Review of Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

Priyanka Das is an Indian-American teenager living in Los Angeles. She dreams of her mother’s homeland and has so many questions about India, her family, and most importantly, who her father was. Her mother, however, is tight-lipped when it comes to talking about her past. Then one day, Pri discovers a pashmina tucked in an old suitcase at the back of her mother’s closet. When she wraps herself up in the shawl, Pri is transported to a colorful, vibrant India. Seeing India in these visions fuels Pri’s desire to visit the country firsthand. But what will she discover when she gets there?

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Cover image of Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani. Chanani, N. (2017a). [Cover image of Pashmina.] Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33163360-pashmina

Evaluation

One of the strengths of Pashmina is the character development of the main character, Priyanka Das. Priyanka, or Pri, is a typical teenager, dealing with typical teenage problems. Her mom is too strict and religious, she gets teased at school for wearing thrift store clothes, and she has trouble believing in herself and her abilities. Pri is a talented artist, but she questions her self-worth and talent because of the teasing at school. Meanwhile, at home, Pri struggles with finding her identity. Her mother came to India at a young age, and Pri doesn’t know her father. When she asks her mother about him, her mom simply says, “As for your dad…that subject is permanently closed” (Chanani, 2017b, p. 33). Pri just wants to know more about her Indian heritage and where she comes from, and this search for identity is at the heart of the novel.

Pashmina is a graphic novel, and author Nidhi Chanani uses color brilliantly throughout the novel to highlight the difference between Pri’s real life and the imagined India that she sees when she puts on the magical pashmina. Pri’s real life is depicted in shades of black, white and gray, which reflects how she feels about her life – that it is dull. In contrast, when Pri puts on the magical pashmina, she is transported to a brilliantly colored India, where she meets Kanta, a talking elephant, and Mayur, a talking bird. These two creatures introduce Pri to the India of her imagination – a beautiful, colorful India where she eats delicious meals, attends festivals, and devours mangoes fresh from the tree. Pri knows that this isn’t the real India, and she eventually convinces her mother to let her spend part of her summer break in India. Throughout the novel, Pri’s reality is shown in black and white while her dream-world is depicted in brilliant color.

Author Nidhi Chanani uses her artwork to establish the setting of Pashmina. The novel is set in both Los Angeles and India, and the reader gets a real sense of place through the art. Chanani shows us the palm trees, huge highways, and diverse eateries of Los Angeles. In modern-day India, the streets are crowded with motorized vehicles, rickshaws and cows. Pri sees the slums, where the poorest of the poor live as well as fancy new markets and British monuments. In her imagined India, the art shows us an idealized version of India, including a Mughal palace, sandy beaches, and wild tigers. Throughout the novel, the setting is shown very clearly through the art.

Response

I really enjoyed reading Pashmina and could relate to some of Pri’s struggles as a teenager. Though I didn’t have to deal with exactly the same issues that Pri does, I could relate to her struggle to figure out who she is. That is something many teens deal. I also appreciated learning more about Indian culture, which is something I know only a little about. From the religious festivals like Diwali to the food (like samosas, dosas and mithai), Pashmina does an excellent job of sharing Indian culture with the reader. The novel also made me think more about what it’s like to be a first-generation citizen of our country, trying to merge American culture and the cultural traditions of your homeland. Finally, I found this graphic novel to be an entertaining piece of art; the illustrations are gorgeous and do an excellent job telling the story. I love the contrast between the black-and-white illustrations used for Pri’s everyday life and the brightly colored art of her imagination. Overall, Pashmina was both informative and entertaining.

Conclusion

Pashmina is a graphic novel that explores the life and concerns of teenager Priyanka Das. As an Indian-American, Pri grapples with her strict mother’s traditional views as well as normal teenage issues such as fitting in and finding one’s place. As a graphic novel, the art is very important. Chanani uses color to showcase the difference between Pri’s real life (shown in black and white) and the imaginary world that she sees when she wears the magical pashmina (shown in color). In addition, the art does an excellent job of showcasing the setting so that the reader can truly feel a sense of place. Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel and would recommend it to students aged 11-15. 4 stars.

Citations

Chanani, N. (2017a). [Cover image of Pashmina.] Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33163360-pashmina

Chanani, N. (2017b). Pashmina. New York, NY: First Second.