In 1983, Reha is thirteen and has feet in two worlds: the Indian community she lives in with her immigrant parents, and the all-white private school she attends across town.

She loves her parents but gravitates toward MTV, the mall, and all the neon and sparkle of American culture. She’s balancing these two worlds the best she can, until a medical emergency upsets her entire life.

This emotional, intricate verse novel addresses Reha’s grief and longing in the aftermath. It also sweeps the readers into her joy, from the decadent food her mother prepares to the Cyndi Lauper pumping through speakers at a middle-school dance.