All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.
Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?
This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.
Hear from author Jyoti Chand
Fitting Indian
By Jyoti Chand
Junior Library Guild Selection
This debut teen graphic novel from social media influencer Jyoti Chand and rising star illustrator Tara Anand follows one girl’s journey navigating high school and her mental health within a traditional South Asian family. Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever and Tillie Walden’s Spinning.
All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.
Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?
This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.
About the Author
Jyoti Chand, known as Mamajotes across social platforms, is a dynamic writer, comedian, and passionate advocate for self-care and maternal mental health. With a foundation in stand-up comedy and improv, Jyoti captivates audiences through her highly engaging content across her social and digital platforms, offering an unfiltered look into the realities of motherhood. Her work inspires others to embrace joy and authenticity in their own lives. Represented by Haley Henning at YMU Social, Jyoti holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and is currently working on her second book, among other creative projects. Originally from Los Angeles, she now resides in the Chicago suburbs with her family. Follow her journey at @mamajotes or visit her online at mamajotes.com.
All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.
Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?
This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Tara Anand is an illustrator and visual artist from Bombay, India based in New York City.
Tara loves to work in bright colours and organic textures. She works primarily in gouache (which she’ll get really really goopy with if you let her) and likes to make paintings that feel sensitive, tense and nuanced. Her work tends to draw from books, history and her surroundings . Tara has worked primarily on editorial and children’s book projects.
