

It may be a situation may vary- a student may be completely disengaged, or crying uncontrollably or just sad. ReviewĪs a middle school teacher, I often see first hand students having dilemmas in their friendships. Until this book, I admit I had never read a book with Indian-American protagonists. I chose When Dimple Met Rishi because it has protagonists that are of Indian descent. Unbeknownst to Dimple, a possible match between she and a boy named Rishi have been arranged by their parents.

The backdrop of this story is that Dimple’s family is beginning to pressure her to consider attract her “IIH” or ideal Indian husband. In this story, Dimple, a first generation Indian-American, is attending “Insomnia Con,” a summer coding institute where members design an app for a prize. How do you reconcile the values of your parents that are different than yours? Do you follow the path they want for you or do you forge your own? In the book, When Dimple Met Rishi, School Library Journal’s 2017 Best YA book, these are some of the biggest questions and challenges for the narrators Rishi and Dimple.
