The karma map A novel

Recent high school graduate Tara Bajaj masks her truths--such as her contentious relationship with her religious mother, and her sister's opioid dependency and subsequent banishment from the family--with beautiful clothes, an active social media presence, and an icy facade. Following an incident that puts her at odds with her friends, they begin bullying her. She decides she needs a fresh start and accepts a two-month gig abroad as a guide for a Hindu youth group's temple tour through North India, a trip she took as a tween. There, she meets aspiring photojournalist and fellow junior guide Silas D'Souza-Gupta, who is retracing his mothers' love story while coming to new understandings about his identity as a bisexual Indian American adoptee. The pair's slow-burn romance is buoyant and earnest, providing a balancing counterpoint to Tara's character arc, which gives the narrative meditative heft. Sharma (Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance) smartly interlocks Tara's growth with classic road-trip novel tropes, capitalizing on the inherent freedom of self-discovery while navigating familial traditions and expectations. Through the protagonists' distinct upbringings and relationships with their heritage, Sharma lightly addresses issues of class, identity, and spirituality. Ages 14--up. Agent: Joy Tutela, David Black Literary. (Mar.)

An Indian American teen sheds her mean girl persona and tries to find herself while chaperoning a pilgrimage. Tara Bajaj, former co-captain of the Rutgers High Bollywood dance team, becomes a social outcast after reporting the team's attempt to sabotage a competitor. She accepts her classmates' bullying as punishment for her behavior but is nonetheless relieved to spend the summer after graduation in India as a junior guide on a Hindu pilgrimage for teens. There isn't much excitement in it for Tara, who spent her childhood on similar trips with her religious mother, but she figures she can rediscover herself while abroad. Eighteen-year-old Silas D'Souza-Gupta, on the other hand, is enthusiastic about being a junior guide. His mothers met on this exact pilgrimage, and Silas, who was adopted from Goa, plans to re-create their photos for a photojournalism competition. Although Silas' glowing positivity initially clashes with Tara's restrained demeanor, the two begin opening up to each other over clandestine McDonald's meals and trips to outdoor food markets. As they tour temples and hike mountains in North India, Tara and Silas share their fears and hopes with each other and their boisterous group of teens, incorporating issues of socio-economic privilege, queer identity, religious belief, and cultural ownership into thoughtful, sometimes explicitly expository, conversations. The romance between Tara and Silas is sweet and develops alongside their self-understanding; the abrupt ending, while tidy, may leave readers wanting a little more. A heartwarming story about personal growth. (map, author's note, content warnings) (Romance. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.