A fun and empowering middle-grade novel about finding one’s voice and learning the power of family, friends, and communities.
Thirteen-year-old star Nikhil Shah loves being the voice actor behind the protagonist of the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space, the first animated show to star an Indian American character. He’s also gay, and his mom, his best friend, and his manager are all totally okay with that, although he’s not out to the general public.
When he and his divorced mom move from Los Angeles to Ohio to take care of Nikhil’s ailing Nana (grandfather), Nikhil continues his voice recordings remotely as he tries to adjust to a new middle school and to life with his old-fashioned and stern Nana and his Nani (grandmother). He soon becomes friends with three classmates, DeSean (who is Black), Mateo (who is Mexican American) and Monica (who is Korean American). They are all auditioning for the school musical revue, so Nikhil does too. He doesn’t boast about his stardom, but his identity is soon revealed. The teacher running the revue is dazzled and casts him as the lead over the previously favored DeSean, ignoring the fact that Nikhil is uncomfortable performing in person and has no talent for singing.
His reputation precedes him, however, and when he gives an interview to the school newspaper and says they can mention he is gay, the news makes a wider impact than he anticipated. A group of conservative parents then decide to protest the musical and its gay star, saying that his gayness sets a bad example. Nikhil, who didn’t really want the part in the first place, is tempted to drop out, giving the part to DeSean, who deserved it more in the first place. DeSean, who has two moms, convinces Nikhil that at this point, dropping out would be giving in to the homophobes.
Nikhil decides to stick with the part—but at the same time, he’s starting to notice that his voice is cracking, threatening not only his role in the musical, but also his career and identity as Raj Reddy. His friends and classmates are ready to rally around him, but is he ready for the changes in his life?
Without going into spoilers, the short answer is yes—but it is the how of it, told engagingly and perceptively by actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author (The Best at It) Maulik Pancholy, that makes the book a delight. A sweet budding romance between Nikhil and another character, his school’s enthusiastic support of him against the homophobes, and a gradual understanding that develops between him and his grandparents help make this a winning story all around. Nikhil’s first-person voice is authentic, warm, and often funny, offering insights into both an ordinary middle school life and to the glamourous (and not-so-glamorous) parts of being a child star. The story also gives us a model of students and a school community standing up to queerphobia, something we can all use more of at this moment in time. A recommended read.
