Rahul Kapoor is a twelve-year-old boy living in Greenville, Indiana with his parents, little brother, Arun, and his wheelchair-bound grandfather, Bhai. As he tries to navigate middle school, Rahul wants nothing more than to fit in with the other kids, but his bully, Brent Mason, has other plans for him. Brent constantly picks on Rahul and makes fun of him for being different. Brent’s jokes about Rahul’s Indian heritage and the way Brent teases him incessantly about whether or not he’s gay only adds to Rahul’s insecurities and anxieties.

With the support of his best friend, Chelsea, and the wise advice of his grandfather, Rahul is determined to command the respect of everyone around him, including Brent. When Bhai suggests that Rahul dedicate himself to something and become the best at it, Rahul begins his personal quest to find something he’s good at and change his situation and the way people see him. Rahul gives it his all, but his lack of athletic ability and the racial discrimination he faces prevent him from being both a football player and an actor. Worried that he won’t discover that he’s the best at anything, Rahul finally embraces his true talent when he becomes a star on his school’s Mathletes’ team.

Rahul’s greatest victory, however, surprisingly comes at the International Bazaar, where he finds the courage to stand up to his bully, admit that he’s gay, and share the pride and traditions of his family and his Indian culture with all of his peers. In recognition of Holi, the Indian festival of colors that “celebrates the triumph of good over evil” and “the chance to forgive people and repair relationships,” the crowd engages in a friendly and exciting exchange of colored powder and water balloons filled with colored water that results in a symbolic rainbow explosion of fun. Rahul finally realizes that he doesn’t have to prove that he’s the best at things he’s good at because, in part, “being the best is about finding something you love and doing it until you get better at it.” More importantly, Rahul discovers that being different is what makes him fun and being the best at simply being himself is what really makes him stand out and gives him a sense of confidence and self-pride.

I Absolutely recommend The Best at It, the debut novel of award-winning actor, Maulik Pancholy. It’s a touching story about family, friendship, and having the courage to be yourself. The story is completely relatable and touches on important themes that students in middle school and beyond face everyday: bullying, discrimination, self-identity, anxiety, and the struggle to fit in…just to name a few. Pancholy’s humorous approach and engaging writing style make this book easy-to-read and hard-to-put-down.

This heartfelt and uplifting story is a work of fiction, but it also reflects Pancholy’s personal experiences and the conflicts he faced growing up and coming to terms with his own identity. The Best at It is Pancholy’s love letter to his grandparents in gratitude for all they instilled in him. While this book is primarily intended for student audiences, it is certainly one that can be

appreciated and celebrated by readers of all ages. If you’re an adult that has children, plans to have children, or works with children, you can also benefit from books such as this that allow you to explore the experiences and struggles that children face everyday. You’ll not only equip yourself with a better understanding of children, their situations, and insecurities, but you’ll also have an excellent resource to share with young readers who need to know they’re not alone and are looking for characters and stories they can connect to.

The Best at It has been selected as a recipient of an ARC Award.