 When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon ISBN: 978-1481478694 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright Date: 2017 Reading Age: 12 and up Reading Level: Grades 7-12 Awards: The Amelia Bloomer Book List Genre: Young Adult Fiction Subgenre: Romance Plot Summary Dimple Shah has just finished high school and wants to be a web developer. She has big dreams for her time at Stanford University. Her parents, though, are a bit old-school and think finding a good husband and settling down might be a good option. Rishi Patel might be the perfect option—dedicated son, hopeless romantic—when the two go to the same summer program in San Francisco, could something happen with this "suggested arrangement"? Amusing and charming, this teen romance is a perfect beach read. Critical Evaluation Not only is this a sweet story of falling in love for the first time, exploring the romance of a burgeoning relationship, it is also an honest portrayal of arranged marriages and how that cultural aspect is not bad, just different from Western sensibilities. Dimple's parents love and support each other, but their marriage was arranged, and the author explores how sometimes, parents know their children well enough, they can see the potential for compatible mates. That acceptance of marriage designs so dissimilar to what Americans usually suggest may make some readers push back on those ideas. There is also the concern of inherent misogyny of this type of relationship set-up. Menon tries to deal with those issues with a strong female character who dreams of being a web developer and someone who wants to embrace her American upbringing and leave certain Indian traditions behind. It is Rishi who is the artist, the dreamer who wants to be in an arranged arranged marriage. By turning those reader expectations on their head, the author addresses some of those potential concerns. There could be a criticism made for the tech company that Dimple works for in the summer program really not being as focused on supporting new talent as they originally claim. However, since I grew up in Northern California, the attitudes of upper level management of the tech company rang true for me. In the end, When Dimple Met Rishi is a light-hearted romp of a romance with some interesting examinations of cultural expectations—old and new—included. Reader’s Annotation Dimple Shah dreams of being a web developer and is attending a summer program in the Bay Area. Can she pursue her dreams when her mom is focused on finding Dimple an IIH—Ideal Indian Husband?  About the Author Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels with lots of kissing, girl power, and swoony boys. Her books have been featured in many cool places, including on The Today Show, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, NPR, Seventeen, Entertainment Weekly, and Buzzfeed. Two of her books have won the Colorado Book Award, and her Dimpleverse series was turned into a hit TV show with Netflix India. A full-time dog servant, Sandhya makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado. With a glass of wine at her elbow, she also pens adult romances under the name Lily Menon. (About the author and author photo can be found here.) Booktalking Ideas
Iced coffee has its own part in this book. Discuss it while creating your own coffee beverage. Art and technology are often intertwined in this story, Do you think the two go together? Compliment each other? Why or why not? Challenge issues: teen sexuality Challenge Issue Resources: Nevada County Library Selection Policy Selection of materials is based upon a number of criteria that include:
The Library selects materials in accordance with the guidelines stated by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read Statement and Freedom to View Statements. The Library supports diversity of expression and views in its collection in an attempt to provide patrons with a foundation for making informed decisions and formulating personal opinions. The Library does not exclude items because of the race, nationality, social, political, or religious views of the authors. The presence of controversial materials in the collection does not represent the Library’s endorsement of the opinions expressed therein. Although some materials selected may contain language and/or illustrations that may be offensive to some patrons, the Library cannot undertake the task of pleasing all individuals by censoring such items. Active Listening Skills Staff should listen calmly to the patron’s concerns without judgement or commentary. They should acknowledge the public’s right to challenge materials and help the patron find an alternative item that will fit their needs. Nevada County Library Reconsideration form Any citizen may challenge materials. If the citizen chooses to submit a written Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials, Library staff will collect reviews and accumulate data on how the material conforms to the selection policy. An ad hoc review committee consisting of the Library Director, Branch Manager, one other librarian, and a citizen appointed at the discretion of the Library Director will review the material, judge whether it conforms to the Selection Policy and submit its report in writing to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. Concerned parties will be notified of the final decision in writing. ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. Why Included It is a light, breezy romance that also deals with the concept of arranged marriages. It explores cultural expectations of being Indian-American and how those expectations differ based on the generation. |