Review by Booklist Review
This is the second Archie book in which the protagonist Archana (aka Archie) teaches readers about an Indian tradition. The story finds Archie excited about her Poppy Uncle's wedding; it is, after all, an "Indian wedding . . . a lot of things happen. You're supposed to have fun and be happy." The book reads like a primer for cultural outsiders, represented by the blonde bride and her white family, including a niece, Emma, who's Archie's age. It falls to Archie to explain the traditions and rituals to Emma and even to Miss Julie, the bride herself. If readers can suspend disbelief in the credibility of the plotline, they can enjoy learning about, or recognizing, many of the ceremonies involved in and around the wedding. Meanwhile, Archie and Emma become friends and family. Detailed and colorful illustrations bring the wedding to life, and back matter reiterates the significance of the customs. This could be part of a text set about Indian weddings, along with Ameya Narvankar's Ritu Weds Chandni (2020), Zain Bandali's Mehndi Boy (2023), and Meera Sriram's A Garden in My Hands (2023).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this follow-up to Archie Celebrates Diwali (2021), a young Indian girl guides her cousin-to-be through the ins and outs of a Hindu wedding. Archie's Poppy Uncle is marrying Miss Julie, and Archie has so much to do: She strings garlands with Dida, folds programs with her dad, and helps her mom select jewelry. Plus, she must watch her little brother, Krishna. So when Poppy Uncle asks her to help Miss Julie's niece, Emma, feel comfortable, Archie isn't sure she can handle it all. Miss Julie and Emma, who present white, are unfamiliar with Hindu traditions, and they both need a lot of guidance. Archie assuages Emma's anxiety about wearing Indian clothes, steps in at the baraat when Emma and her father look lost, and answers Emma's questions about the Sanskrit mantras the bride and groom repeat during the ceremony. Archie also consoles Miss Julie when she thinks that she's ruined her henna. By the end of the wedding, Emma and Archie aren't just cousins--they're also friends. Though the two girls forge a strong bond, the relationship feels one-sided. And while the vibrant, textured illustrations and clear text provide an excellent introduction to a Hindu wedding ceremony, Archie spends most of the book making Emma and Miss Julie feel at home; many readers will be unsettled by the optics of a child of color putting her own needs aside to prioritize a white family's comfort. A vivid depiction of a wedding celebration that shortchanges its protagonist. (about Indian weddings, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
