My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Waiting on Wednesday is back! It's the weekly opportunity to learn about another new, pending book. It was started by the fabulous Jill over at Breaking the Spine. I seem to be on a trend. This week, I'm going contemporary YA and selecting another story with a biracial girl at the center of the story. Here's the description...

After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni, half Indian and half Jewish American, finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education. For the first time, Sonia's mixed heritage makes her classmates ask questions—questions Sonia doesn't always know how to answer—as she navigates between a group of popular girls who want her to try out for the cheerleading squad and other students who aren't part of the "in" crowd.

At the same time that Sonia is trying to make new friends, she's dealing with what it means to have an out-of-work parent—it's hard for her family to adjust to their changed circumstances. And then, one day, Sonia's father goes missing. Now Sonia wonders if she ever really knew him. As she begins to look for answers, she must decide what really matters and who her true friends are—and whether her two halves, no matter how different, can make her a whole.

This has a fresh perspective and I'm looking forward to learning how the protagonist tackles these issues. Anyone think they'll be joining me?

The Whole Story of Half a Girl releases January 10, 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

Toodles!