Monsoon Summer

For the teenager grappling with their dual identity and feeling like an outsider in their own family, this story explores finding your voice through service.

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About This Book

Reach for this book when your teenager feels like the odd one out in your family or is struggling to reconcile different parts of their identity. Monsoon Summer follows Jazz Gardner, a self-described business-minded tomboy, as she reluctantly travels from California to India for a summer of service at her mother's childhood orphanage. Through her journey, Jazz navigates her feelings for her best friend, Steve, while discovering that her practical strengths are exactly what a community in need requires. It is an emotionally resonant choice for ages 12 and up that explores the beauty of heritage, the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, and the quiet power of finding one's purpose through empathy and hard work.

Self-Confidence & Identity Cultural Identity Asian Heritage Celebrating Heritage Loneliness & Belonging Growing Up Empathy & Kindness Going to Camp