Fitting Indian

Nitasha Gupta struggles to be the “obedient Indian robot” her parents expect her to be, especially considering her exemplary older brother is a doctor and engaged to a stereotypically perfect Indian lawyer. To deal with her feelings of inadequacy, Nitasha drinks before attending the Arya Samaj temple her paternal grandmother leads every Sunday and self-harms when her parents’ standards overwhelm her. Things at school become more stressful when her best friend, Ava, starts hanging out with new student Chloe. While at a family gathering, her parents see a video of Nitasha drunk and in her underwear; to escape the resulting blowback, Nitasha attempts suicide. As she recovers from the event, she endeavors to develop healthier coping mechanisms. Debut author Chand emphasizes how intergenerational and cultural expectations exacerbate Nitasha’s mental health challenges, while unadorned panels by Anand (My Name Is Long as a River) highlight the supportive characters who help Nitasha, her parents, and their community at the temple reckon with these pressures’ aftermath. “Inspired by my own life,” as noted by Chand in back matter, this searing graphic novel directly and honestly confronts mature issues and suggests that healing is only possible if communities reject the societal stigma that prevents people from seeking life-saving support—a critical reminder for readers. Ages 14–up. (May)