a variety of ways for her character (and readers) to address each struggle in positive ways. Not every situation is resolved to a finish point, but the conclusion leaves everyone in a place where growth and resolution seem entirely likely. Great connections to be made for middle grade students and with Pakistani culture woven throughout by incorporating commonly expressed Urdu phrases, mom’s boutique that caters towards desi clothing styles, as well as Middle Eastern food and wedding practices. While no glossary is included nor footnotes, context is rich and comprehension will not be hindered when cultural references are made. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-7, especially those with high circulation in realistic fiction.

Thanks for the print arc, Salaam Reads/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.