Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj

 

 2019 | 192 pages  | 4 Hours Audio |  Grades 5-8 

Karina Chopra is Indian-American and lives in Texas. Her grandfather comes to live with them and he is such a delight. In fact, he ends up tutoring the boy who lives next door in math. He just has a way of bringing people together and Karina and Chris become friends too.  One day a terrible racial attack happens to the three of them.  The book shows the aftermath of this incident and how Karina uses social media to help heal and bring a community together. 

I gave this book five stars because I loved the characters so much, especially the grandfather. This book gives attention to the immigrant experience as well as the hate that also exists. Kids and adults have to figure out how to react and come to terms with situations that are, unfortunately, too common.