The Karma Map

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.)