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Blue Boy
Atwelve-year-old Indian American boy believes he is the reincarnation of Krishna and plans to unveil his true identity at the school talent show.
Meet Kiran lover of music, dance, and all things sensual; son of immigrants, social outcast, spiritual seeker. A boy who doesn’t quite understand his lot—until he realizes he’s a god . . .
As an only son, Kiran has obligations—to excel in his studies, to honor the deities, to find a nice Indian girl, and, above all, to make his mother and father proud—standard stuff for a boy of his background. If only Kiran had anything in common with the other Indian kids besides the color of his skin. They reject him at every turn, and his cretinous public schoolmates are no better. Cincinnati in the early 1990s isn’t exactly a hotbed of cultural diversity, and Kiran’s not-so-well-kept secrets don’t endear him to any group. Playing with dolls, choosing ballet over basketball, taking the annual talent show way too seriously…the very things that make Kiran who he is also make him the star of his own personal freak show . . .
Surrounded by examples of upstanding Indian Americans—in his own home, in his temple, at the weekly parties given by his parents’ friends—Kiran nevertheless finds it impossible to get the knack of “normalcy.” And then one fateful day, a perhaps his desires aren’t too earthly, but too divine. Perhaps the solution to the mystery of his existence has been before him since birth. For Kiran Sharma, a long, strange trip is about to begin—a journey so sublime, so ridiculous, so painfully beautiful, that it can only lead to the truth . . .
Praise for Blue Boy
“Compassionate, moving, funny, and wise, Blue Boy is one of the best debut novels I have read in years.” &mda
Meet Kiran lover of music, dance, and all things sensual; son of immigrants, social outcast, spiritual seeker. A boy who doesn’t quite understand his lot—until he realizes he’s a god . . .
As an only son, Kiran has obligations—to excel in his studies, to honor the deities, to find a nice Indian girl, and, above all, to make his mother and father proud—standard stuff for a boy of his background. If only Kiran had anything in common with the other Indian kids besides the color of his skin. They reject him at every turn, and his cretinous public schoolmates are no better. Cincinnati in the early 1990s isn’t exactly a hotbed of cultural diversity, and Kiran’s not-so-well-kept secrets don’t endear him to any group. Playing with dolls, choosing ballet over basketball, taking the annual talent show way too seriously…the very things that make Kiran who he is also make him the star of his own personal freak show . . .
Surrounded by examples of upstanding Indian Americans—in his own home, in his temple, at the weekly parties given by his parents’ friends—Kiran nevertheless finds it impossible to get the knack of “normalcy.” And then one fateful day, a perhaps his desires aren’t too earthly, but too divine. Perhaps the solution to the mystery of his existence has been before him since birth. For Kiran Sharma, a long, strange trip is about to begin—a journey so sublime, so ridiculous, so painfully beautiful, that it can only lead to the truth . . .
Praise for Blue Boy
“Compassionate, moving, funny, and wise, Blue Boy is one of the best debut novels I have read in years.” &mda
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Rakesh Satyal
5 books162 followersRAKESH SATYAL is the author of the novel Blue Boy, which won a 2010 Lambda Literary Award and the 2010 Prose/Poetry Award from the Association of Asian American Studies and which was a finalist for the Publishing Triangle's Edmund White Debut Fiction Award. Satyal was a recipient of a 2010 Fellowship in Fiction from the New York Foundation for the Arts and two fellowships from the Norman Mailer Writers' Colony. His writing has appeared in New York magazine, Vulture, Out magazine, and The Awl. A graduate of Princeton University, he has taught in the publishing program at New York University and has been on the advisory committee for the annual PEN World Voices Festival. He lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
April 28, 2018
rakesh satyal has written a brilliant, delightful, heartbreaking/heart-lifting story of the coming of age of a 12-year-old queer indian-ohioan (second generation: the parents immigrated to the US as adults) boy. kiran is a beautifully drawn character. original, thoughtful, playful and super-smart, he deals with his difference (racial, queer) and his status as an outcast with the aplomb, dignity, and life-joy of someone with tremendous faith in his vision of himself. in this vision kiran is simply fabulous. he is beautiful, brilliant, skillful, modest, accepting, and kind. he is also a little divine. he is the god of his self-contained world.
then, at some point, this vision is horribly shaken. and then, later, it's put back together again, and it's a thing of beauty.
what keeps kiran together -- solid and for the most part happy -- are his family and his religion, the two single worst enemies of queer kids in a lot of western-centric YA and adult queer narratives, fictional and otherwise. the evolution of his family's feeling toward him constitutes the core of the novel so i won't spoil it. as for religion, kiran finds in flamboyant (in his eyes, i know nothing about hinduism), romantic, blue-skinned krishna a fabulous object of identification. the divinity is not only an example to emulate but a guardian and a protector.
through identification with krishna, kiran manages to navigate his gender troubles. krishna loves a beautiful, absolutely special girl. kiran loves girls too: he wants to be like them! what a perfect match! he must certainly be krishna’s reincarnation!
satyal is a skillful enough writer not to let kiran’s perfect world be crushed from the outside. the attacks come from the inside – where kiran has to navigate the tricky combination of fantasy/reality/self-deception that sustains him. as reality rocks his world like an earthquake, kiran has to resort to great inner strength to keep it standing. it is the depiction of kiran’s strength, and of the sources of it, that is the genius of this sweet and funny book.
then, at some point, this vision is horribly shaken. and then, later, it's put back together again, and it's a thing of beauty.
what keeps kiran together -- solid and for the most part happy -- are his family and his religion, the two single worst enemies of queer kids in a lot of western-centric YA and adult queer narratives, fictional and otherwise. the evolution of his family's feeling toward him constitutes the core of the novel so i won't spoil it. as for religion, kiran finds in flamboyant (in his eyes, i know nothing about hinduism), romantic, blue-skinned krishna a fabulous object of identification. the divinity is not only an example to emulate but a guardian and a protector.
through identification with krishna, kiran manages to navigate his gender troubles. krishna loves a beautiful, absolutely special girl. kiran loves girls too: he wants to be like them! what a perfect match! he must certainly be krishna’s reincarnation!
satyal is a skillful enough writer not to let kiran’s perfect world be crushed from the outside. the attacks come from the inside – where kiran has to navigate the tricky combination of fantasy/reality/self-deception that sustains him. as reality rocks his world like an earthquake, kiran has to resort to great inner strength to keep it standing. it is the depiction of kiran’s strength, and of the sources of it, that is the genius of this sweet and funny book.
February 8, 2017
Kiran is a sixth-grade student who knows he's different from his fellow classmates, but in his mind, different is better. He's intrigued by his mother's makeup drawer, takes ballet class instead of basketball, is tremendously focused on his schoolwork and is determined to show everyone how amazing he is at this year's talent show. But all of the things that make Kiran who he is cause him to be ostracized by his peers, which he just doesn't understand.
Blue Boy is an extremely entertaining, heartwarming story about a boy trying to come to terms with who he is (and mostly liking himself) while reconciling the desires of his parents and his need to be "normal." At this time in our society, when kids are bullied for being different and many are driven to drastic measures, Kiran's story is a refreshing one, because while he doesn't quite understand why he is different, he knows that being different isn't a bad thing.
Having been in a situation somewhat similar to Kiran growing up (although I never wanted to wear makeup and couldn't dance to save my life), Satyal did a fantastic job in creating Kiran's character and depicting the tug-of-war of emotions and thoughts he experienced. While some of the situations Kiran found himself in were somewhat typical, his perspectives on the situations were tremendously unique. This was really enjoyable to read.
Blue Boy is an extremely entertaining, heartwarming story about a boy trying to come to terms with who he is (and mostly liking himself) while reconciling the desires of his parents and his need to be "normal." At this time in our society, when kids are bullied for being different and many are driven to drastic measures, Kiran's story is a refreshing one, because while he doesn't quite understand why he is different, he knows that being different isn't a bad thing.
Having been in a situation somewhat similar to Kiran growing up (although I never wanted to wear makeup and couldn't dance to save my life), Satyal did a fantastic job in creating Kiran's character and depicting the tug-of-war of emotions and thoughts he experienced. While some of the situations Kiran found himself in were somewhat typical, his perspectives on the situations were tremendously unique. This was really enjoyable to read.
March 25, 2014
The potential within this book was both amazing and heart-breaking. It has all the ingredients of a fantastic novel – quirky characters, a balance of what is culturally familiar and unfamiliar to Americans and Indians, boldness to deal with mature subject matter, and so on – but Satyal simply failed to create a masterpiece. At best, Blue Boy was cute. As worst, however, it was boring, drawn-out, and ultimately dissatisfying.
Before I tear this novel apart, I will share one thing that I found refreshing. I loved the characterization of Kiran, the protagonist. He was an eccentric outcast, but wasn’t at all clichéd. For example, he wasn’t afraid to be judgemental. In fact, he would describe overweight people quite unflatteringly in his head. I’m not saying that this should be encouraged, but I personally think it is pointless to pretend that people are perfect and never judge one another. I find it even more ridiculous when authors characterize villains as only evil and protagonists as pure and saint-like. Not only is the juxtaposition boring, but it’s also unrealistic. Books today try not to do that, but most of them fail because the characters always end up making the right choices in the end. This novel wasn’t like that. Kiran may have believed he was the reincarnation of a god, but he was adorably human and imperfect.
However, the realistic characterization does in no way excuse the Dickens-esque explanations that Kiran would go off on. Whenever something was about to happen, he would pause to explain a fairly unnecessary backstory for several pages. When he was done, I would have forgotten what was happening in the present, and have to go back and reread. What the Dickens was that all about? In fact, what the Dickens was this book all about? I was curious at the beginning, but now, I have to say that I don’t really care.
Before I tear this novel apart, I will share one thing that I found refreshing. I loved the characterization of Kiran, the protagonist. He was an eccentric outcast, but wasn’t at all clichéd. For example, he wasn’t afraid to be judgemental. In fact, he would describe overweight people quite unflatteringly in his head. I’m not saying that this should be encouraged, but I personally think it is pointless to pretend that people are perfect and never judge one another. I find it even more ridiculous when authors characterize villains as only evil and protagonists as pure and saint-like. Not only is the juxtaposition boring, but it’s also unrealistic. Books today try not to do that, but most of them fail because the characters always end up making the right choices in the end. This novel wasn’t like that. Kiran may have believed he was the reincarnation of a god, but he was adorably human and imperfect.
However, the realistic characterization does in no way excuse the Dickens-esque explanations that Kiran would go off on. Whenever something was about to happen, he would pause to explain a fairly unnecessary backstory for several pages. When he was done, I would have forgotten what was happening in the present, and have to go back and reread. What the Dickens was that all about? In fact, what the Dickens was this book all about? I was curious at the beginning, but now, I have to say that I don’t really care.
June 5, 2015
I wanted to like Kiran, but it turns out there's a reason why everyone loathes him. He's a dirty little voyeuristic, school-burning-down, tattle-taling shit. Even still, I was pulling for him in the end, hoping his parents would come through for him and give him the kind of support he needed to get through his socially awkward, self-realizing phase.
December 31, 2014
“Sometimes we are so consumed by the flame, burning so painfully in its heat, that we can’t see the utter gorgeousness of the fire.” This final line of Rakesh Satyal’s shimmering coming of age story, Blue Boy, captures the experience of reading the book in beautiful shorthand. The book chronicles the life of twelve-year-old Kirtan as he struggles with his Indian-American identity, gender expression, and burgeoning sexuality. In some ways the book is an odd mix of genres; at times it feels like a sweet, sassy young adult book, at other times it sits squarely in the adult gay fiction world. Somehow this ends up contributing to the narrative arc of the tale, however, since Kirtan himself see-saws between playing with his beloved Strawberry Shortcake doll, experimenting with his mother’s makeup and clothes, and stealing a Penthouse magazine while shopping with his mother at the mall. This is a story about a gay boy who is thrown into the fire of adolescence with few resources to help him through it all but his own wit, style, and gorgeous flamboyance.
The story is set in Suburban Ohio in the 1990s. Kirtan lives a rather schizophrenic life, alternating between weekdays spent at his mostly non-Indian school and weekends spent with his parents and their extended community of Indian immigrants. Both cultures have their own rigid ways of enforcing gender roles and sexuality, and neither knows quite what to do with a flaming, smart boy who is slow to self-censure. As the story progresses, Kirtan increasingly identifies with Lord Krishna, the elegant, blue, shining incarnation of Vishnu. This connection to something uniquely Indian helps him survive the cruelty and fickleness of the few friends he has at school. As the story works up to the dramatic denouement – the school talent show – Kirtan literally begins to see himself as a reincarnation of the Blue God, with tragic, but ultimately redemptive consequences. His hubris pushes him to burn hotter, be utterly himself, and ultimately renounce any claim to “normalcy.” By the last page of the book, it is clear that this is an absolutely necessary, right, and liberating moment in his young life.
There are some vividly rendered scenes in this book, the kind that stay with you for days and seem more like scenes from a big screen movie than echoes of words on a page. “Bollywood Noir,” if I had to name the genre. There is the scene in the park when Kirtan inadvertently stumbles upon three teenagers having raunchy sex, the weekend party at the home of family friends when Kirtan is outed in front of everyone for playing with makeup, and the climactic talent show scene. These, and many other smaller moments in the story leave a lasting impression, so well are they rendered by Satyal’s prose.
There are a few aspects of the book that I found challenging. Kirtan narrates the story, but the voice is not particularly believable as that of even the most precocious, gifted twelve-year-old. His command of language, wisdom about life, and subtle wit are clearly those of a much older narrator. This distraction is easy to ignore, however, given the sheer pleasure of the tale and how expertly the plot pulls you in and keeps you engaged. The other part of the story that I struggled with is the role of the somewhat shady Rodney, a park ranger who makes cameo appearances in a few key moments in the story. Rodney is clearly a part of Kirtan’s sexual awakening – but the way the narrative is constructed it is impossible to know what, if anything, actually happened between the man and the boy. For obvious reasons, this is disturbing. By the end of the book, however, I was willing to assume that he was there largely as a cipher – a sexy, older, deep-voiced grown-up on whom Kirtan was able to project his emerging desires. As such, he is a sympathetic and beautiful addition to this shimmering story of a boy learning how to not only accept who he is, but glory in his many, fabulous gifts.
The story is set in Suburban Ohio in the 1990s. Kirtan lives a rather schizophrenic life, alternating between weekdays spent at his mostly non-Indian school and weekends spent with his parents and their extended community of Indian immigrants. Both cultures have their own rigid ways of enforcing gender roles and sexuality, and neither knows quite what to do with a flaming, smart boy who is slow to self-censure. As the story progresses, Kirtan increasingly identifies with Lord Krishna, the elegant, blue, shining incarnation of Vishnu. This connection to something uniquely Indian helps him survive the cruelty and fickleness of the few friends he has at school. As the story works up to the dramatic denouement – the school talent show – Kirtan literally begins to see himself as a reincarnation of the Blue God, with tragic, but ultimately redemptive consequences. His hubris pushes him to burn hotter, be utterly himself, and ultimately renounce any claim to “normalcy.” By the last page of the book, it is clear that this is an absolutely necessary, right, and liberating moment in his young life.
There are some vividly rendered scenes in this book, the kind that stay with you for days and seem more like scenes from a big screen movie than echoes of words on a page. “Bollywood Noir,” if I had to name the genre. There is the scene in the park when Kirtan inadvertently stumbles upon three teenagers having raunchy sex, the weekend party at the home of family friends when Kirtan is outed in front of everyone for playing with makeup, and the climactic talent show scene. These, and many other smaller moments in the story leave a lasting impression, so well are they rendered by Satyal’s prose.
There are a few aspects of the book that I found challenging. Kirtan narrates the story, but the voice is not particularly believable as that of even the most precocious, gifted twelve-year-old. His command of language, wisdom about life, and subtle wit are clearly those of a much older narrator. This distraction is easy to ignore, however, given the sheer pleasure of the tale and how expertly the plot pulls you in and keeps you engaged. The other part of the story that I struggled with is the role of the somewhat shady Rodney, a park ranger who makes cameo appearances in a few key moments in the story. Rodney is clearly a part of Kirtan’s sexual awakening – but the way the narrative is constructed it is impossible to know what, if anything, actually happened between the man and the boy. For obvious reasons, this is disturbing. By the end of the book, however, I was willing to assume that he was there largely as a cipher – a sexy, older, deep-voiced grown-up on whom Kirtan was able to project his emerging desires. As such, he is a sympathetic and beautiful addition to this shimmering story of a boy learning how to not only accept who he is, but glory in his many, fabulous gifts.
January 23, 2015
The style is good, but Kiran is not at all believable. Perhaps if it had been told by an older Kiran looking back on his twelve-year-old self, I would have found it more realistic. But as it is, Kiran is at once remarkably knowledgeable about many things, yet almost incredibly naive for an American sixth grader, whether of Indian descent or not.
July 17, 2012
I've signed up to receive an email alert for Kindle Freebies from Advanced Kindle Alert website. This book was one of the first books I was lead to by this site. The subject nature was different from what I might normally read. It was free so I figured I didn't have much to lose. So, I pushed "Download to My Kindle" and didn't look back.
The narrator of this book is Kiran, a 12 year old Indian boy, growing up in Ohio who just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Boys his age have always caused him to feel uptight. For some reason, he finds he relates better to girls. Wildly, he enjoys ballet, the school talent show, playing with dolls and putting on his mother's makeup. The kids at school constantly poke fun of him, his Indian counterparts do the same, leaving him friendless, confused and questioning himself. One morning he wakes up, looks in the mirror and is shocked to find his skin beginning to turn a faint shade of blue. With this metamorphosis, he finally thinks he has found the answers to his questions! The school talent show appears to be the perfect vehicle to introduce this newly discovered self to the world. Will Kiran's act be a success, will he finally get the recognition and approval he is seeking, or will this just be another failed attempt to unveil who he really is?
NOTE: This novel is a coming of age story, it is intended for mature audiences and contains explicit sex scenes. Though they are pertinent to the plot, they may not be suitable for all readers, especially those younger than 15 years old.
Book Discussion: This book hits on some pretty mature topics such as a preteen boy discovering his sexuality and coming to the revelation he may not be like all the other boys his age. It has explicit sexual references and some scenes in the novel, which are important to the story, but for me were just slightly uncomfortable to read. I'm definitely not a prude, but I think I found myself embarrassed because I was reading it through the eyes of a child. This is one of the main reasons I gave this book 3 stars instead of four, I felt guilty reading some parts and felt like if someone discovered what I was reading, he/she may not approve. In addition, I felt Kiran's language didn't exactly fit the vocabulary of a boy his age. Did anyone else feel this way?
The narrator of this book is Kiran, a 12 year old Indian boy, growing up in Ohio who just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Boys his age have always caused him to feel uptight. For some reason, he finds he relates better to girls. Wildly, he enjoys ballet, the school talent show, playing with dolls and putting on his mother's makeup. The kids at school constantly poke fun of him, his Indian counterparts do the same, leaving him friendless, confused and questioning himself. One morning he wakes up, looks in the mirror and is shocked to find his skin beginning to turn a faint shade of blue. With this metamorphosis, he finally thinks he has found the answers to his questions! The school talent show appears to be the perfect vehicle to introduce this newly discovered self to the world. Will Kiran's act be a success, will he finally get the recognition and approval he is seeking, or will this just be another failed attempt to unveil who he really is?
NOTE: This novel is a coming of age story, it is intended for mature audiences and contains explicit sex scenes. Though they are pertinent to the plot, they may not be suitable for all readers, especially those younger than 15 years old.
Book Discussion: This book hits on some pretty mature topics such as a preteen boy discovering his sexuality and coming to the revelation he may not be like all the other boys his age. It has explicit sexual references and some scenes in the novel, which are important to the story, but for me were just slightly uncomfortable to read. I'm definitely not a prude, but I think I found myself embarrassed because I was reading it through the eyes of a child. This is one of the main reasons I gave this book 3 stars instead of four, I felt guilty reading some parts and felt like if someone discovered what I was reading, he/she may not approve. In addition, I felt Kiran's language didn't exactly fit the vocabulary of a boy his age. Did anyone else feel this way?
October 28, 2015
Satyal gives us an idealistic, quixotic star of the show and a thoughtful, sweet yet heartbreaking story with Blue Boy. Young Kiran Sharma loves all things glittery, musical, and dramatic. He secretly keeps a Barbie under his bed, loves ballet, and takes the annual school talent show more seriously than absolutely necessary. In the not-so-gender fluid days of the 1990s, this is difficult enough to make Kiran a bit of an outcast. To further complicate his young life, he is part of an Indian-American family who take seriously their cultural traditions; Kiran is expected to have a certain career, to take care of his parents as they age, and to be an upstanding member of their Hindu community. Shenanigans and naivety combine to make the plans his parents have for him go sharply awry, and Kiran is faced with some major decision-making about who he is and who he wants to become. As the talent show looms, Kiran becomes convinced that his secret plan to wow the school (and impress the adults he loves) is supported by the deity he loves most. I don't want to tell you what happens, but the final bits of the book are just as great as the rest of it, and the resolution surprising and sweet.
I really enjoyed this book. I love coming of age novels, and I was glad to find some cultural diversity here to dig into. This is a thoroughly enjoyable take on the latest trend of LGBTQ literature - it urges readers to think about identity, the extraordinary pace of change when it comes to sexuality over the past 25 years, and the meanings of family, self, and community - but not in any kind of high-handed way.
Terrific characters, plot, settings, and themes. Worth a close read, and you'll enjoy every minute of it!
I really enjoyed this book. I love coming of age novels, and I was glad to find some cultural diversity here to dig into. This is a thoroughly enjoyable take on the latest trend of LGBTQ literature - it urges readers to think about identity, the extraordinary pace of change when it comes to sexuality over the past 25 years, and the meanings of family, self, and community - but not in any kind of high-handed way.
Terrific characters, plot, settings, and themes. Worth a close read, and you'll enjoy every minute of it!
January 3, 2018
So I really hated this one. I felt embarrassed reading it--it was like watching a really poor one-man show... the author did everything but write out "rimshot!" after all of his corny, self-aware jokes. And the main character was so unlikeable! I feel like in most fiction where the protagonist is beset by a cruel society he is at least noble, despite it all. It engenders sympathy. This character is certainly beset by some headwinds, but for all of his ostracism he makes fun of people with disabilities and
Anyway, not a fan. Shocked that my book club liked it overall. Won't be reading him again.
Anyway, not a fan. Shocked that my book club liked it overall. Won't be reading him again.
February 8, 2011
What a funny and insightful book! Between laughting out loud, I was deeply moved to recall those years or to empathize with the narrator of the book. I could say that this almost felt like a memoir--with elements that seemed to poignantly real to the struggle of growing up, growing up a minority and growing up gay. I was touched by this book that was moving and upbeat.
July 12, 2017
Just no.
I wanted so much more from this book than what I got. Kiran, just came off as a little snot... I have Satyal's latest work but eh, I'm in no rush to get to it now.
I wanted so much more from this book than what I got. Kiran, just came off as a little snot... I have Satyal's latest work but eh, I'm in no rush to get to it now.
March 7, 2023
I was a bit disappointed at the beginning, but I soon got sucked in the colourful life of Kiran. On the threshold of puberty an American of Indian parents is living through his own problems. His parents are a classic Indian household of frugal but money wise dad without a significant role in the upbringing of the child, the mother is the provider of all kinds of nourishment but is somehow oblivious to her son's dilemmas despite a lot of pointers, for Kiran is partial to dolls, the colour pink and ballet classes. Needless to say he is not popular at school or in the Indian community. Yet he is resourceful, daring and his ambitions about reconciling his two worlds and his sexual identity are not to be thwarted.
The writing is excellent but some of the events lack a good build up or motive. It is also a funny book and I enjoyed reading it but with diminished conviction because I couldn't quite believe he could get away with so much in this kind of household.
The writing is excellent but some of the events lack a good build up or motive. It is also a funny book and I enjoyed reading it but with diminished conviction because I couldn't quite believe he could get away with so much in this kind of household.
July 24, 2009
Blue Boy is a beautifully written, bittersweet story about an Indian-American adolescent growing up in Ohio, discovering how different he is from everyone around him. I was drawn to this book because the name of the main character, Kiran, is similar to the name of one of my sons (Kieran).
Kiran is a highly artistic, creative, and spiritual child. He is drawn to pink, dressing up, makeup, Strawberry Shortcake, and the finer things in life. He has an amazing sense of self in spite of the ridicule and scorn he is subject to from the Indian community, his classmates, and even his parents.
While reading the book, many times I cringed and thought to myself, "he's not really going to do that, is he???" But he did!
The author graduated from Princeton's creative writing program, and some of the story is based in his own life and experience. (I thought it was interesting that I happened to read a book by a Princeton graduate right on the heels of "Admission," the novel about the admissions process at Princeton.)
These final sentences, in the Q&A with the author at the end of the book, when he is asked what he would like people to take away from the book, summarize this book well:
"Most importantly, I want them to have laughed good-heartedly. And I want them to have seen the world somewhat differently--to understand how hard childhood can be for the culturally and sexually marginalized but also how such isolation affords a child a very strong sense of self."
As someone who enjoys reading about different cultures and different ways of seeing the world--and also as the mother of sons, this was a satisfying read.
Kiran is a highly artistic, creative, and spiritual child. He is drawn to pink, dressing up, makeup, Strawberry Shortcake, and the finer things in life. He has an amazing sense of self in spite of the ridicule and scorn he is subject to from the Indian community, his classmates, and even his parents.
While reading the book, many times I cringed and thought to myself, "he's not really going to do that, is he???" But he did!
The author graduated from Princeton's creative writing program, and some of the story is based in his own life and experience. (I thought it was interesting that I happened to read a book by a Princeton graduate right on the heels of "Admission," the novel about the admissions process at Princeton.)
These final sentences, in the Q&A with the author at the end of the book, when he is asked what he would like people to take away from the book, summarize this book well:
"Most importantly, I want them to have laughed good-heartedly. And I want them to have seen the world somewhat differently--to understand how hard childhood can be for the culturally and sexually marginalized but also how such isolation affords a child a very strong sense of self."
As someone who enjoys reading about different cultures and different ways of seeing the world--and also as the mother of sons, this was a satisfying read.
December 21, 2010
This book was, on so many levels, a surprise to me - and a delightful one at that. As Satyal acknowledges in the Q&A at the end, South Asian American fiction has covered ground from magical realism to historical fiction to contemporary diaspora fiction, but it has rarely chosen to take itself lightheartedly. Some of Rushdie's work is supremely funny - Haroun & the Sea of Stories comes to mind at once - but the framework is somber and intent on the delivery of messages. Here, Satyal manages to weave a lovely story with multidimensional characters into an amusing web. Kiran feels real from the first page. He is completely his age: just on the verge of finishing elementary school, he is just starting to peer into the mirror and wonder how what he sees differs from what others see. That's no easy feat to accomplish. So few authors are able to evoke that combination of confusion and innocence that so embodies those pre-pre-teen years, and yet Satyal manages to do it while being wickedly funny. It is hard to know if I enjoyed this book as much as I did because it felt so familiar - I suspect it's impossible to know - but I'd certainly recommend it to a wide range of friends. The core of what Kiran feels - the insecurity, the cultural homelessness, the conviction that he is special - is "true" to the age, the place, and the South Asian American experience. I knew I was in for a good read when I laughed aloud (and hard) by page 2, seeing my father's faucet-polishing towel in my mind's eye as Kiran described his father's. But one doesn't need to be Indian or Hindu to appreciate this novel or to revel in Kiran's escapades. What a great read.
March 14, 2021
I read a physical copy of this book many years ago, and loved it so much that I kept lending it to people so they could read it. I never did get my copy back, and when I heard the author had a new book coming out, I decided to purchase the e-book version of this (since I've graduated to e-reading) so I could re-read it.
Boy, what a read. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more. I highlighted so many lines in this book, so many quotes that I related to, and I had forgotten some of the more sad moments, which caused lumps to form in my throat.
This is the story of a boy, the son of Indian immigrants to Ohio, who doesn't fit in with his white classmates or the brown kids of his parents' group of friends. He's different. He has his mind set on the upcoming talent show and how he will win over everybody with his sure-to-be-spectacular performance.
I related to this character in so many ways, that sometimes it felt like I was reading my childhood memoirs. To this day, whenever I go back to my parents' house and the lights are on, I find myself remarking "what is this, Diwali."
Do yourself a favour and read this book.
Boy, what a read. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more. I highlighted so many lines in this book, so many quotes that I related to, and I had forgotten some of the more sad moments, which caused lumps to form in my throat.
This is the story of a boy, the son of Indian immigrants to Ohio, who doesn't fit in with his white classmates or the brown kids of his parents' group of friends. He's different. He has his mind set on the upcoming talent show and how he will win over everybody with his sure-to-be-spectacular performance.
I related to this character in so many ways, that sometimes it felt like I was reading my childhood memoirs. To this day, whenever I go back to my parents' house and the lights are on, I find myself remarking "what is this, Diwali."
Do yourself a favour and read this book.
April 20, 2016
I really couldn't stand this book, I gave up about 50 pages in. The narrator is both disturbingly precocious and woefully naïve. He sounds like a overly poetic 45 year old man trapped in a 6th grader's body. Consider this passage:
"How to explain the universal intrigue of a tit?
There is something ever-calming about the roundness of a tit, its buoyancy, the peacefulness of the concentric circle in its middle, darker. The posturing of a tit can vary so greatly, and yet the allure of it never dissipates. Tilted forward, the iris of the eye looking at the ground, the rest of the flesh flatly stretching. Or facing upward, splayed across a chest, lolling around like a plate of Jell-O, the eye quavering. Or staring straight ahead, serene in its sternness. A tit reminds me of Madonna. It can be brash and wild when it wants to be, and yet there are those "Live to Tell" moments when it's calm and collected."
These are the thoughts of our 11 year old narrator. 11. Let that sink in. Nope, I don't buy Kiran on any level. Hard pass.
"How to explain the universal intrigue of a tit?
There is something ever-calming about the roundness of a tit, its buoyancy, the peacefulness of the concentric circle in its middle, darker. The posturing of a tit can vary so greatly, and yet the allure of it never dissipates. Tilted forward, the iris of the eye looking at the ground, the rest of the flesh flatly stretching. Or facing upward, splayed across a chest, lolling around like a plate of Jell-O, the eye quavering. Or staring straight ahead, serene in its sternness. A tit reminds me of Madonna. It can be brash and wild when it wants to be, and yet there are those "Live to Tell" moments when it's calm and collected."
These are the thoughts of our 11 year old narrator. 11. Let that sink in. Nope, I don't buy Kiran on any level. Hard pass.
January 6, 2013
Who'd have guessed that a novel from the perspective of a smart, artistic, and flamboyant sixth-grade boy could cover so much emotional ground? Kiran--the only child of immigrant Indian parents--struggles with acceptance and a sense of belonging at public school, in his Hindu temple, and at home. How he grapples with the people and situations (and with his sense of self) is in turns funny, heartwarming, and surprising. An insightful book that reminds us how difficult--and ultimately liberating--it can be to accept our own uniqueness in spite of the opinions of others.
July 1, 2017
This book made me laugh more than anything I've read this year. It's immensely appealing as a portrait of young adulthood, as an NRI story, and as a Bildungsroman. Highly recommended for all readers. Now I need to read this author's other novel immediately!
February 5, 2021
When I started the book, I was quickly unimpressed. The humour and the writing style seemed very derivative and reminiscent of Hanif Kureishi. (Although I've read only a quarter of one of his books before marking it for later, Hanif's style felt distinctively British and immigrant and it stayed).
The book also felt like it would work better visually. For example, there was a running gag of sorts where the protagonist Kiran Sharma gets a splinter up his ass and has to hide the wound from his parents. It would have worked really great visually and might have sounded like a good idea but it doesn't translate that well on paper. There are also descriptions of other people and things at the starting that set-up the scene for us that don't really work. Like the similarly titled Funny Boy, this book also starts with the protagonist putting on some make-up. But the effortlessness of the other book isn't here.
However as we get to the 'meat' of the book, it improves drastically. Rakesh Satyal stops focusing so much on being funny and starts really getting into the queer experience and that makes the book soar. He explores the different intersections of the protagonist's identity and the initial set-up that he'd done contributes to this. He still does teeter towards making things obvious. There might be more 'tell' than 'show', but the book still works. Kiran's character goes thru' the proper arc of a bildungsroman and comes into his own. As a neat surprise his parents also have a minor transformation by the end that feel natural for them.
There were also some interesting descriptions. Rakesh compares the Indian culture that his parents are trying to uphold to the curd culture that his mom has been using all these years and in another place he calls the sky the blue bruises of the earth. The second one especially stuck with me, but it didn't necessarily add to the flow of the book. They both felt somehow like after-thoughts. I somehow had this feeling that Rakesh needed to let go his inhibitions and let the narrative flow more freely. It felt like he had been very meticulous with the plot but hadn't given as much attention to the flow of the book.
Also since the book features a twelve-year old from the 90s, there is a lot of casual misogyny, fat-shaming and such. But it felt correct for the character. His second novel is supposed to have a middle-aged protagonist and I do look forward to reading that and more of his works.
The book also felt like it would work better visually. For example, there was a running gag of sorts where the protagonist Kiran Sharma gets a splinter up his ass and has to hide the wound from his parents. It would have worked really great visually and might have sounded like a good idea but it doesn't translate that well on paper. There are also descriptions of other people and things at the starting that set-up the scene for us that don't really work. Like the similarly titled Funny Boy, this book also starts with the protagonist putting on some make-up. But the effortlessness of the other book isn't here.
However as we get to the 'meat' of the book, it improves drastically. Rakesh Satyal stops focusing so much on being funny and starts really getting into the queer experience and that makes the book soar. He explores the different intersections of the protagonist's identity and the initial set-up that he'd done contributes to this. He still does teeter towards making things obvious. There might be more 'tell' than 'show', but the book still works. Kiran's character goes thru' the proper arc of a bildungsroman and comes into his own. As a neat surprise his parents also have a minor transformation by the end that feel natural for them.
There were also some interesting descriptions. Rakesh compares the Indian culture that his parents are trying to uphold to the curd culture that his mom has been using all these years and in another place he calls the sky the blue bruises of the earth. The second one especially stuck with me, but it didn't necessarily add to the flow of the book. They both felt somehow like after-thoughts. I somehow had this feeling that Rakesh needed to let go his inhibitions and let the narrative flow more freely. It felt like he had been very meticulous with the plot but hadn't given as much attention to the flow of the book.
Also since the book features a twelve-year old from the 90s, there is a lot of casual misogyny, fat-shaming and such. But it felt correct for the character. His second novel is supposed to have a middle-aged protagonist and I do look forward to reading that and more of his works.
May 13, 2019
Kiran feels dislocated everywhere: both in his elementary school among his white classmates, and at temple and parties among other Indian-Americans. At only 12, he's precociously clever and imaginative, but very isolated. He enjoys ballet, playing with make-up and dolls, and singing and performing. Eventually, he decides he's not the freak other kids think he is: he's actually a mortal reincarnation of the god Krishna.
I really enjoyed this book, though it's a flawed narrative. Kiran's engagement with Hinduism, beauty, performance and spirituality are all beautifully explored. This book is also unflinching in its look at pre-adolescent sexuality, and Kiran's obsession with male and female bodies. It's also heartbreaking at times when Kiran is bullied and feels like his sexuality and gender expression make him unworthy of being part of society. This is told in first person, and Kiran's narrative voice is often very funny and interesting, but does not feel at all like a 12-year-old. This disconnect between the age of the narrator and the maturity of his voice felt very jarring at times. The plot also bags in places, and I think a tighter narrative would have improved this novel. That being said, the emotional impact of this book more than makes up for its flaws, and I found the last few paragraphs both beautifully expressed and deeply moving. I'm consistently cheering Kiran on throughout, and his tenacity as a character makes this narrative hopeful, and makes the reader believe Kiran will find happiness in the end.
I really enjoyed this book, though it's a flawed narrative. Kiran's engagement with Hinduism, beauty, performance and spirituality are all beautifully explored. This book is also unflinching in its look at pre-adolescent sexuality, and Kiran's obsession with male and female bodies. It's also heartbreaking at times when Kiran is bullied and feels like his sexuality and gender expression make him unworthy of being part of society. This is told in first person, and Kiran's narrative voice is often very funny and interesting, but does not feel at all like a 12-year-old. This disconnect between the age of the narrator and the maturity of his voice felt very jarring at times. The plot also bags in places, and I think a tighter narrative would have improved this novel. That being said, the emotional impact of this book more than makes up for its flaws, and I found the last few paragraphs both beautifully expressed and deeply moving. I'm consistently cheering Kiran on throughout, and his tenacity as a character makes this narrative hopeful, and makes the reader believe Kiran will find happiness in the end.
January 28, 2025
Set in the mid-90s, Kiran is the son of two Indian immigrants who settled in Cincinnati and is trying to come to terms with not being able to fit in with the American kids or the children of other Indian immigrants, while also trying to keep secret that he likes to play with dolls, prefers ballet to sports and puts on his mother's makeup.
Rakesh Satyal has created a hilarious, touching portrayal of a queer kid trying to figure out his place in the world, and I can only assume that it's at least partially based on his own upbringing.
Kiran is a likeable protagonist, he's a bit of a know-it-all when it comes to the English language, can be a little bit of a bitch, and occasionally acts out in a selfish manner... but considering the struggles of his upbringing it's a sympathetic, well rounded portrayal.
I also liked the details of his parents lives, granted it's told from a twelve year old's perspective but Satyal does go into a lot of detail about their own struggles in raising such a weird little kid.
Rakesh Satyal has created a hilarious, touching portrayal of a queer kid trying to figure out his place in the world, and I can only assume that it's at least partially based on his own upbringing.
Kiran is a likeable protagonist, he's a bit of a know-it-all when it comes to the English language, can be a little bit of a bitch, and occasionally acts out in a selfish manner... but considering the struggles of his upbringing it's a sympathetic, well rounded portrayal.
I also liked the details of his parents lives, granted it's told from a twelve year old's perspective but Satyal does go into a lot of detail about their own struggles in raising such a weird little kid.
January 21, 2016
Kiran Sharma—the complex, precocious, brazen, stubborn, adventurous, and decidedly “different” 12 year-old Indian-American protagonist—is convinced that he is the Hindu god Krishna come to life. As a culturally and sexually marginalized boy living in the Cincinnati suburbs during the 1990s, persuading himself that no one seems to understand him because he is, in fact, a deity becomes both a coping mechanism and a means of identity development for the charming and infuriating main character of Rakesh Satyal’s *Blue Boy*.
Kiran’s command of language surpasses that of the typical 6th-grader. It probably surpasses the eloquence of many adults as well. His grammatical fastidiousness alienates him from his classmates (he even stays after school to study advanced language arts with one of his teachers). His penchant for spectacle and glamour—the school talent show is the highlight of his year—likewise distances him from his peers. And he fares no better with his fellow Indian-American acquaintances (whom he associates with mostly because their parents socialize on a weekly basis). Kiran is obsessed with his mother’s make-up—it is when she catches him that he decides he is an incarnation of the blue-skinned Krishna, and he begins to weave a grandiose narrative of his life as a nascent deity that justifies his thoughts and actions.
The novel—Kiran’s narrative—delightfully illustrates both the joy and the sorrow of young adolescent isolation. Kiran is an only child, and even within marginalized communities (Indian Americans, the sexually precocious, the academically advanced) he often finds himself alone. And while he is well-equipped with the skills to amuse himself in his solitariness, he also yearns for friendship, companionship, and understanding. Peppered with pop culture allusions and resounding with the authentic dimensions of adolescent life as a “different” kind of kid, Satyal’s novel is a valuable contribution to multicultural literature as well as Young Adult literature.
Kiran’s command of language surpasses that of the typical 6th-grader. It probably surpasses the eloquence of many adults as well. His grammatical fastidiousness alienates him from his classmates (he even stays after school to study advanced language arts with one of his teachers). His penchant for spectacle and glamour—the school talent show is the highlight of his year—likewise distances him from his peers. And he fares no better with his fellow Indian-American acquaintances (whom he associates with mostly because their parents socialize on a weekly basis). Kiran is obsessed with his mother’s make-up—it is when she catches him that he decides he is an incarnation of the blue-skinned Krishna, and he begins to weave a grandiose narrative of his life as a nascent deity that justifies his thoughts and actions.
The novel—Kiran’s narrative—delightfully illustrates both the joy and the sorrow of young adolescent isolation. Kiran is an only child, and even within marginalized communities (Indian Americans, the sexually precocious, the academically advanced) he often finds himself alone. And while he is well-equipped with the skills to amuse himself in his solitariness, he also yearns for friendship, companionship, and understanding. Peppered with pop culture allusions and resounding with the authentic dimensions of adolescent life as a “different” kind of kid, Satyal’s novel is a valuable contribution to multicultural literature as well as Young Adult literature.
April 14, 2016
The book takes a peek into the life of a preteen boy discovering his sexuality, and talks about how difficult it can be for a child due to cultural, or family situations to be who he or she really is. I commend the author on picking up such a delicate subject and handling it well.
However, I would not recommend this book as a good novel to anyone. One of the biggest inconsistencies I noticed is the writer frequently switches between the innocence and nativity of a preteen boy Kiran (the hero of the book) and the understanding and maturity of an adult. As the book is narrated by the boy in first person, some of the descriptions and thoughts seem very unnatural for his age. Similarly, his immaturity in some areas does not go well with his maturity elsewhere. In brief, it feels like the character of this Kiran is not very well outlined.
Second thing I did not like was that the book is too descriptive. The book literally covers one school term and goes on and on for pages about minor incidences. Some of the major situations are very vividly described and that brings the scene to life but equally vivid and detailed are the descriptions of gardens and roads and houses which are unnecessary and slow down the pace of the book. At one point, I had to literally push myself to finish the book. It gets slower as it progresses instead of picking up pace and makes the reader feel like skipping pages to actually see where, if anywhere, the story is going.
A concise, story focused version of this book would have been much better to read.
However, I would not recommend this book as a good novel to anyone. One of the biggest inconsistencies I noticed is the writer frequently switches between the innocence and nativity of a preteen boy Kiran (the hero of the book) and the understanding and maturity of an adult. As the book is narrated by the boy in first person, some of the descriptions and thoughts seem very unnatural for his age. Similarly, his immaturity in some areas does not go well with his maturity elsewhere. In brief, it feels like the character of this Kiran is not very well outlined.
Second thing I did not like was that the book is too descriptive. The book literally covers one school term and goes on and on for pages about minor incidences. Some of the major situations are very vividly described and that brings the scene to life but equally vivid and detailed are the descriptions of gardens and roads and houses which are unnecessary and slow down the pace of the book. At one point, I had to literally push myself to finish the book. It gets slower as it progresses instead of picking up pace and makes the reader feel like skipping pages to actually see where, if anywhere, the story is going.
A concise, story focused version of this book would have been much better to read.
November 14, 2012
It started off well and I bonded with the whole family.
In the middle I thought things were heavy-handed: I didn't think he needed makeup AND dolls AND ballet AND supplements AND migraines before the godhead thing. I also thought the Country Crock bit was gratuitous and the Penthouse scene contrived.
Despite that though, the book really grew on me. The family and community painted around our protagonist are every bit as integral to the story as he is, particularly the quietly complicit mother. I can't know whether the Indian-community-in-Midwest is an accurate depiction but this former Midwesterner thinks the author has nailed the flat accent and "you're different" idea.
"Different" indeed: the book led up to an over-the-top talent show. There were also other heartbreaking bits: "I have been conditioned to feel ashamed. By my classmates. By the other Indian kids. By my father...[]...I guess I could say that I have lived my life in a perpetual flinch."
The ending fit: the migraines and the supplements and the religion all tied into one nice knot. However the author interview makes me wonder if I missed the point since he mentioned "laugh" and "funny" which weren't part of my reading experience. Bittersweet, tender, occasionally contrived and deeply in tune with adolescence but funny? Not for me. Still, a good read.
In the middle I thought things were heavy-handed: I didn't think he needed makeup AND dolls AND ballet AND supplements AND migraines before the godhead thing. I also thought the Country Crock bit was gratuitous and the Penthouse scene contrived.
Despite that though, the book really grew on me. The family and community painted around our protagonist are every bit as integral to the story as he is, particularly the quietly complicit mother. I can't know whether the Indian-community-in-Midwest is an accurate depiction but this former Midwesterner thinks the author has nailed the flat accent and "you're different" idea.
"Different" indeed: the book led up to an over-the-top talent show. There were also other heartbreaking bits: "I have been conditioned to feel ashamed. By my classmates. By the other Indian kids. By my father...[]...I guess I could say that I have lived my life in a perpetual flinch."
The ending fit: the migraines and the supplements and the religion all tied into one nice knot. However the author interview makes me wonder if I missed the point since he mentioned "laugh" and "funny" which weren't part of my reading experience. Bittersweet, tender, occasionally contrived and deeply in tune with adolescence but funny? Not for me. Still, a good read.
August 27, 2010
This is a fabulous book. The main character is delightful and awkward and hilarious and so authentic his seemingly odd little perspective on the world.
He's caught between his Indian immigrant/Hindu temple community and his central Ohioan middle school community and not able to express his developing queer and artistic identities easily in either of these places. His emerging identity doesn't fit into any of the little boxes the people around him would like, but he's so dear and earnest he's been trying to fit into them as best he can and now it's really not working so well and he's finding maybe he doesn't want to fit into those boxes after all.
His story comes forth in a way that alternately has you cackling at his antics, smarting at the injustices and complete lack of understanding he seems to face everywhere he turns, and praising his earnestness and unquenchable spirit in the face of it all.
Plus, like the author says in his little note at the back of the book - there isn't enough funny Indian literature out there, and this really helps to fill the gap. Totally, totally go read this.
He's caught between his Indian immigrant/Hindu temple community and his central Ohioan middle school community and not able to express his developing queer and artistic identities easily in either of these places. His emerging identity doesn't fit into any of the little boxes the people around him would like, but he's so dear and earnest he's been trying to fit into them as best he can and now it's really not working so well and he's finding maybe he doesn't want to fit into those boxes after all.
His story comes forth in a way that alternately has you cackling at his antics, smarting at the injustices and complete lack of understanding he seems to face everywhere he turns, and praising his earnestness and unquenchable spirit in the face of it all.
Plus, like the author says in his little note at the back of the book - there isn't enough funny Indian literature out there, and this really helps to fill the gap. Totally, totally go read this.
June 7, 2009
At the beginning of Rakesh Satyal's debut novel Blue Boy, Kiran Sharma gets a big splinter in his butt while being tormented on a wooden balance beam by two of his bitchy sixth-grade classmates. Things still don't get notably easier for him after his humiliating foray into the playground -- it's not easy being an Indian-American in a white-bread Ohio suburb, and things aren't made easier for 12-year-old Kiran by his quirky personality, unusual interests (ballet, for one, as well as Strawberry Shortcake and her fruit friend Blueberry Muffin) or by his burgeoning sexuality.
I just adored this book. Satyal has written a book that's by turns laugh-out-loud funny and touching, and he's a gimlet-eyed observer of childhood. And Kiran is one of the most engaging characters you'll ever encounter -- a remarkable and flawed pre-teen who struggles to fit in with both his Midwestern classmates and his Indian circle of acquaintances even while recognizing, and trying to nourish, his own gifts and quirks.
If we could give half stars on this system, this one would get four and a half.
I just adored this book. Satyal has written a book that's by turns laugh-out-loud funny and touching, and he's a gimlet-eyed observer of childhood. And Kiran is one of the most engaging characters you'll ever encounter -- a remarkable and flawed pre-teen who struggles to fit in with both his Midwestern classmates and his Indian circle of acquaintances even while recognizing, and trying to nourish, his own gifts and quirks.
If we could give half stars on this system, this one would get four and a half.
June 23, 2010
There are some wonderfully detailed scenes in this novel. Kiran's life is drastically different than mine in some ways, and so much like mine in others. I was him but without the nerve. I felt myself comparing notes with him, wanting to figure out how he could persevere in the realms of family, school, and ethnicity, which in different ways impose a great deal of homogeneity.
While I believe most everything that happened to him is possible, the events in the last 40-ish pages don't ring true. He lucks out of being held accountable for an impulsive choice, yet by that move, he inadvertently takes revenge on his antagonists all at once. And in his last attempt to unashamedly be himself, Kiran misses having to face any further derision. It's just too easy, and seems designed to serve the story more than it comes from character.
Ultimately, the writing is quite promising. I expected more complexity in the end, and trust that this writer is capable of more. I look forward to his next book.
While I believe most everything that happened to him is possible, the events in the last 40-ish pages don't ring true. He lucks out of being held accountable for an impulsive choice, yet by that move, he inadvertently takes revenge on his antagonists all at once. And in his last attempt to unashamedly be himself, Kiran misses having to face any further derision. It's just too easy, and seems designed to serve the story more than it comes from character.
Ultimately, the writing is quite promising. I expected more complexity in the end, and trust that this writer is capable of more. I look forward to his next book.
January 19, 2012
This is a coming of age story about a young Indian boy, struggling to find his place in middle America. He doesn't fit in with the Indian kids that attend his temple, and he doesn't fit in with the American kids at school.
In truth, he doesn't fit in anywhere, because he is just so different. Not only does he have a wild imagination, but he is also beginning to wrestle with questions about his sexuality.
I have to be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I couldn't put it down. Kiran (the 12 year old protagonist) is the sort of character that you can't help but want to know more about. I found myself both fascinated and cringing as he went through his adventures and trials and tribulations.
Be warned, there are moments in this book that are very graphic and uncomfortable to read.
But overall, I really enjoyed this story of a young boy, an outsider, trying to find his place in his world...
In truth, he doesn't fit in anywhere, because he is just so different. Not only does he have a wild imagination, but he is also beginning to wrestle with questions about his sexuality.
I have to be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I couldn't put it down. Kiran (the 12 year old protagonist) is the sort of character that you can't help but want to know more about. I found myself both fascinated and cringing as he went through his adventures and trials and tribulations.
Be warned, there are moments in this book that are very graphic and uncomfortable to read.
But overall, I really enjoyed this story of a young boy, an outsider, trying to find his place in his world...
January 27, 2016
The story of Kiran, an Indian-American middle-school boy in Cincinnati, starts out as a sweet, funny description of a kid that many gay boys could identify with, even if they aren't from an immigrant family. Many of us were marginalized in school and other social situations because we were "different." Kiran is also a sissy on top of being overly-bright, gay, and culturally out of step with suburban Midwestern kids. The beginning of the book feels like a positive story of embracing one's individuality through creative expression.
Toward the end of the book the narrative becomes darker. The strained family dynamics come through. There is a sense that Kiran is a bit over-indulged to the point that his morals aren't well-developed in spite of his intellectual abilities. (He is an only-child and 12 years old of course.) As Kiran becomes less impish and more vengeful and underhanded, which tempers the hope or expectation of a happy ending that the beginning of the novel created.
Toward the end of the book the narrative becomes darker. The strained family dynamics come through. There is a sense that Kiran is a bit over-indulged to the point that his morals aren't well-developed in spite of his intellectual abilities. (He is an only-child and 12 years old of course.) As Kiran becomes less impish and more vengeful and underhanded, which tempers the hope or expectation of a happy ending that the beginning of the novel created.
November 7, 2010
Blue Boy by Rakesh Satyal is a powerful novel about an Indian boy growing up in an all-white community in Ohio. He's an outcast among his classmates because of his ethnicity and is ridiculed by the Indian community for being 'different'. He loves the color pink, ballet, Strawberry Shortcake, dolls, and make-up. The POV is Kiran's, our twelve-year-old hero, and is alternately poignant, humorous, and tragic. I purchased this novel last month at the height of the bullying and suicides. It is a must read for anyone who has a child or a friend or a student going through the same struggle to find their way. The writing is beautiful and the message resonates off each page.
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