Children's Book World

About Fitting Indian

This debut teen graphic novel from social media influencer Jyoti Chand and rising star illustrator Tara Anand follows one girl’s journey navigating high school and her mental health within a traditional South Asian family. Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever and Tillie Walden’s Spinning.

All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.

Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?

This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.

About Jyoti Chand

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.

About Tara Anand

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.

About Palak Patel

Palak Patel is a home chef, cookbook author and lifestyle blogger.

On her blog, The Chutney Life, Palak aims to inspire people to try their hand at creating the sort of magical, globally inspired meals she makes everyday in her kitchen. Growing up in a traditional South Asian family in America, there was always a “mix and match” at play in her mom’s kitchen. It’s where she developed her deep love of cooking, and learned from her mom’s ability to swap spices and ingredients across almost any dish in the most unique way. Palak leans on this learned resourcefulness in many of the recipes you find on her blog and in her debut cookbook, The Chutney Life. Adding a bit of garlic chutney to a quesadilla, a touch of mustard seeds in eggplant Parmesan, or the tiniest pinch of garam masala in a traditional bechamel — it’s all about celebrating the richness and diversity of food across all cultures. Her inviting and nostalgic recipes, tidbits of life posted on Instagram, and candid relatability, soon became the reason she thousands followed her daily.

As a busy millennial, Palak also understands the challenges of cooking for a family with the constraints of a busy life and so she provides helpful tips and tricks for getting meals on the table fast. Whether it’s a quick how to on meal prepping or telling you exactly what you need in your pantry and freezer for delicious semi-homemade meals — she’s got you covered. Her passion, expertise and experience make her debut cookbook a must-have for anyone looking to explore the rich and diverse flavors of South Asian cuisine.