I'M FROM HERE TOO

A story of faith and courage.

Wisconsin eighth grader Anoop is bullied because of his Sikh religion; his classmates call him unspeakable names. Meanwhile, the gurudwara where the family worships is patrolled by the police; another Sikh temple in Wisconsin was attacked several years ago. Thirteen-year-old Anoop is part of a loving family, surrounded by siblings and friends, although his parents are worried about the health of Baba, his grandfather back in India. A visit to see Baba over winter break gives Anoop a feeling of “not belonging in either place / … / dangling between / India / and / America.” But as he begins to look deeply into his faith, he finds strength there and is able to assert that, despite what some people say, he is “anchored by invisible roots / that will keep me from toppling / … / No matter what happens. / No matter how they treat me.” The straightforward verse contains some bursts of sparkle but overall reads more like prose, and although a lot happens, the plot feels static. The novel contains a great deal of information about the Sikh religion. One of the most moving parts of the book is Sheth’s author’s note, in which she explains that she was raised Hindu and was sincerely moved by learning about the commitment of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to equality as well as the Sikh community’s reaction to the 2012 shooting at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, gurudwara.

An informative coming-of-age journey.