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FICTION A new range of books from harper Collins that deals with the everyday issues of a teen’s life. REHNA ABDUL KARIM

Title: Body Talk

Author: Anjali Wason

Sex and nuances of sexuality have always been a tricky topic for parents. “Where do babies come from?” seem to be the most dreaded question for a parent. You may be afraid that you will sound silly or say the wrong thing when you have “The Talk”. Children can easily sense a parent’s embarrassment or anxiety concerning this subject and if you’ve been squirming in your seat trying to explain sex and its extended baggage, this is probably the book that can guide youngsters through this minefield. Girls from all over India have submitted more than 400 questions, which are answered by Anjali Wason in a language that most teenagers would understand. However, the questions seem innocent and childish. Seems that girls today don’t know the “facts of life”. Most of them are inquisitive and they dig up their own understanding about things. A gamut of topics hase been covered like relationships, sexual orientation, sexual harassment; even those taboo ones like homosexuality and pre-marital sex. The book is packed with advice on everything that adolescents are usually curious about. Interestingly, the book offers much more than just sex education and helps prepare young girls mentally, about issues like harassment, abuse and Abortion. At any age, it’s important not to inundate a child with incomprehensible facts or to make a child feel stupid or foolish because she looks at issues in a fanciful way.  Overall, the book is handy in its layout and easy to use with illustrations, quizzes, tables… It aims to answer questions honestly and openly; it is the ideal companion for a girl growing up in today’s India.

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Title: How to Salsa in a Sari

Author: Dona Sarkar

Issa Mazumdar’s world has just crashed. Her arch rival and school’s most popular girl has stolen Issa’s nerdy boyfriend, Adam. If that’s not the bad, there’s worse to come. Issa’s mother announces that she and Cat Morena’s father are getting married.And they are moving in to be “one big happy family”.  Issa can’t stand Cat and vice versa. The story revolves around Issa’s feelings about her mother’s new fiancé and her father who walked out on them years ago. The story is a typical cat fight and reminds me of chick flicks like Mean Girls and Legally Blonde. To Indianise the plot, we have a character like Ishaan (Typical indian name for a novel of this kind). Alisha is the cool mom with a vivacious personality. The only character who could be worth mentioning. Cat and Issa’s girlish fights could put you off. If I had a cousin, I definitely won’t give her this book to read. The plot is typical and every graph of every character is predictable.

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Title: Extreme American Makeover

Author: Mitali Perkins

Sameera a.k.a Sparrow has always been invisible. After her father wins the presidential campaign, Sameera is asked to undergo a crash course in becoming a celebrity. Yet some of the staff aren’t content with her uber cool hairdo and stilettos. They decide to transform her into the perfect epitome of an official’s daughter. And christen her as “Sammy” Sameera is forced to give up her comfy sneakers and jeans or doing the bhangra or anything Indian.

Although she sincerely wants to help her father, Sameera does not accept everything unquestioningly and soon begins her own blog in which she pours her heart out.Girls reading this would realise that a makeover is a lot of fun but the responsibilities that tag along with fame is pricey.  Overall, a pleasant read with Mitali Perkins touching on some of the unpleasant racial issues associated with political campaigns.

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Title: Potato Chips

Author: Anshuman Mohan

‘We students are like potatoes… Only the finest of us get made into chips!’ Aman Malhothra’s relaxed schooling comes to an end when he is shifted to another school. His life graph takes a major plunge when his surroundings transition from a friendly atmosphere to a big bad world. Aman struggles to make sense of his new surroundings as he battles a high pressure atmosphere with friends like Shubho. A no- nonsensical book, Potato Chips shows the journey of a boy, his school life, shenanigans and fights of his adolescence. Anshuman Mohan wrote the book when he was 13, and his language has a refreshing feel to it. The language is simple and apt for someone his age. Read it if you’re a teen .Potato chips are best before it’s too late!

*Price: RS. 199 each

Rehna is a M.Sc Visual Communication student at Loyola College

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