Pancholy sets up several opportunities for Rahul to grow and learn to love who he is and what that means through various characters and difficult situations.
The bullying and teasing from a boy named Brent doesn’t help. However, Rahul restrains himself at school and in public, and even seems embarrassed or ashamed of being “too Indian” at times.
He is immersed at home, thanks to his immediate family and his extended family of Aunties and Uncles. He tries auditioning - and is told he’s not the right “type.” (The entire audition scene is at once hilarious and stomach-turning as Rahul and Chelsea cake on pale makeup in preparation and react to overt racism in real time.) When Rahul finally listens to his friends and himself and goes out for the math team, The Mathletes, he seems to hit his stride despite joining a “nerdfest.”Ī central conflict for Rahul is how much to embrace his Indian heritage. He tries football - and sprains his ankle in tryouts. Thanks to a wonderful grandfather, known as Bhai, Rahul has decided that this school year he’s going to find something cool and be “the best at it” in order to make this the best year ever.
Rahul Kapoor is a first generation Indian boy who struggles with trying to avoid sticking out in a school where jocks rule and white kids are the vast majority. Pancholy manages to create a host of characters readers will care about and root for while addressing racism, homophobia, identity struggles, bullying, and mental health with empathy and care. The main character Rahul is about to start 7th grade with a loving and supportive family and best friend Chelsea on one side and a score of challenges on the other. THE BEST AT IT by first-time author Maulik Pancholy made me laugh out loud (for real, not in the LOL sense) on one page and then gasp in despair on the next. This heartwarming and heartbreaking middle grade novel is honest and layered and true.
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