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The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices
Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.
Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won't make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji-- he just can't eat it).
These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.
Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won't make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji-- he just can't eat it).
These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2024
About the author
Hena Khan
62 books529 followersHena Khan writes books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories are often centered around community, friendship, and family, and draw from her own experiences and culture. Hena’s novels include AMINA'S VOICE, MORE TO THE STORY, and DRAWING DEENA. She is the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara’s Rules, and Super You! series. Hena’s picture books include GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS, UNDER MY HIJAB, and IT'S RAMADAN, CURIOUS GEORGE, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 22, 2024
Multiple authors write connected stories focused around South Asian immigrants in suburban New Jersey highlighting the use and enjoyment of a common community center.
April 28, 2024
The Door is Open is a collection of interconnected short stories that celebrate the diversity among South Asian Americans. The book features eleven different Desi voices, each sharing a standalone tale from the perspective of middle school characters. However, the stories are tied together by a common thread in the community center setting. The stories cover many topics, such as life lessons, coming of age, and middle school struggles, while showcasing how kids can come together for a common goal. Some of the stories are downright hilarious, such as the story of Jeevan, an Indian middle schooler who despises Indian food but is forced to take an Indian cooking class. Overall, the book offers a sense of celebration and triumph - a genuine, heartwarming story.
The physical book includes charming illustrations at the start of each chapter and some mixed media with the short stories. I combined it with the audiobook, wonderfully narrated by Anjali Kunapaneni and Vikas Adam. Like other books showcasing diverse voices, languages, and cultures, I appreciated hearing the proper pronunciation of names, dishes, and expressions.
The physical book includes charming illustrations at the start of each chapter and some mixed media with the short stories. I combined it with the audiobook, wonderfully narrated by Anjali Kunapaneni and Vikas Adam. Like other books showcasing diverse voices, languages, and cultures, I appreciated hearing the proper pronunciation of names, dishes, and expressions.
December 28, 2024
I really liked that all the stories in this anthology were connected. It helps me to enjoy them separately and as a whole. The stories with a more emotional hook were my favorites. I definitely learned a lot about South Asian American culture and the hurdles they continue to face.
July 14, 2024
This is up there with Once Upon An Eid, which is one of my favorite books of all time. I loved it so much 💜🩵💚
December 8, 2025
Loved how everything connected to tell a bigger story :)
February 3, 2025
This collection features stories centered on the Maple Grove, NJ, community center, where all the protagonists and their families gather for events, classes, celebrations, and more. Some of the characters do appear in multiple stories, but even if you find that hard to track, as I did, it won't detract from the collection overall.
"Check yourself" by Veera Hiranandani. The main character, of Jewish and Indian descent, loves to play chess. At a tournament one day, she hears some boys declare that she is only good because she is Indian, and one boy vows that no girl will ever beat him. The main character wants her chessboard to tell a different story. I liked this one, though it was fairly slight in terms of plot. Kids who love chest will enjoy it, and kids of biracial heritage will sympathize with the main character.
"Alok at the dance" by Maulik Pancholy. Navratri is an Indian festival with nine nights of dancing. The main character is really excited for it, and doesn’t understand why his older sister, who used to be really excited about it, is suddenly more interested in her phone and her friends and keeps pushing the main character away. He also doesn’t understand why his wanting to dress his best in a sparkling Indian outfit makes his sister and her friends act snide. I really liked this one, because it wove in a lot of threads about family and tradition and growing up and feelings that you may be weren’t ready to share with people, and immigration. Insightful.
"Wedding blues" by Aisha Saeed. The main character is not happy that her beloved aunt, who has acted as her nanny while her mother worked medical shifts, is getting married and moving to Kenya for two years. She’s also not happy to spend time with her California cousins, since they still have not forgiven her for an accident last summer. Can anything change her outlook on life? This was a good story about the ups and downs of family, and how to look at things from someone else’s point of view. Lots of wonderful details about the wedding as well.
"Smile number seven" by Mitali Perkins. Stephen and his mother are both loners. Stephen because he has a speech defect, and his mother because she is a single mother and Stephen has no father. Stephen has a crush on a new girl at school, who has smiled at him six times. He finds that she is in a badminton group with her father at the local community center, and he tries to persuade his mother to join them. It takes a basketball to the face and kind people helping him out for his mother to change her mind. I really liked this one because the people were so kind to Stephen, even though he can’t really express his thanks. Some of them are characters from the other stories, so clearly all the stories are connected. Stephen was a good character to spend time with.
"Sweet and sour" by Reem Faruqi. The main character is frustrated that she has two much-younger sisters who often drive her crazy, and no cousins her own age. Then her grandmother tells her that she has a second cousin her age, who lives in Atlanta, but will be coming to New Jersey for a celebration soon. She suggests that the character and Amina be penpals before that, and it works surprisingly well. The story was all about having siblings, and how they can drive you crazy sometimes but you still love them. This family is Muslim, I believe, showing the variety in the Desi community.
"A taste of something new" by Simran Jeet Singh. The boy main character despises a lot of Indian food, to everyone’s dismay. So he is especially upset when his parents sign him up for an Indian cooking class that means he can’t play basketball with his friends on Saturday. He is the only person in the class, and his parents signed him up because they felt sorry for the instructor, who recently lost her husband. Though the main character goes resentfully, it doesn’t turn out as bad as he expected. I thought the character was well delineated in this one, and the descriptions of food were visceral. I liked how the class didn’t make him like Indian food, but he came to appreciate the process. His family are Sikh.
"How to spell 'Disaster'" by Supriya Kelkar. The main characters, little sister is a phenomenal speller, and the family weekends are usually taken up with her spelling bees. Unfortunately, that means that the main character can’t go to his junior lifeguarding class, which he really loves. This weekend, he gets the opportunity to use some of the skills that he has learned, and also learns how to speak up about what he needs and wants. I liked this one, which showed the importance of voicing your thoughts so that you get what you need, and you’re not resentful of those who might get in your way, even accidentally.
"Out in the open" by Rajani LaRocca. The main character is a reporter at her middle school newspaper. She is good about noticing when things need to change, and speaking up. Like noticing her mom has a full-time job she hates, and also spends all her time at home cooking and cleaning, while the males of the family do nothing. She also hears that there may be a job available for her mother that involves cooking, and pursues it when her mother is too reticent. She also finds out that their beloved community center may be closed, and she decides to find out what it means to all the kids who use it. This was a good story for showing kids how they can have influence on the world, even though they don’t have money and power. They have the power of noticing, and the power of words.
"Answered prayers" by N.H. Senzai. The main character is an avid gamer, but a staffing shortage at her mother's catering agency means that she is having to forgo an important practice session to help at the community center. Her mother has a successful business, but in the past, she and the main character were not so lucky, because the main character’s father always had anger issues. Now they’ve been away from him for several years, and the main character has just started a new school where she feels very out of place. Today she’s helping out at what turns out to be an event for the prevention of domestic violence. The AV person had an emergency and left, and the main character may be the only one who can get things back on track. I thought the story was well told, moving back-and-forth in time, though it is fairly obvious early on what the main character’s past was like. I did like her perspective shift on someone in her school, and on her own effectiveness in the real world.
"Together at the center" by Hena Khan. The main character is Muslim, and at age 12, has just finished reading the Quran in Arabic, which is a great achievement. Her parents are throwing her a party, but it’s ending up not anything like what she wanted, but more about her mother wanted: a more formal event in the community center. When the main character hears that people are making complaints about the gatherings in the community center, quite possibly for racist reasons, she asks her parents to open the party to anyone who wants to attend, so they can share cultures and learn about each other. I liked the story for the Muslim perspective, and learning that finishing the Quran is sometimes celebrated the way a bar mitzvah would be. I think that a lot of the people who came to the party were characters from the other stories, but I’m having trouble keeping them all in my head, so I’m not sure. Otherwise, there wasn’t a lot to this story, but good representation and pride.
"The map of home" by Sayantani DasGupta. The main character is beyond sick of being asked where she is from, when she was born in Ohio, and her parents were born in Massachusetts and London. When she and a friend see racist flyers urging that the community center be defunded and closed for racist reasons, they decide to do some research, and bring the community together and take some positive action. The last part of this felt very rushed, because trying to fit a novel's worth of activity into a short story as always going to feel rushed. It’s a very important topic, though, and it shows young activists how to start. It would be a good story to use for studying racism or social justice.
"Check yourself" by Veera Hiranandani. The main character, of Jewish and Indian descent, loves to play chess. At a tournament one day, she hears some boys declare that she is only good because she is Indian, and one boy vows that no girl will ever beat him. The main character wants her chessboard to tell a different story. I liked this one, though it was fairly slight in terms of plot. Kids who love chest will enjoy it, and kids of biracial heritage will sympathize with the main character.
"Alok at the dance" by Maulik Pancholy. Navratri is an Indian festival with nine nights of dancing. The main character is really excited for it, and doesn’t understand why his older sister, who used to be really excited about it, is suddenly more interested in her phone and her friends and keeps pushing the main character away. He also doesn’t understand why his wanting to dress his best in a sparkling Indian outfit makes his sister and her friends act snide. I really liked this one, because it wove in a lot of threads about family and tradition and growing up and feelings that you may be weren’t ready to share with people, and immigration. Insightful.
"Wedding blues" by Aisha Saeed. The main character is not happy that her beloved aunt, who has acted as her nanny while her mother worked medical shifts, is getting married and moving to Kenya for two years. She’s also not happy to spend time with her California cousins, since they still have not forgiven her for an accident last summer. Can anything change her outlook on life? This was a good story about the ups and downs of family, and how to look at things from someone else’s point of view. Lots of wonderful details about the wedding as well.
"Smile number seven" by Mitali Perkins. Stephen and his mother are both loners. Stephen because he has a speech defect, and his mother because she is a single mother and Stephen has no father. Stephen has a crush on a new girl at school, who has smiled at him six times. He finds that she is in a badminton group with her father at the local community center, and he tries to persuade his mother to join them. It takes a basketball to the face and kind people helping him out for his mother to change her mind. I really liked this one because the people were so kind to Stephen, even though he can’t really express his thanks. Some of them are characters from the other stories, so clearly all the stories are connected. Stephen was a good character to spend time with.
"Sweet and sour" by Reem Faruqi. The main character is frustrated that she has two much-younger sisters who often drive her crazy, and no cousins her own age. Then her grandmother tells her that she has a second cousin her age, who lives in Atlanta, but will be coming to New Jersey for a celebration soon. She suggests that the character and Amina be penpals before that, and it works surprisingly well. The story was all about having siblings, and how they can drive you crazy sometimes but you still love them. This family is Muslim, I believe, showing the variety in the Desi community.
"A taste of something new" by Simran Jeet Singh. The boy main character despises a lot of Indian food, to everyone’s dismay. So he is especially upset when his parents sign him up for an Indian cooking class that means he can’t play basketball with his friends on Saturday. He is the only person in the class, and his parents signed him up because they felt sorry for the instructor, who recently lost her husband. Though the main character goes resentfully, it doesn’t turn out as bad as he expected. I thought the character was well delineated in this one, and the descriptions of food were visceral. I liked how the class didn’t make him like Indian food, but he came to appreciate the process. His family are Sikh.
"How to spell 'Disaster'" by Supriya Kelkar. The main characters, little sister is a phenomenal speller, and the family weekends are usually taken up with her spelling bees. Unfortunately, that means that the main character can’t go to his junior lifeguarding class, which he really loves. This weekend, he gets the opportunity to use some of the skills that he has learned, and also learns how to speak up about what he needs and wants. I liked this one, which showed the importance of voicing your thoughts so that you get what you need, and you’re not resentful of those who might get in your way, even accidentally.
"Out in the open" by Rajani LaRocca. The main character is a reporter at her middle school newspaper. She is good about noticing when things need to change, and speaking up. Like noticing her mom has a full-time job she hates, and also spends all her time at home cooking and cleaning, while the males of the family do nothing. She also hears that there may be a job available for her mother that involves cooking, and pursues it when her mother is too reticent. She also finds out that their beloved community center may be closed, and she decides to find out what it means to all the kids who use it. This was a good story for showing kids how they can have influence on the world, even though they don’t have money and power. They have the power of noticing, and the power of words.
"Answered prayers" by N.H. Senzai. The main character is an avid gamer, but a staffing shortage at her mother's catering agency means that she is having to forgo an important practice session to help at the community center. Her mother has a successful business, but in the past, she and the main character were not so lucky, because the main character’s father always had anger issues. Now they’ve been away from him for several years, and the main character has just started a new school where she feels very out of place. Today she’s helping out at what turns out to be an event for the prevention of domestic violence. The AV person had an emergency and left, and the main character may be the only one who can get things back on track. I thought the story was well told, moving back-and-forth in time, though it is fairly obvious early on what the main character’s past was like. I did like her perspective shift on someone in her school, and on her own effectiveness in the real world.
"Together at the center" by Hena Khan. The main character is Muslim, and at age 12, has just finished reading the Quran in Arabic, which is a great achievement. Her parents are throwing her a party, but it’s ending up not anything like what she wanted, but more about her mother wanted: a more formal event in the community center. When the main character hears that people are making complaints about the gatherings in the community center, quite possibly for racist reasons, she asks her parents to open the party to anyone who wants to attend, so they can share cultures and learn about each other. I liked the story for the Muslim perspective, and learning that finishing the Quran is sometimes celebrated the way a bar mitzvah would be. I think that a lot of the people who came to the party were characters from the other stories, but I’m having trouble keeping them all in my head, so I’m not sure. Otherwise, there wasn’t a lot to this story, but good representation and pride.
"The map of home" by Sayantani DasGupta. The main character is beyond sick of being asked where she is from, when she was born in Ohio, and her parents were born in Massachusetts and London. When she and a friend see racist flyers urging that the community center be defunded and closed for racist reasons, they decide to do some research, and bring the community together and take some positive action. The last part of this felt very rushed, because trying to fit a novel's worth of activity into a short story as always going to feel rushed. It’s a very important topic, though, and it shows young activists how to start. It would be a good story to use for studying racism or social justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
The 328 page middle grade book is a collection of 11 Desi voices, four of which are Muslim (Hena Khan, Reem Faruqi, Aisha Saeed, and N.H. Senzai). All 11 are threaded together by a fictional community center that houses badminton games, ameens, cooking classes, dancing for Navratri, chess tournaments, spelling bees, celebrating an aqiqah, and everything in between. The majority of the stories are joyful with threads of overcoming stereotypes being a frequent mention in a book filled with different cultures, religions, and perspectives. Potential flags and triggers: there is mention in one story of domestic violence, there are a few hetero crushes and one same sex identifying boy who isn't ready to discuss his attractions, there is ostracizing of a single woman choosing to adopt, and a few mentions of divorce. As with all anthologies some are better written than others, but as a whole the book is pretty consistent in spotlighting something specific to religion or Desi culture, and having a hobby or family conflict push the character to problem solve, find their voice, and then be supported in a happy ending.
My favorite story is N.H. Senzai's piece, I might be bias seeing as I check her Instagram numerous times a day for Palestine updates, but her story, with the domestic violence mom and daughter surviving and flourishing, is powerful, on level, and memorable. Framed around a mom's prayers, duaas, she named her daughter Duaa. Duaa is a gamer that tries to make her mom happy by helping with her catering business. When she helps set up for a domestic abuse banquet at the community center she faces what her and her mom overcame by leaving in the middle of the night, and starting over.
I'm not going to review each story, but I will highlight the remaining Muslim authored ones. Aisha Saeed's story doesn't have any Islam specific mentions, her story is set during a mehndi at the community center. Her khala is getting married to Brian and moving to Kenya, and she is not happy, throw in cousins who are still mad at her for ruining their furniture with chocolate last year, and Maha just wants to hide in the back and pout.
Reem Faruqi brings her characters together through old fashioned letter writing. Orchestrated by Rahma's nani, second cousins who will be meeting for the first time at an aqiqah at the community center, start corresponding to get to know one another, and gripe about siblings. When they finally do meet, in matching outfits no less, the girls decide their siblings, like their favorite candy, can be both sweet and sour.
Hena Khan's story brings everyone together for an ameen six years in the making. Halima has finally finished the Quran and the family is throwing a party. Halima wanted a carnival type party, mom wants a formal affair, but when the community center is on the brink of being closed down, the family decides to invite everyone to show what the center offers the community.
My favorite story is N.H. Senzai's piece, I might be bias seeing as I check her Instagram numerous times a day for Palestine updates, but her story, with the domestic violence mom and daughter surviving and flourishing, is powerful, on level, and memorable. Framed around a mom's prayers, duaas, she named her daughter Duaa. Duaa is a gamer that tries to make her mom happy by helping with her catering business. When she helps set up for a domestic abuse banquet at the community center she faces what her and her mom overcame by leaving in the middle of the night, and starting over.
I'm not going to review each story, but I will highlight the remaining Muslim authored ones. Aisha Saeed's story doesn't have any Islam specific mentions, her story is set during a mehndi at the community center. Her khala is getting married to Brian and moving to Kenya, and she is not happy, throw in cousins who are still mad at her for ruining their furniture with chocolate last year, and Maha just wants to hide in the back and pout.
Reem Faruqi brings her characters together through old fashioned letter writing. Orchestrated by Rahma's nani, second cousins who will be meeting for the first time at an aqiqah at the community center, start corresponding to get to know one another, and gripe about siblings. When they finally do meet, in matching outfits no less, the girls decide their siblings, like their favorite candy, can be both sweet and sour.
Hena Khan's story brings everyone together for an ameen six years in the making. Halima has finally finished the Quran and the family is throwing a party. Halima wanted a carnival type party, mom wants a formal affair, but when the community center is on the brink of being closed down, the family decides to invite everyone to show what the center offers the community.
April 23, 2024
An important and uplifting collection of short stories by South Asian American writers featuring South Asian American characters and themes.
The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices was conceived and edited by Hena Khan and is a wonderfully uplifting collection of short stories by and about South Asian Americans. The stories capture vibrant slices of community life and precious family moments, all connected through the social hub of the local community center.
While each story comes from a different author, common threads run throughout and tie the parts into a wonderful whole. Each story is a gem in its own right and self-contained, and there is a much-appreciated section about the contributors at the end of the book that includes each one’s previous works for readers to seek out and binge. The main characters are middle-grade students, for the most part, with younger and older siblings, parents, uncles, and aunties in supporting roles, and the diversity of the cultures and religions of South Asia are represented. There are stories of joy and sadness, coming-of-age moments, personal triumphs, and many emotional moments to absorb. Readers not part of the represented groups can also enjoy all the stories, relate to many of the depicted situations, or learn something new and interesting. There are several very teachable moments to share.I recommend THE DOOR IS OPEN to middle-grade and chapter book readers, especially those interested in South Asian American culture, community, and experiences.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
May 15, 2024
Chicken Soup For The Modern Tween’s Soul
Quotes📖
This is just the ending of today's story. Tomorrow, in the future, all the parts of me that make me who I am will start a new one.
During that time, the queen chess piece started to change into what she is now. My queen is not like Isabella. My queen protects all her people.
Thoughts: 💡
This book reminded me of Chicken Soup For The Soul but focused specifically on Desi, South Asian, and South Asian American voices.
It sucked me in from the beginning with a story about chess and the rampant prejudice and misogynistic ideas in the community. It had Check & Mate vibes but was age appropriate for a 10 year old (i.e. no romance, cursing, etc. just some kids hopped up on Mountain Dew).
That story transitioned to another with a different MC with different struggles but was set in the same community center. Each story had a different theme and different struggles but each of them were well written and compelling. There’s something for every kid in this book.
✨Note:✨Each story was written by a different author but they were all edited and compiled into this anthology by Hana Khan.
⚠️Content Warning:⚠️
Confronts difficult topics like racism, prejudices, and misogyny
Stats:📊
Ages 8 & Up
Middle Grade Short Stories
Out Now (April 24, 2024)
Each chapter is a different story by a different author
Quotes📖
This is just the ending of today's story. Tomorrow, in the future, all the parts of me that make me who I am will start a new one.
During that time, the queen chess piece started to change into what she is now. My queen is not like Isabella. My queen protects all her people.
Thoughts: 💡
This book reminded me of Chicken Soup For The Soul but focused specifically on Desi, South Asian, and South Asian American voices.
It sucked me in from the beginning with a story about chess and the rampant prejudice and misogynistic ideas in the community. It had Check & Mate vibes but was age appropriate for a 10 year old (i.e. no romance, cursing, etc. just some kids hopped up on Mountain Dew).
That story transitioned to another with a different MC with different struggles but was set in the same community center. Each story had a different theme and different struggles but each of them were well written and compelling. There’s something for every kid in this book.
✨Note:✨Each story was written by a different author but they were all edited and compiled into this anthology by Hana Khan.
⚠️Content Warning:⚠️
Confronts difficult topics like racism, prejudices, and misogyny
Stats:📊
Ages 8 & Up
Middle Grade Short Stories
Out Now (April 24, 2024)
Each chapter is a different story by a different author
April 24, 2024
Explore the tales of young Desi teenagers through this novel.
Welcome to the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the locals of all cultures, most notably the South Asian cultures, gather at the Community Center to celebrate, live, laugh, and love. Read this brilliant array of talented desi authors' beautifully crafted stories that tackle the themes of triumph and fighting for what's right.
This book was truly an enjoyable and heartwarming experience. As I read the pages, I immersed myself in the fascinating stories of the desi authors I knew. Their writing reminded me of the fantastic stories I had read before, and it was an absolute pleasure to relive them again.
Each of the book's characters has unique personalities and goals, making them relatable and interesting. I rooted for them throughout the book, and their stories left a lasting impression on me.
If you're looking for a book that will inspire you and celebrate our uniqueness, I highly recommend this one. It can touch the hearts of anyone who loves a good story filled with hope and inspiration.
Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @tbrbeyondtours & @littlebrownforyoungreaders, for sending me a copy of your book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Welcome to the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the locals of all cultures, most notably the South Asian cultures, gather at the Community Center to celebrate, live, laugh, and love. Read this brilliant array of talented desi authors' beautifully crafted stories that tackle the themes of triumph and fighting for what's right.
This book was truly an enjoyable and heartwarming experience. As I read the pages, I immersed myself in the fascinating stories of the desi authors I knew. Their writing reminded me of the fantastic stories I had read before, and it was an absolute pleasure to relive them again.
Each of the book's characters has unique personalities and goals, making them relatable and interesting. I rooted for them throughout the book, and their stories left a lasting impression on me.
If you're looking for a book that will inspire you and celebrate our uniqueness, I highly recommend this one. It can touch the hearts of anyone who loves a good story filled with hope and inspiration.
Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @tbrbeyondtours & @littlebrownforyoungreaders, for sending me a copy of your book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2024
I liked how these stories all focused on a community center. I also liked how diverse the stories were to connect to a wide range of my students. These characters fight against othering and bigotry in magical ways and find themselves stronger and more self-aware in the process. My favorite part of these stories was the sense of belonging no matter your focus on religious practices. The Spelling Bee connection was my favorite as I run my school spelling bees, but I found every main character facing trials of their own with family and themselves and liked how each of these celebrated authors allowed the characters inner strength to lead the chapter along.
I am quite impressed with the use of a group of authors to tell a story. The Door is Open is a very worthy book and would be a great reading group read for teachers. I will recommend this book for my middle school community strongly!
I am quite impressed with the use of a group of authors to tell a story. The Door is Open is a very worthy book and would be a great reading group read for teachers. I will recommend this book for my middle school community strongly!
November 4, 2024
As usual, anthologies are a mixed bag. I requested this mostly for the Muslim authors I'm familiar with, Reem Faruqi and Hena Khan, and enjoyed those stories most, but there were a few others I liked.
I loved the interwoven characters and storylines, positive family portrayals and the inclusion of religion in some of stories. On the negative side, was the overexplaining, "wokeness", lack of interesting voices (the only fun one that stood out to me was in Singh's story!) and the trend I've noticed in newer MG of on-the-nose-ness, as is middle graders are incapable of understanding subtlety.
Overall, it was okay, but I can't really identify what would make this enjoyable to a kid besides relating to the South Asian-ness?
I loved the interwoven characters and storylines, positive family portrayals and the inclusion of religion in some of stories. On the negative side, was the overexplaining, "wokeness", lack of interesting voices (the only fun one that stood out to me was in Singh's story!) and the trend I've noticed in newer MG of on-the-nose-ness, as is middle graders are incapable of understanding subtlety.
Overall, it was okay, but I can't really identify what would make this enjoyable to a kid besides relating to the South Asian-ness?
February 16, 2025
The Door Is Open: solid MG anthology centered on South Asian American characters. A community center is a great setting for this collection of interconnected stories by a talented group of authors. I did feel that the mood and structure of the book was a bit inconsistent (the beginning leans toward more lighthearted standalone stories, while the last third or so launches into an overarching plot about racism and the community center being threatened), but this allows readers to return to whichever stories most spoke to them.
--List of stories included:
Check Yourself
Alok at the Dance
Wedding Blues
Smile Number Seven
Sweet and Sour
A Taste of Something New
How to Spell "Disaster"
Out in the Open
Answered Prayers
Together at the Center
The Map of Home
--List of stories included:
Check Yourself
Alok at the Dance
Wedding Blues
Smile Number Seven
Sweet and Sour
A Taste of Something New
How to Spell "Disaster"
Out in the Open
Answered Prayers
Together at the Center
The Map of Home
March 5, 2024
I found great delight in the book, particularly appreciating the collection of short stories it presented. The varied narratives added a rich layer to the overall reading experience. Assigning a rating of 4/5 reflects my positive impression. "Can I Get an Amen" captured my attention with its compelling storyline, leaving me intrigued about the possibility of a second volume.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire book team for generously sending me this book as a gift. It truly enhanced my reading journey, and I'm eagerly anticipating any future releases from this talented team.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire book team for generously sending me this book as a gift. It truly enhanced my reading journey, and I'm eagerly anticipating any future releases from this talented team.
April 23, 2024
a collection of short stories for middle grade readers, about a community center where the desi community celebrates, grieves, learns. Each kid has a story about the center.
For myself, the stories were too simple. However, as a middle grade teacher, these stories would be eye opening. The second to last story really resonated with me. A young girl shares her name, and the sub keeps asking her where she’s from, even though she’s born in Ohio to a mother born in Massachusetts and a father born in London. Even in a name, there is belonging. A powerful lesson from a powerful book. Also now I want some desi food.
For myself, the stories were too simple. However, as a middle grade teacher, these stories would be eye opening. The second to last story really resonated with me. A young girl shares her name, and the sub keeps asking her where she’s from, even though she’s born in Ohio to a mother born in Massachusetts and a father born in London. Even in a name, there is belonging. A powerful lesson from a powerful book. Also now I want some desi food.
April 23, 2024
Hena Khan is a profound author who possesses a real talent to speak to her readers, across generations and cultures, and create a connection. She once again harnesses this power for the greater good of literature to edit eleven short stories from the Desi community to share with the world. The Door is Open is an exquisite collection of short stories that are at once simple and relatable to middle grade readers, yet profound and moving. Readers of all ages will delight in the beautiful stories, relating to so many aspects while also accumulating a wealth of new knowledge of cultures and unique experiences.
July 26, 2024
I love a short story collection that centers around a concept that threads the stories together- in this case, a Southeast Asian collection of stories around a community center- a center that hosts religious festivities, fundraisers, classes, and more. It's a gathering place and it may be in danger.
The cast of characters for each of the stories is wide-ranging featuring friendships and food, family frustrations and success at hobbies like chess or spelling bees. They all pull together a fantastic collection with my favorites being "Check Yourself" by Hiranandani and "Sweet and Sour" by Faruqi.
The cast of characters for each of the stories is wide-ranging featuring friendships and food, family frustrations and success at hobbies like chess or spelling bees. They all pull together a fantastic collection with my favorites being "Check Yourself" by Hiranandani and "Sweet and Sour" by Faruqi.
April 16, 2024
In this book, there are many short stories that celebrate South Asian Americans and all of them all point back to the Maple Grove Community Center in NJ.
I enjoyed this book very much and I loved learning more about the South Asian culture. Each story is different, but the take away from all the stories is to be open and accepting or something/anything that's different than the norm. When you are able to do that, you are able to open you heart up to many more lovely things that life has to offer.
I enjoyed this book very much and I loved learning more about the South Asian culture. Each story is different, but the take away from all the stories is to be open and accepting or something/anything that's different than the norm. When you are able to do that, you are able to open you heart up to many more lovely things that life has to offer.
April 22, 2024
11 stories by 11 talented authors! I really loved this, I haven’t read a book like this before (that I can remember) but I love how even though it’s told from many different voices it all flows really well together. I like how each chapter is a different character that we heard and learn and see from but it doesn’t feel like you’re missing out on a whole story being about that one specific character. It’s also nice that they are all working together towards the same thing (to save the community center)
September 11, 2026
I love the way that the author included so many different stories coming together into one large story. This is a great coming-of-age book. It’s a great late elementary through middle school reader book. I may be an adult, but I feel like this story has so much to offer anyone of any age. I would happily read this to my six-year-old, just as easily. I strongly encourage people who are trying to broaden their horizons in cultural understanding to consider reading this book, or sharing it with others who they know would do well to learn.
April 29, 2024
This book was simply amazing, and right on time with AANHPI month starting next week. It is a great read and resource for children and everyone with many lessons in each story. I enjoyed all of the stories, and some of my favorites include Check yourself, Alok at the Dance, The Map of Home, Answered Prayers, and Out In The Open. It has South Asian American representation and was written so beautifully, I could imagine each and every story. It is a must read.
May 14, 2024
A junior high aged collection of longish short stories that center around a public meeting place that caters to the South Asian immigrant community for a wide variety of social gatherings. When it is leaked that the venue might be closed down the teens all try to help keep the place open. The stories are told from a wide variety of cultures try to help and the stories offer readers a valuable look into these groups and what is important to them.
May 20, 2024
“These middle schoolers with varied interests create a wonderful mosaic representing a diverse community. Though the stories only feature characters of Indian or Pakistani heritage, there’s a richness of regional representation (e.g., Gujarati, Maharashtrian, South Indian, and Bengali), as well as religious diversity (such as Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh). A multifaceted celebration of a vibrant American community.” [Kirkus]
June 2, 2024
Middle school level group of short stories about Desi Indians. All the stories are connected by characters that show up in other stories or this community center. I like how it shows such a different perspective of everybody within this community and their own unique challenges. It's also appropriate for middle school, which is very hard to find a short story collection that is appropriate for middle school
October 14, 2024
This collection is 11 pieces of a story that are connected. I am fond of Heena Khan the editor's work and the works of the authors included. I also think this is a wonderful time for this book to exist, for South Asian readers to see themselves, and for readers like me who are not South Asian and not familiar with all the different countries and cultures' traditions. There are also universal themes in these stories that readers can relate to no matter what their cultural background is.
April 7, 2024
It has been awhile since I've read any short stories and this was a delightful experience! Each story is unique with rich characters and diverse backgrounds! It's a great addition to any library and one the kids will enjoy! Thank you Tbr and Beyond Tours, Hana Khan and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this book with me!
July 1, 2024
I find most short story collections to be hit & miss, but this one was more hits, and taken together gives a nice window (for me) into the Desi community - one thing about this (and other collections like Black Boy Joy and Ancestor Approved) is that it provides multiple stories about a particular identity, rather than the potentially single story of one novel.
July 23, 2024
A set of eleven stories to celebrate Desi communities. Each author shares about the same community by focusing on different residents. The kids interact at the local community center and work together to save it from budget cuts. Readers will identify the individual styles of each author from other works they've read by them.
An own voices book that middle grade readers will connect with.
An own voices book that middle grade readers will connect with.
February 4, 2024
This cute and uplifting middle great anthology is reminiscent of ONCE UPON AN EID.
"Wedding Blues" was my favorite, and "Sweet and Sour" and "Can I Get an Ameen" also stuck out to me. I would like to know if they saved the community center.
Thank you LBYR for the review copy.
"Wedding Blues" was my favorite, and "Sweet and Sour" and "Can I Get an Ameen" also stuck out to me. I would like to know if they saved the community center.
Thank you LBYR for the review copy.
July 1, 2024
This is a great collection of interconnected Desi stories. This book was fun and easy to get into. I think this would be a great addition to a middle-grade library, a wonderful way to introduce different cultures or help kids feel included.
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