The Whole Story of Half a Girl

By Veera Hiranandani
Rating: 3 3/4 stars

Being a kid isn't as easy as it seems.  Sonia is half-Indian, half-Jewish and has spent all of her life at Community, a tiny private school.  But when her father loses his job, suddenly she has to start the new school year at the local public school.  Her best friend Sam begins to seem distant and nothing is like her old classroom.  Sonia tries to make new friends, and is flattered by attention from pretty and popular Kate who encourages Sonia to try out for cheerleading.  But she also is interested in Alisha, a black girl who gets bussed into their school system.  But the black kids sit separately from the whites at lunch and Sonia can't decide--where does she belong?  Her skin is dark, but is she considered black?  White?  A Jew when you don't really go to Temple?  While she struggles to figure out how to belong, Sonia's home life becomes even more complicated as her father sinks into a deep depression.  This is a really interesting story as we root for Sonia to sort out some very difficult problems and sympathize with her when she isn't always truthful.  Her worries feel real and will strike a chord with readers.  A solid school and family story.