A parent might reach for this book when their child is curious about their family's past or feels disconnected from their cultural heritage. Pashmina follows Priyanka, an Indian-American teen whose mother refuses to speak about her past in India. When Pri discovers a magical pashmina shawl, it transports her to a vibrant, fantastical version of her homeland. This magical journey inspires a real one, as she travels to India to uncover difficult family secrets and find answers about who she is. This beautiful graphic novel thoughtfully explores themes of identity, mother-daughter relationships, and the complexities of the immigrant experience. It’s an excellent choice for a child navigating their own place between two cultures.
A brief mention of female feticide may require context or discussion for some readers.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with intergenerational trauma and sexism, specifically the cultural pressure for women to bear sons. This is addressed in a key scene that mentions female feticide. The approach is secular, presented as a societal issue that deeply impacts the family. The resolution is not simple, but it is hopeful, focusing on empathy, understanding between mother and daughter, and the strength of women.
Ideal Reader
A 10 to 14-year-old, particularly a child of immigrants, who is beginning to ask questions about their heritage and feels caught between two cultures. It is also perfect for an introspective reader who is starting to understand their parents as individuals with complex pasts and who appreciates a blend of fantasy and realism.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview pages 135-145. This section contains the emotional climax where Pri's mother's past is revealed. It includes a tense family argument and an explicit reference to female feticide on page 141. This topic may require a conversation to provide context and support for the reader. The child asks, "Why don't we ever talk about where we came from?" or expresses frustration with a family secret. A parent might also notice their child feeling like an outsider at school because of their cultural background and wants a story to affirm that experience.
Age Experience
A younger reader (10-11) will likely connect most with the magical adventure, the beautiful artwork, and the surface-level mystery. An older reader (12-14) is better equipped to grasp the deeper, more painful themes of sexism, parental sacrifice, and the complex gap between an idealized homeland and its reality.
What Makes It Special
Its visual storytelling is exceptional. The use of a monochrome palette for the real world and full, vibrant color for the magical India is a powerful and unique device. It masterfully weaves a classic fantasy quest with a very grounded, mature exploration of feminist issues and immigrant identity, making it a standout in the middle-grade graphic novel space.
Read plot summary
Priyanka Das, an Indian-American teen, feels a void due to her mother's silence about their family's past in India. She discovers an old pashmina that, when worn, transports her to a brightly colored, magical vision of India. Guided by an elephant and a peacock, she explores this idealized world but is haunted by a dark shadow. The experience deepens her resolve to find answers, leading her to travel to India in real life. There, she confronts the complex, sometimes painful reality of her family's history, reconciling the fantasy of the pashmina with the truth of her mother's difficult choices.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
In the book, Priyanka's reality is drawn in shades of gray, but the world of the pashmina is in full color. Why do you think the author made this artistic choice? How did it affect your reading experience?
2
Priyanka is frustrated with her mother for keeping secrets about India. Do you think her mom was right to hide the past? Why or why not?
3
The magical India from the pashmina was very different from the real India Priyanka visited. What were the biggest differences, and why was it important for Pri to see both versions?
4
Near the end, Priyanka's aunt explains the difficult choices women in her family had to make. How does this conversation change Priyanka's view of her mother and her family history?
