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The Grand Plan to Fix Everything #1
The Grand Plan to Fix Everything
Eleven-year old Dini loves movies—watching them, reading about them, trying to write her own—especially Bollywood movies. But when her mother tells her some big news, it does not at all jive with the script of her life she has in mind. Her family is moving to India…and, not even to Bombay, which is the center of the Bollywood universe and home to Dini’s all-time most favorite star, Dolly. No, Dini is moving to a teeny, tiny village she can’t even find on a map. Swapnagiri. It means Dream Mountain and it only looks like a word that’s hard to pronounce. But to that open-minded person who sounds the name out, one letter at a time, it falls quite handily into S-w-a-p-n-a-g-i-r-i. An honest sort of name, with no surprise letters waiting to leap out and ambush the unwary. That doesn’t mean there aren’t surprises in Swapnagiri like mischievous monkeys and a girl who chirps like a bird—and the biggest surprise of Dolly.
So now, Dini is hard at work on a new script, the script in which she gets to meet the amazing Dolly. But, life is often more unpredictable than the movies and when Dini starts plotting her story things get a little out of control.
This is a joyful, lively Bollywood inspired story is full of colorful details, delicious confections and the wondrous, magical powers of coincidence. Uma Krisnaswami will have you smiling from ear to ear.
So now, Dini is hard at work on a new script, the script in which she gets to meet the amazing Dolly. But, life is often more unpredictable than the movies and when Dini starts plotting her story things get a little out of control.
This is a joyful, lively Bollywood inspired story is full of colorful details, delicious confections and the wondrous, magical powers of coincidence. Uma Krisnaswami will have you smiling from ear to ear.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2011
21 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
June 13, 2011
One Sentence Review: I'll definitely read anything Krishnaswami writes from here on in, even though this book with its scattered focus didn't quite do it for me.
March 19, 2018
A lovely read! A super-sweet story of young girl following her dreams while her physician mother follows her own dreams and moves the family abroad. A great book for any YA reader who has ever faced an international move (or felt misunderstood by her parents or had friend tensions). The characters are relatable, then tension real (but not depressing or overwhelming, in a way that seems good for young-ish readers). There is a lovely multi-cultural aspect to this book in which the characters seem real and passionate, not like cultural stereotypes. The narrative shifts both among the characters and temporally, which I found a little confusing at first - I think some cues (such as a time byline or something) would have made this more immediately apparent.
July 31, 2011
Eleven-year old Dini adores Bollywood movies, those entertaining Hindi musicals set in India and filled with grand production numbers, adventure, and romance. As summer vacation begins her life is upended when she learns that instead of dance camp with her best friend Maddie she and her parents are heading out across the ocean for a two year-stint in Swampangiri, a small town in India.
While understandably sad, shocked, and surprised Dini is also a trooper and, appreciating how important this opportunity is for her medical researcher mother, works hard to stay upbeat as she adjusts to her new situation. Fortunately despite being far from Mumbai where the Bollywood films are made, Swampangiri turns out to be a place of charm, filled with beauty, delightful people, animals, and tasty treats. It also turns out to have a mystery involving the disappearance of Dini’s favorite Bollywood star, Dolly Singh.
This mystery is tantalizingly developed via multiple viewpoints and forms including letters, texts, emails, and fan magazine items. While Dini’s story stays front and center others are threaded in, say that of a young postal worker who decides to deliver a letter himself far off his usual route and that of an increasingly worried studio executive. Of course, just like a Bollywood film, this story ends happily and joyously.
Young readers will delight in this upbeat and entertaining tale, identifying with Dini as she meets new friends, gets to know her new town, and solve a mystery as well. Along the way they will get a taste of life in one small part of India, complete with monkeys, movie lore, and some absolutely scrumptious-sounding curry pastries.
Teachers might like to pair this charmer with Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game which has a somewhat similar structure and have students consider how both authors build character, suspense, and use coincidence in their story structure. And for those wishing to explore more of the book’s world, author Krisnaswami has created an engaging teacher guide filled with great discussion questions and activities --- personally I’m mighty tempted to try out that curry puff recipe myself!
While understandably sad, shocked, and surprised Dini is also a trooper and, appreciating how important this opportunity is for her medical researcher mother, works hard to stay upbeat as she adjusts to her new situation. Fortunately despite being far from Mumbai where the Bollywood films are made, Swampangiri turns out to be a place of charm, filled with beauty, delightful people, animals, and tasty treats. It also turns out to have a mystery involving the disappearance of Dini’s favorite Bollywood star, Dolly Singh.
This mystery is tantalizingly developed via multiple viewpoints and forms including letters, texts, emails, and fan magazine items. While Dini’s story stays front and center others are threaded in, say that of a young postal worker who decides to deliver a letter himself far off his usual route and that of an increasingly worried studio executive. Of course, just like a Bollywood film, this story ends happily and joyously.
Young readers will delight in this upbeat and entertaining tale, identifying with Dini as she meets new friends, gets to know her new town, and solve a mystery as well. Along the way they will get a taste of life in one small part of India, complete with monkeys, movie lore, and some absolutely scrumptious-sounding curry pastries.
Teachers might like to pair this charmer with Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game which has a somewhat similar structure and have students consider how both authors build character, suspense, and use coincidence in their story structure. And for those wishing to explore more of the book’s world, author Krisnaswami has created an engaging teacher guide filled with great discussion questions and activities --- personally I’m mighty tempted to try out that curry puff recipe myself!
July 13, 2013
This is a charming story of friendship and romance. The struggle to stay friends with Maddie despite the distance is something that I think all kids can relate to, whether a physical distance, or emotional distance. The plot is not realistic (no, the famous movie star is not going to come to some kid’s party, and no a kid is not going to reunite the couple), but it is feel-good. I think the style is supposed to be along the lines of a Bollywood movie.
Kind of reminds me of The Parent Trap. Too good to be true/would never really happen, but you root for them anyway. There’s monkeys, a fellow Dolly fan cab driver, a dedicated postman, and mysterious car noise to keep the reader entertained along with the main plot-line.
Kind of reminds me of The Parent Trap. Too good to be true/would never really happen, but you root for them anyway. There’s monkeys, a fellow Dolly fan cab driver, a dedicated postman, and mysterious car noise to keep the reader entertained along with the main plot-line.
March 22, 2017
This is one of my favorite books. The voice of the MC is so authentic, so purely Dini, that readers can't help but fall in love with her. She views life as if it were a Bollywood fillum. She schemes to plot her future like a movie script, complete with happy ending. But when things don't go as planned, Dini must learn to accept the things she can't control. Her perseverance finally allows her to see that life is composed of both the bitter and sweet and, like her favorite movies, boundless optimism can lead to happy endings. Kids of any culture will relate to the humorous ups and downs in this book. A feel good read, perfect in every detail. Adorable art adds to the charm.
March 22, 2018
gr 4-6 266pgs
Maryland / Swapnagiri, India. 11 year old Dini and her best friend Maddie love Bollywood movies and their favorite actress is Dolly. They know all her movies and songs by heart. When Dini learns that her family will be moving to Swapnagiri for two years, she is heartbroken at the thought of being separated from her best friend. But Maddie thinks this might be Dini's chance to meet Dolly since Swapnagiri is much closer to Mumbai than Maryland is. Dini knows it's a long shot, but hopes that with some planning, she can have a happy ending just like in her favorite movies.
A feel good story :)
Maryland / Swapnagiri, India. 11 year old Dini and her best friend Maddie love Bollywood movies and their favorite actress is Dolly. They know all her movies and songs by heart. When Dini learns that her family will be moving to Swapnagiri for two years, she is heartbroken at the thought of being separated from her best friend. But Maddie thinks this might be Dini's chance to meet Dolly since Swapnagiri is much closer to Mumbai than Maryland is. Dini knows it's a long shot, but hopes that with some planning, she can have a happy ending just like in her favorite movies.
A feel good story :)
August 30, 2020
So, so cute. I did feel like there were some points in the story where I got a little lost (things jumped around too much or moved unexpectedly), so it might be harder for a young reader to get through in that regard. Overall, though, I really loved the unique tone of the author's/character's voice and liked that it was a cute, quick read that featured a more diverse cast of characters, unusual settings, and imperfect but realistic and likable relationships. There are some far-fetched plot points, but I felt like they really worked with the "filmi" spin of the whole book. I would love to see more books like this on the bookstore and library shelves! Cute, wholesome, unique, sometimes goofy, and with an upliftingly positive vibe, our kids could use way more of this as "for fun" reading!
May 18, 2017
Dini is torn with her family's move to India--one one hand, that means she has to move away from her very best friend, Maddie, and on the other hand, she will be closer to her hero, Bollywood star Dolly Singh. Life in Swapnigiri is more complicated than Dini realized it would--especially when she can't find anyone to help her locate Dolly, who is also in Swapnigiri, and she's struggling to stay connected to Maddie.
This was a fun, light read with just enough "magic of coincidence" layered in to seem like fate, which is like so many of the Bollywood movies Dini adores. Dini was likeable and relateable with just enough growth to make her realistic.
Recommended, grades 4 and up.
This was a fun, light read with just enough "magic of coincidence" layered in to seem like fate, which is like so many of the Bollywood movies Dini adores. Dini was likeable and relateable with just enough growth to make her realistic.
Recommended, grades 4 and up.
June 4, 2018
Sort of ridiculous and over the top, in a Bollywood-style-plot sort of way, but delightful for all that. Set partly in Maryland, but mostly in India, it's the story of Dini's plan to find her favorite movie star, Dolly Singh. Dini also wants to make Dolly happy again, which leads to complications. Lighthearted, funny, full of coincidences.
April 8, 2020
Delightfully fun story about Dini, a middle school girl who loves Bollywood movies who finds herself suddenly moving to India for two years, where she discovers she has the opportunity to meet her favorite Bollywood star, Dolly Singh. Mishaps ensue, but all works out magically in the end - a cheery, quirky, and very sweet read.
February 4, 2017
I really wanted to like this book set in India with a Bollywood subplot, but the sheer number of coincidences made the whole story too implausible for my taste. I also think the writing style will make it hard for the intended audience to follow. (It was for me, and I'm an adult.)
June 13, 2017
Quirky and fun. I love the fun of the coincidences in the story and the way the author (and Dini, the main character) plays with the idea of plot. A great read for older elementary/ young middle school students.
January 10, 2018
An elementary age read about an Indian-American girl who moves to India and finds herself in the midst of a Bollywood-style conundrum complete with a Bollywood actress. Wonderful illustrations and adequate text.
August 25, 2018
This is a story about a young girl, who is obsessed with Bollywood movies and especially the movie star Dolly, who moves to India with her family and the adventures she has there and how she eventually meets her idol. Fun and light hearted with lots of cool details about India.
January 24, 2019
Fun book, especially for low level readers. It's young, but does a lot of cool things with connected plots and feels very much like a Bollywood movie might from a child's perspective. I enjoyed the many characters as they all came together in Dini's plotted out mission.
December 1, 2019
This is a very enjoyable book for the upper elementary school readers. Dini introduces the reader to India, its culture, and Bollywood.
November 2, 2020
A fun story of a girl that sees everything like a movie. A lovely story of mystery hove, love, and dreams coming true.
June 27, 2021
This felt like a book for the younger end of 8-12, and I couldn't get into it...
July 31, 2021
Mediocre storyline.
Good, even if predictable, ending.
Good, even if predictable, ending.
December 30, 2021
It was fantastic and the 2 girls wow.I recomed to the people who like cray things.
August 20, 2023
India 🇮🇳 book
December 18, 2025
Fun kid's book that made me miss India, and suddenly need to see a Bollywood "filim".
December 17, 2019
Loved this cute little story about a girl tackling friendships and belonging with a variety of quirky characters. The illustrations were totally adorable and I watched a Bollywood film after finishing it :)
August 5, 2016
Recap:
Eleven-year-old Dini and her best friend Maddie are in love. They are in love with Dolly Singh, the most beautiful and talented actress/singer/dancer in all of Bollywood. But they have been picking up on signs - signs that only a true fan would notice! - that Dolly is in some kind of trouble. When Dini's family suddenly moves to India, she knows this is her chance to find Dolly and fix everything. The only problem is, she'll be leaving Maddie behind...
Review:
Doesn't this book just look adorable? I love the fact that the protagonist is Indian-American and that much of the story takes place in India. That is certainly a country we don't get to see much of in MG or YA literature. And the introduction to Bollywood, complete with song lyrics and descriptions of big dance numbers, was a welcome break from more typical tween obsessions.
Dini and Maddie's friendship was very sweet, and I can envision two little girls giggling over this book together in real life. In fact, it could be a perfect "going away" present for a friend who has to move - proof in print that distance doesn't end friendships!
And I need to mention that the illustrations throughout are just as charming as the cover. I think Abigail Halpin just might be my new favorite artist. Check out this interview with both Halpin and author Uma Krishnaswami for more images and details on the creation of The Grand Plan to Fix Everything.
But... something about this story just didn't sit right with me. The third person narration was a small factor in that I never truly connected with Dini. It was also a little too convenient that Dolly just so happened to be living in the same remote, rural village that Dini had moved to. *Don't worry: That's not really a spoiler. Dini figures it out the day that she moves.* In fact, all the way through the book, the narrator makes it seem like Dini is having such a hard time "fixing everything" for Dolly, when really everything just kept (very unrealistically) falling into place.
I hate being negative, and this really was a very cute book, but it's just not going to make it on my Favorites list. I picked it up from the library because it's one of the contenders for SLJ's Battle of the Kids books. It's up against Allen Say's Drawing from Memory which is a completely different book in almost every way. So... I can't wait to see which comes out on top!
Recommendation:
If you have a young tween reader looking for a book about moving, best friends, or Bollywood, this could be a great choice. If you're just looking for a good MG novel? This wouldn't be my first pick.
But of course, lots of others readers disagree. Check out these blogs for a second opinion:
- GreenBeanTeenQueen
- Heavy Medal
- The O.W.L.
- ReadKiddoRead
Eleven-year-old Dini and her best friend Maddie are in love. They are in love with Dolly Singh, the most beautiful and talented actress/singer/dancer in all of Bollywood. But they have been picking up on signs - signs that only a true fan would notice! - that Dolly is in some kind of trouble. When Dini's family suddenly moves to India, she knows this is her chance to find Dolly and fix everything. The only problem is, she'll be leaving Maddie behind...
Review:
Doesn't this book just look adorable? I love the fact that the protagonist is Indian-American and that much of the story takes place in India. That is certainly a country we don't get to see much of in MG or YA literature. And the introduction to Bollywood, complete with song lyrics and descriptions of big dance numbers, was a welcome break from more typical tween obsessions.
Dini and Maddie's friendship was very sweet, and I can envision two little girls giggling over this book together in real life. In fact, it could be a perfect "going away" present for a friend who has to move - proof in print that distance doesn't end friendships!
And I need to mention that the illustrations throughout are just as charming as the cover. I think Abigail Halpin just might be my new favorite artist. Check out this interview with both Halpin and author Uma Krishnaswami for more images and details on the creation of The Grand Plan to Fix Everything.
But... something about this story just didn't sit right with me. The third person narration was a small factor in that I never truly connected with Dini. It was also a little too convenient that Dolly just so happened to be living in the same remote, rural village that Dini had moved to. *Don't worry: That's not really a spoiler. Dini figures it out the day that she moves.* In fact, all the way through the book, the narrator makes it seem like Dini is having such a hard time "fixing everything" for Dolly, when really everything just kept (very unrealistically) falling into place.
I hate being negative, and this really was a very cute book, but it's just not going to make it on my Favorites list. I picked it up from the library because it's one of the contenders for SLJ's Battle of the Kids books. It's up against Allen Say's Drawing from Memory which is a completely different book in almost every way. So... I can't wait to see which comes out on top!
Recommendation:
If you have a young tween reader looking for a book about moving, best friends, or Bollywood, this could be a great choice. If you're just looking for a good MG novel? This wouldn't be my first pick.
But of course, lots of others readers disagree. Check out these blogs for a second opinion:
- GreenBeanTeenQueen
- Heavy Medal
- The O.W.L.
- ReadKiddoRead
January 28, 2021
✨ Quill's thoughts...
A charming, almost magical tale of friendship, fate and a dream mountain. (Plus lots of chocolate!)
Dini and her best friend, Maddie, can't wait for what's supposed to be their most fun summer ever. Filled with sleep overs, re-watching thier favorite Bollywood movies and going to a Bollywood dance camp! But all that goes out the window when Dini's mom gets a job as a doctor in a tiny mountain village in India and announces that the family will be moving there FOR 2 WHOLE YEARS!
A charming, almost magical tale of friendship, fate and a dream mountain. (Plus lots of chocolate!)
Dini and her best friend, Maddie, can't wait for what's supposed to be their most fun summer ever. Filled with sleep overs, re-watching thier favorite Bollywood movies and going to a Bollywood dance camp! But all that goes out the window when Dini's mom gets a job as a doctor in a tiny mountain village in India and announces that the family will be moving there FOR 2 WHOLE YEARS!
December 19, 2016
Dini is devastated when she learns her family is moving to India for two years. She can't imagine leaving her best friend Maddie behind for all that time! There is a glimmer of happiness, however, because the girls' favorite movie star, Dolly Singh, who stars in many Bollywood films, also lives in India, and Dini's chances of meeting her just have to increase if they're in the same country. This seems like a far-fetched expectation, at first, but upon her arrival in India, Dini learns that Dolly is hiding out in her new hometown of Swampnagiri. Through a series of coincidences and convoluted connections with her new neighbors, Dini finds a way to meet her favorite star and help her recover from a broken heart.
This book was fantastic. The Indian setting was a refreshing change of pace from books set in bland, non-descript American towns, and the playful tone made the entire story stand out as something new and fresh. I love the motley cast of characters - the postal carrier who delivers Dini's fan letter to Dolly, her manager, and his daughter, who becomes Dini's new friend, and the monkeys who wreak havoc on Dini's new house. I was reminded quite a bit of the neighbors Opal encounters in Because of Winn Dixie, and thought the party scene in The Grand Plan To Fix Everything had the same heartwarming feeling as the party at the end of Winn Dixie.
Though the plot relied heavily on coincidence, and didn't feel particularly realistic, I didn't see this as a flaw. The playful tone of the writing was so unique, and the depiction of the fillum culture, and of Swampnagiri so colorful and interesting, I didn't mind having to suspend my disbelief. I also didn't mind that the adult characters were at times cartoonish - this just made them easier for kids to relate to, and made it more plausible that a child should be able to solve their problems.
A blurb on the cover of the book from author Linda Sue Park described this story as a "modern fairy-tale," and I think that's the best way to sum it up. The events of Grand Plan couldn't happen in real life, but it doesn't matter because it's such a great story. I read this book mostly because it fit so well with the summer reading program theme, One World Many Stories, but it winds up being one of my favorite books of the year so far. I definitely recommend it to girls in grades 4 to 6, and to anyone looking for an upbeat, light-hearted, and different middle grade read.
This book was fantastic. The Indian setting was a refreshing change of pace from books set in bland, non-descript American towns, and the playful tone made the entire story stand out as something new and fresh. I love the motley cast of characters - the postal carrier who delivers Dini's fan letter to Dolly, her manager, and his daughter, who becomes Dini's new friend, and the monkeys who wreak havoc on Dini's new house. I was reminded quite a bit of the neighbors Opal encounters in Because of Winn Dixie, and thought the party scene in The Grand Plan To Fix Everything had the same heartwarming feeling as the party at the end of Winn Dixie.
Though the plot relied heavily on coincidence, and didn't feel particularly realistic, I didn't see this as a flaw. The playful tone of the writing was so unique, and the depiction of the fillum culture, and of Swampnagiri so colorful and interesting, I didn't mind having to suspend my disbelief. I also didn't mind that the adult characters were at times cartoonish - this just made them easier for kids to relate to, and made it more plausible that a child should be able to solve their problems.
A blurb on the cover of the book from author Linda Sue Park described this story as a "modern fairy-tale," and I think that's the best way to sum it up. The events of Grand Plan couldn't happen in real life, but it doesn't matter because it's such a great story. I read this book mostly because it fit so well with the summer reading program theme, One World Many Stories, but it winds up being one of my favorite books of the year so far. I definitely recommend it to girls in grades 4 to 6, and to anyone looking for an upbeat, light-hearted, and different middle grade read.
September 2, 2011
About the Book: Dini's parents have just announced that they're moving to India for two whole years! Dini can't believe her parents are making her move away from her best friend Maddie and now she has to miss out on the Bollywood dance class she and Maddie were going to take. But India is home to Dini and Maddie's favorite movies and their favorite Bollywood star, Dolly Singh. Dini's parents aren't moving to Bombay, the movie capital of India, but instead to a small town called Swapnagiri. Surprises are ahead for Dini as she discovers that her favorite star might be closer than she thinks-and Dini has a plan to meet her idol.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Our summer reading theme this year for the kids program is One World, Many Stories, and I can't wait to highlight The Grand Plan to Fix Everything as a great read for our theme! Ms. Kishnaswami transports readers to Swapnagiri and throws us right into a storyline that is a wonderful nod to Dini's favorite Bollywood films.
I did think at times Dini seemed a bit younger than an eleven-year-old and at the beginning the narration seemed a bit simplistic. But it picked up and got better as the story went on, so maybe I was just being a bit picky at first.
The story is mainly about Dini, but there are many supporting characters that appear and we learn about their stories as well. It's a somewhat silly story and you have to suspend some belief, but that's the charm of the book. The book really does read like a script for a Bollywood film complete with some zany and charming characters, a romance, random happenstance and coincidence-I even expected the characters to break out into song!
Dini might be eleven, but I would hand this one over to early tween readers looking for a funny, light story that will take them to a new part of the world. The book has fantastic illustrations that accompany the story and the book is fast paced-I read it in one sitting. There's plenty of humor and madcap fun to keep readers engaged.
Book Pairings: Dini reminded me a lot of Allie Finkle, so I think fans of Meg Cabot's tween series would enjoy this book. I'd also pair with the Popularity Papers: Book Two by Amy Ignatow, which also features best friends separated by a move to a new country.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Our summer reading theme this year for the kids program is One World, Many Stories, and I can't wait to highlight The Grand Plan to Fix Everything as a great read for our theme! Ms. Kishnaswami transports readers to Swapnagiri and throws us right into a storyline that is a wonderful nod to Dini's favorite Bollywood films.
I did think at times Dini seemed a bit younger than an eleven-year-old and at the beginning the narration seemed a bit simplistic. But it picked up and got better as the story went on, so maybe I was just being a bit picky at first.
The story is mainly about Dini, but there are many supporting characters that appear and we learn about their stories as well. It's a somewhat silly story and you have to suspend some belief, but that's the charm of the book. The book really does read like a script for a Bollywood film complete with some zany and charming characters, a romance, random happenstance and coincidence-I even expected the characters to break out into song!
Dini might be eleven, but I would hand this one over to early tween readers looking for a funny, light story that will take them to a new part of the world. The book has fantastic illustrations that accompany the story and the book is fast paced-I read it in one sitting. There's plenty of humor and madcap fun to keep readers engaged.
Book Pairings: Dini reminded me a lot of Allie Finkle, so I think fans of Meg Cabot's tween series would enjoy this book. I'd also pair with the Popularity Papers: Book Two by Amy Ignatow, which also features best friends separated by a move to a new country.
July 17, 2015
Children's stories focusing on girls are always stories that I want to find and read. Given that I want to work with children and young adults, I'm trying to familiarize myself with lots of different stories. I had heard of THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING in my Children's Lit class at school, and was reminded of it in my children's services class during a slew of book talks. So I grabbed it from the library, took it home, and decided to give it a whirl.
Dini and Maddie are best friends living in Maryland. While they have a lot in common, one thing they love is Bollywood movies, especially those starring Dolly Singh. They are pretty much inseparable, so when they get the news that Dini's mother's job is taking the family to India for two years. Their sadness is stilled, however, when they realize that if Dini is in India, she could potentially meet Dolly! And not a moment too soon, since Dini and Maddie are convinced that Dolly is in a sad place, given that her most recent movie has lots of sad and subdued songs. But when Dini and her family gets to the small town of Swapnigiri, she feels out of place. But as luck would have it, Dolly has been hiding out in the same small town. Can Dini end up meeting Dolly and solving her problems?
This was a very cute book, even if it was a little formulaic and predictable. I do think that a benefit is that it takes place in a place where a fair number of kids in the libraries I work in may not be familiar with. I also think that a lot of the images we get of India in recent lit and pop culture is that of the poorer, slum life, so to portray it in a small town that wasn't completely destitute was very valuable to me. Not all of India can be represented by SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, right? The characters were fine, if not a little two dimensional. I did like Dini quite a bit, however, and her friendships with Maddie and Priya. And like I said before, any stories where girls are protagonists are good in my book. Other than that, it didn't stand out that much to me. But it was very cute at the heart of it. I would certainly recommend it to young readers!
Dini and Maddie are best friends living in Maryland. While they have a lot in common, one thing they love is Bollywood movies, especially those starring Dolly Singh. They are pretty much inseparable, so when they get the news that Dini's mother's job is taking the family to India for two years. Their sadness is stilled, however, when they realize that if Dini is in India, she could potentially meet Dolly! And not a moment too soon, since Dini and Maddie are convinced that Dolly is in a sad place, given that her most recent movie has lots of sad and subdued songs. But when Dini and her family gets to the small town of Swapnigiri, she feels out of place. But as luck would have it, Dolly has been hiding out in the same small town. Can Dini end up meeting Dolly and solving her problems?
This was a very cute book, even if it was a little formulaic and predictable. I do think that a benefit is that it takes place in a place where a fair number of kids in the libraries I work in may not be familiar with. I also think that a lot of the images we get of India in recent lit and pop culture is that of the poorer, slum life, so to portray it in a small town that wasn't completely destitute was very valuable to me. Not all of India can be represented by SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, right? The characters were fine, if not a little two dimensional. I did like Dini quite a bit, however, and her friendships with Maddie and Priya. And like I said before, any stories where girls are protagonists are good in my book. Other than that, it didn't stand out that much to me. But it was very cute at the heart of it. I would certainly recommend it to young readers!
August 10, 2012
And now Dini sees something that only those who listen-listen, look-look, can understand. Open one problem up, like the hood of a car, and you may find another problem waiting to be solved. Try opening that one up and you are likely to find several dozen others just waiting to get in your way. It is all very depressing.
-----
Dini has two especially special things going for her: a wonderful best friend who shares everything with her, has the same tastes, and thinks just like her, and a movie star idol to obsess over who makes a great role model because her characters are always so upbeat, spunky, and capable at solving life's problems.
The problem is, she's just lost both of them. Her mother has received a grant to work in India for two years, so she's about to move across the globe from Maddie. And Bollywood star Dolly Singh has just disappeared from Mumbai (still called Bombay by true fillum fans) and dropped out of the movie business.
Now Dini has to figure out how to adjust to her new life in Swapnagiri without Maddie while worried about Dolly. But, like Dolly, Dini is a problem-solver, and she's going to find a way to make everything right, starting with tracking down Dolly herself if she can. And just like a good Bollywood fillum, this is going to be a story filled with unexpected surprises, amazing coincidences, heartache, overwhelming problems, and maybe a happy ending where everyone bursts into song.
Light without being slight, this is a fun book. It uses a present-tense voice that I found at first a bit jarring, but I quickly slipped into its cadences and disappeared into its rhythms. I also found myself slipping naturally into Dini's world straddling two cultures without a hitch, and none of the elements that should have been new and strange to me ever felt strange. I enjoyed it.
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Dini has two especially special things going for her: a wonderful best friend who shares everything with her, has the same tastes, and thinks just like her, and a movie star idol to obsess over who makes a great role model because her characters are always so upbeat, spunky, and capable at solving life's problems.
The problem is, she's just lost both of them. Her mother has received a grant to work in India for two years, so she's about to move across the globe from Maddie. And Bollywood star Dolly Singh has just disappeared from Mumbai (still called Bombay by true fillum fans) and dropped out of the movie business.
Now Dini has to figure out how to adjust to her new life in Swapnagiri without Maddie while worried about Dolly. But, like Dolly, Dini is a problem-solver, and she's going to find a way to make everything right, starting with tracking down Dolly herself if she can. And just like a good Bollywood fillum, this is going to be a story filled with unexpected surprises, amazing coincidences, heartache, overwhelming problems, and maybe a happy ending where everyone bursts into song.
Light without being slight, this is a fun book. It uses a present-tense voice that I found at first a bit jarring, but I quickly slipped into its cadences and disappeared into its rhythms. I also found myself slipping naturally into Dini's world straddling two cultures without a hitch, and none of the elements that should have been new and strange to me ever felt strange. I enjoyed it.
September 25, 2013
The Grand Plan to Fix Everything is by Uma Krishnaswami. The book, published by the group Atheneum Books for Young Readers, is 226 pages. The cover is a girl who is standing in front of a map of India which is labeled with what looks like to be important sights. From reading the back, I know that Dini is moving to a different country and Maddie, her best friend is staying in Virginia. Dini is hoping to find a famous movie star who lives is India and might be close.
At about pg. 75, Dini has moved to India. She and her family are living in Swapnagiri. Maddie and Dini have a plan to find Dolly. Dolly is a famous actress who lives in Bombay. Dini and Maddie get excited when they find out that Bombay and Swapnagiri aren’t very far from each other. But, it turns out that Dolly is missing! No one could find a trace of her and all they found was a letter saying that she was heartbroken and didn’t know what to do.
At about pg. 150, Dolly writes back! It turns out that Dini meets a friend named Pyria. Pyria lives with her uncle but they don’t look very rich. When Dini mentions Dolly to Pyria and her uncle, they both had a disgusted face but Dini didn’t know why. A little later on in the book, some letters are reviled about Dolly and why she was so heartbroken. Dolly and Pyria’s uncle were supposed to get married!
In my opinion, The Grand Plan to Fix Everything is a great fiction book. Uma did a great job on using details about each and every place that Dini runs into. I would recommend this book to girls. This book is a great adventure book and is perfect for any girl to read.
At about pg. 75, Dini has moved to India. She and her family are living in Swapnagiri. Maddie and Dini have a plan to find Dolly. Dolly is a famous actress who lives in Bombay. Dini and Maddie get excited when they find out that Bombay and Swapnagiri aren’t very far from each other. But, it turns out that Dolly is missing! No one could find a trace of her and all they found was a letter saying that she was heartbroken and didn’t know what to do.
At about pg. 150, Dolly writes back! It turns out that Dini meets a friend named Pyria. Pyria lives with her uncle but they don’t look very rich. When Dini mentions Dolly to Pyria and her uncle, they both had a disgusted face but Dini didn’t know why. A little later on in the book, some letters are reviled about Dolly and why she was so heartbroken. Dolly and Pyria’s uncle were supposed to get married!
In my opinion, The Grand Plan to Fix Everything is a great fiction book. Uma did a great job on using details about each and every place that Dini runs into. I would recommend this book to girls. This book is a great adventure book and is perfect for any girl to read.
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