I’m really enjoying reading new graphic novels from NetGalley. I’ve been on a pretty decent run of reading recently. One of the new books I picked up was Fitting Indian by social media influencer Jyoti Chand. In this graphic novel she focuses on the importance of mental health in South Asian communities.
Synopsis
Nitasha’s parents want her to be the perfect Indian daughter. She is very much not that and is trying to shirk the pressure. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mother. She also doesn’t fit in at school being one of the only Indian students in her class. She tries to be like her classmates and her doctor older brother but things never turn out her way.
What’s more her best friend Ava and her crush Henry seem more interested in the new rich girl at school.
So she starts drinking to take the edge off of the pain and loneliness she’s feeling. When that isn’t enough she starts cutting. She doesn’t think all of this is really affecting her life. But as the issues keep on coming she begins to spiral out of control.
She ends up in the hospital when everything gets to be too much and she only sees one way out. But that isn’t where the story ends. She learns more about what drove her to nearly end it all. By talking with a variety of people, from her therapist to her roommate at the hospital, to surprisingly her mother.
Through learning more about herself and her community. She begins to work to try and change things when it comes to how her community views mental health.
Review
This novel was a hard hitting piece. It didn’t pull any punches when it came to the realities of mental health in the South Asian community. Nitasha’s being pushed towards unrealistic goals is one that is seen a lot in media featuring South Asians. This is often especially true for girls.
What isn’t often shown is the way some teens struggle to cope with these pressures. I’ve not seen the abuse of alcohol on page before, though I’m sure it happens in these communities. I was especially surprised to see the cutting on page as well. Because again it doesn’t come up very often in media about this demographic but I’m sure it happens.
I also especially liked the way Nitasha’s mother’s story was brought into the piece. It is shown later on that Nitasha isn’t the only one that has struggled with mental health issues. Her mother becomes a staunch ally and helps her effect change in their community. Despite her father’s insistence that they keep things quiet.
Her father does eventually come around though and I like the way that is addressed as well. Overall, this is a great piece for the art. It is also commendable for the story and the hard-hitting look at mental health in South Asian communities.
I would suggest this for older teens. Especially those from this background or who don’t have a supportive family. I’d rate this book four stars. It was very good on all fronts. I found it to be refreshing in how it dealt with mental health.
Do you read any books that center mental health? Let me know your favorites in the comments. I’m always looking to read more about mental health and its effect on people’s lives.
Amazon: Fitting Indian
Jyoti Chand, known as Mamajotes across social platforms, is a dynamic writer, comedian, and passionate advocate for self-care and maternal mental health. With a foundation in stand-up comedy and improv, Jyoti captivates audiences through her highly engaging content across her social and digital platforms, offering an unfiltered look into the realities of motherhood. Her work inspires others to embrace joy and authenticity in their own lives. Represented by Haley Henning at YMU Social, Jyoti holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and is currently working on her second book, among other creative projects. Originally from Los Angeles, she now resides in the Chicago suburbs with her family. Follow her journey at @mamajotes or visit her online at mamajotes.com.
Tara Anand is an award-winning illustrator and visual artist from Mumbai, India, based in New York City. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and the LA Times,on Netflix, and more. Fitting Indian is her debut graphic novel. Visit her at taraanandart.com/about.
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