Review: The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani

The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385741286

Review: Have you ever had the feeling that you've lost everything that matters to you? Well, that's exactly how Sonia feels in The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani when her dad loses his job. Sonia has been going to Community, a private school, ever since she started school. She had never attended a public school and when she is forced to attend Maplewood Middle School, nothing interests Sonia; especially the fact that she has to leave her best friend, Sam, at Community. Sonia hates Maplewood and the rude and ignorant kids there don't help matters. Sonia finally squeezes into two different groups at her new school; the popular girls and the kids who are of a different nationality. Sonia becomes good friends with Kate, the popular girl, and she visits Kate's house a lot. Eventually Kate persuades Sonia to try out for cheerleading and Sonia is great! Unfortunately, Sonia ends up only being an alternate. When Sonia finds out about this, it's the last straw. She says," I'm half Indian, I'm half Jewish, and now I'm half a cheerleader." To complicate matters further, Sonia's dad has also been suffering from depression since he lost his job. In fact, his depression grows so much that he starts to smoke, which leads to even worse problems. Is there a bright side to Sonia's life? Read The Whole Story of Half a Girl to find out!

I personally think that Veera Hiranandani did a great job in writing The Whole Story of Half a Girl, her debut novel. The story is based on Ms. Hiranandani's childhood; her father was Indian and her mother was Jewish. I loved this story and I think that she was able to write this story especially well since she can so personally connect with Sonia's life. This book really makes you feel like reading. I would recommend this book for girls who are about 11 or 12. The Whole Story of Half a Girl is also great for girls who are having difficulty transitioning between two schools because they can connect to what Sonia is going through.

I think The Whole Story of Half a Girl deserves a rating of 5 out of 5. Ms. Hiranandani has done an outstanding job writing this story and conveying the struggles a child can face- especially when they feel like "half a child". Plus, she shared pieces of her own childhood into this book, giving it richness in both character development and theme. One glance and you won't be able to put The Whole Story of Half a Girl away!

Review written by Yahvi (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Whole Story of Half a Girl for this review.

Have you read The Whole Story of Half a Girl? How would you rate it?