Hope in the Valley

Starred review from May 29, 2023
In this moving novel by Perkins (The Story of Us), 13-year-old aspiring poet Pandita Paul struggles to navigate grief and change in her rapidly gentrifying Silicon Valley neighborhood. Since the death of Pandu’s mother years ago, the apricot orchard across the street—which the two called Ashar Jaiga, or place of hope­—has recently been a sanctuary for Pandu, until it’s threatened when the mansion property on which it sits is sold for redevelopment into purportedly affordable rental units. When demolition begins, Pandu loses access to this refuge and worries that, once the orchard is gone, her memories of Ma will go with it. In her search for a solution, Pandu cultivates an alliance with the town librarian and members of the local historical preservation society, who are adamant about preventing the property’s bulldozing. But this allyship puts Pandu at odds with her older sister Shar, an affordable housing activist who supports the development. Though the novel is set in the 1980s, issues surrounding housing inequity and financial precarity deeply resonate with present-day challenges. Employing Pandu’s lilting voice and quiet bravery, Perkins crafts an introspective novel about moving on from loss and finding the courage to fight for what one believes in. Pandu and her family are Indian American. Ages 8–12.

June 1, 2023
Grades 3-6 Ever since her ma passed a few years back, Pandita Paul has made it a goal to remember her. This becomes harder when Ashar Jaiga, the once-secret place she shared with her mom, goes up for demolition, and her baba starts dating. As Pandita rallies to preserve the property, one of her sisters fights to transform it into potential affordable housing. Pandita's social life takes a hit, too, as she's forced to attend drama camp with her ex-best friend while another friendship fizzles. Hoping to reclaim letters from her mom hidden at Ashar Jaiga, Pandita sifts through boxes but learns instead about her hometown's complex history--like the ""Keep California White"" campaign--and realizes that, maybe, moving on doesn't have to mean letting go. Perkins has written a sensitive character who comes of age during a time of rapid change in 1980s Silicon Valley. Pandita's thoughtful nature is most evident through her love of poetry, through which her voice is clear even as she shies away from the stage. Perfect for readers seeking an emboldened young hero.

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Starred review from July 21, 2023

Gr 3-7-American Indian and newly 13, Pandita Paul is growing up in 1980s Silicon Valley. She doesn't like change and is less than thrilled to be starting eighth grade in the fall. She just wants to spend the summer on the porch of the abandoned mansion nearby, writing poetry and letters to her dead mom. Pandita's older twin sisters, Shar and Indy, aren't necessarily on board with "Operation Remember Ma." Shar announces the nonprofit where she works has plans to sell and demolish the nearby property and orchard to build affordable housing, and Pandita is heartbroken. A rift forms between town members and family members alike. Some want the property preserved, while others see the changes more positively. At Drama Camp, Pandita meets a new boy in town, Leo, who plays guitar and is cast as the lead in The Sound of Music. When Baba, her father, considers dating, Pandita sees this as a further threat to her mom's memory. Then she finds out Leo's family may have to leave Sunny Creek due to lack of affordable housing, and Pandita must look inside herself to consider whether change can sometimes be positive. Perkins explores topics that were relevant both then and now, including racism, housing inequity, and activism on a level that young readers will be able to comprehend and learn from. Will Pandita be able to find her voice, speak up to preserve history, perform in the musical, and help bring her community together? VERDICT Perkins explores matters of grief, growing up, and multigenerational relationships in a moving novel that will resonate and linger with readers long after the last beautiful page.-Michele Shaw

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2023
Grief, memories, and the difficulty of letting go permeate this powerful story about family, friendship, and finding your voice. Pandita Paul's Bengali family includes two older twin sisters, Shar and Indy, and their father, Baba, but it has a gaping hole: their late Ma. This chasm is deepened as the nearby abandoned Johnson property, including the orchard Pandu and Ma called Ashar Jaiga, or place of hope, is being sold and developed for rental units. This demolition will take with it Pandu's sweet recollections of enjoying the orchard's apricots, flowers, and bird song with Ma. Things are changing too fast for Pandu. Worse, everyone seems to be moving on, including her ex-best friend and even Baba, who is dating The Intruder. But tentative friendships blossom at her summer drama camp even as Pandu, desperately clinging to her memories of Ma, is pitted against her own sister, who advocates for affordable housing in their Silicon Valley community. Set in the 1980s, this beautifully written book weaves together the Indian American Pauls' personal histories as well as those of the U.S. and India. In trying to save the place she and her mother loved, the 13-year-old embarks on a journey that takes her down pathways of memory of earlier inhabitants of the Johnson house and the region. In doing so, Pandu gives wings to her words and her voice. There's poetry here, along with literature and lots of culinary heritage, all combining in a deeply compelling read. A riveting, courage-filled story. (Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 1, 2023
The former orchard across from Pandita Paul's home, dilapidated though it may be, holds a special place in the thirteen-year-old's heart. It's where she and her late mother used to spend time: "Ashar Jaiga, as Ma and I called it. Ma's name, Asha, which means 'hope,' Ma's place, Ashar Jaiga. Place of Hope." Now the property is up for sale. Pandita, encouraged by the historical society's call to preserve it, becomes the group's youngest member. Meanwhile, one of her twin older sisters, an activist, helps spearhead the fight for demolition of the orchard and subsequent construction of affordable rental units. The story is set in the summer of 1980 in Silicon Valley, California, before the tech boom. It is a place on the cusp, much like the story's protagonist, who finds herself compelled by memories of her past; the complex and fascinating history she uncovers; and possibilities for the future of her town, her family, and herself. Pandita, a budding poet, reluctantly attends summer drama camp, meets a talented new boy, reconciles with her former best friend, and struggles with family changes. An engaging subplot involves a new love interest for her father; the woman (a.k.a. "the Intruder") is brash and outspoken, and her unsolicited opinion on the development issue is enlightening for the characters, and for readers, about both sides having a point and no one being demonized. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2023
The former orchard across from Pandita Paul's home, dilapidated though it may be, holds a special place in the thirteen-year-old's heart. It's where she and her late mother used to spend time: "Ashar Jaiga, as Ma and I called it. Ma's name, Asha, which means 'hope,' Ma's place, Ashar Jaiga. Place of Hope." Now the property is up for sale. Pandita, encouraged by the historical society's call to preserve it, becomes the group's youngest member. Meanwhile, one of her twin older sisters, an activist, helps spearhead the fight for demolition of the orchard and subsequent construction of affordable rental units. The story is set in the summer of 1980 in Silicon Valley, California, before the tech boom. It is a place on the cusp, much like the story's protagonist, who finds herself compelled by memories of her past; the complex and fascinating history she uncovers; and possibilities for the future of her town, her family, and herself. Pandita, a budding poet, reluctantly attends summer drama camp, meets a talented new boy, reconciles with her former best friend, and struggles with family changes. An engaging subplot involves a new love interest for her father; the woman (a.k.a. "the Intruder") is brash and outspoken, and her unsolicited opinion on the development issue is enlightening for the characters, and for readers, about both sides having a point and no one being demonized.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)