All That Chandni Knows

Gr 5 Up–It’s 1999 in Gujarat, India, and 12-year-old Chandni has two big secrets. One is her crush on classmate Rohan. The other concerns her family, and this secret is so big that Chandni is afraid to think about it, let alone talk about it. Chandni is already dealing with so much change: her best friend is moving, her body is maturing, and a new millennium is beginning. Will her family be forever changed, too, if the secret is revealed? This novel in verse piles on the suspense as readers wonder whether Chandni’s suspicions about the family secret are correct (and what will happen if they are). The nature of Chandni’s secret is revealed through hints and subtleties, which could create confusion for some readers. Although the family’s dynamic is central to the narrative (and the big secret), Chandni’s relationships with her family feel underdeveloped, and the conclusion doesn’t resolve all that readers might be pondering after the story’s turning point. However, Chandni’s tale can help young people understand that letting go of a hard secret can be a relief and a chance for new beginnings.