From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon // Book Review

Sandhya Menon's newest young adult read is all about culture, high school friendships and first love. It tells a one-of-a-kind story that is sure to make you bawl your eyes out. (Which I can confirm - I did).

Aspiring filmmaker Twinkle Mera has spent her whole life with a crush on Neil Roy. This all begins to change when she begins to work on a film with his twin, Sahil. And not only is she navigating her confusing love life, but also navigating her high school friendship circle with (but more like without) her best friend Maddie. Similarly to many real life high-school students, Twinkle just wants to find her way through friendship groups, popular cliques and the boys in her life.

Sandhya Menon has done a great job of creating a realistic high school setting. Too often main characters of young adult novels, feature the popular girl without a care in the world and a sure ride to college. Twinkle is the exact opposite. Her best friend Maddie has become friends with what Twinkle calls the 'silk feathered-hat people' (or the popular clique), and in turn left her behind. It is really refreshing to read about Twinkle, who desperately wants to be popular but at the same time is happy with her nerdy friends. Additionally, Twinkle's parents are immigrants from India who moved to America when her mother was pregnant, so she's not sure she can go to the college of her choice. This is a very real worry for many high school students in America with low-income parents, immigrant or not, so it's nice to see this brought to light.

This has been one of several young adult novels where another culture other than the American culture, has been brought to light. From Twinkle, With Love is very much the story of immigrants. Underneath all the drama of high school and teenage love, is a heartfelt story of Twinkle and her parents and their relationship. Twinkle's mother is plagued by the fact that once she moved to America, her mother died alone in India. As their family had little money, they were unable to ever make a trip back. Her mother affirms that moving to America was giving up life and comfort she knew, for something unknown but better for her child. This is something that is very relatable in America's current political climate. Many real life immigrants share the same feelings as Twinkle's parents. Marisela notes that her mother moved their family to the United States after her father died. Bahareh now lives in Chicago but moved from Iran at the age of ten. She never went back for any family members funerals and similarly to Twinkle's mother, this is something that she's held with a heavy heart. From Twinkle, With Love is set in a country where 2342 children have been separated from 2206 parents between the 5th of May and the 9th of June due to policies on immigration. It is more important than ever for stories and experiences like Twinkle's to come to light and be heard. 

Sandhya Menon's newest young adult fiction is not only a heart-wrenching, happy read. It is full of important, topical issues for young adults to be in conversation with.