Families who loved Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling caught between different worlds, whether those are two cultures, two social groups, or the conflicting expectations of parents versus peers. It is a vibrant, deeply felt coming-of-age story that addresses the specific identity crisis of being first-generation American while navigating the universal messiness of high school loyalty and first love. Dimple Shah is a relatable protagonist struggling with the feeling that she is not Indian enough for her family but not American enough for her peers. Through the lens of her photography and her complicated friendship with the magnetic Gwyn, Dimple begins to define herself on her own terms. It is a sophisticated read for older teens that validates the complexity of cultural heritage, the pain of social betrayal, and the beauty of self-discovery.