The Whole Story of Half a Girl

By Veera Hiranandani

A girl navigates identity and friendship as her father disappears, challenging her understanding of family and self.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,587 ratings

224 pages

$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Sonia Nadhamuni, caught between her Indian and Jewish heritage, faces a new public school and probing classmates. As her father loses his job and then vanishes, Sonia's world unravels. Struggling with her family's changing dynamics, she must uncover the truth about her father while deciding who her real friends are. Can Sonia reconcile her two cultural identities to find her true self? This journey of self-discovery and resilience explores the complexities of fitting in without losing oneself.

From the publisher

By the author of the Newbery Honor Book The Night Diary, a thoughtful and relatable story about cultural identity, friendship, and what it means to fit in without losing who you are.After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni, half Indian and half Jewish American, finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education. For the first time, Sonia’s mixed heritage makes her classmates ask questions–questions Sonia doesn’t always know how to answer–as she navigates between a group of popular girls who want her to try out for the cheerleading squad and other students who aren’t part of the “in” crowd. At the same time that Sonia is trying to make new friends, she’s dealing with what it means to have an out-of-work parent–it’s hard for her family to adjust to their changed circumstances. And then, one day, Sonia’s father goes missing. Now Sonia wonders if she ever really knew him. As she begins to look for answers, she must decide what really matters and who her true friends are–and whether her two halves, no matter how different, can make her a whole. What greater praise than to be compared to Judy Blume!–“Each [Blume and Hiranandani] excels in charting the fluctuating discomfort zones of adolescent identity with affectionate humor.”–Kirkus Reviews, Starred

At a glance