Maya Mukherjee doesn’t fit in. She was born in India and her parents moved to Canada when she was a baby. Now it’s the 1970s, and she&#...
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reviews
Apr 23, 2009
Michele
rated it: 
Indian-born Maya Mukherjee attends middle school in a small town in Manitoba. Besides struggling with the usual issues of adolescence (including pimples and braces), Maya straddles the line between the two cultures, with neither foot firmly planted in either one. Maya yearns to belong. Maya wants to be beautiful and hip, and have the coolest boy in the school go gaga after her. One day, when Maya prays to Ganesh, the all-knowing Granter of Wishes, her wishes come true! But Maya soon learns the h
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Apr 28, 2008
Carissa
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i read this book, looking for a multicultural title to add to favoreads. i dunno…. it was ok, i guess. first of all, it takes place in canada in the late 70’s or early 80’s (everyone is obsessed with feathering their hair and bonne bell lip gloss and the music is all from that era) which means that i can relate to it sort of ok, but i don’t know if today’s teens would really get into it. (are the 70’s long ago enough that this could be considered a “period piece”?) plus, it’s all going along fin
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Aug 31, 2011
Donna
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Maya Running is a sweet book of a teenage girl living Canada, having relocated from India before it truly imprints culturally on her. She looks different that other Manitoba teens and cringes when her mother packs samosas in her lunch. However, cold, icy Canada feels like home. Author Banerjee brings in a dazzling Indian cousin for contrast and that could have been enough story to explore. Then comes the plot line with the statue of Ganesh and her efforts to take Maya on a magical journey fall a
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Jul 29, 2010
Alisa
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this is a nice story of a teenage Indian-Canadian living in Manitoba. She wishes for things to be different and when they are, she realizes she doesn't really want them that way.
i liked that it was set in canada and there are interesting things about india, hindu religion and about growing up, but it's not great.
i liked that it was set in canada and there are interesting things about india, hindu religion and about growing up, but it's not great.
Feb 16, 2009
Sara
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Read this book aloud to my class as we studied Ancient India....enhanced by the fact that I've gotten 3 new students from India within the past two months! This is the story of Maya, a preteen Indian girl living in Canada who wants nothing more than to NOT be Indian. Quirky sense of humor. I love kids books!
May 26, 2009
Mr. Steve
rated it:
Historical fiction novel about a 13-year-old Indian girl in 1970s Canada. Racism prevelant, it is boringly realistic until about halfway through when a fantastical element emerges and she is able to make a wish. Then it becomes weird. I kind of liked the story.
Sep 10, 2010
Wendi
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Maya explores her Bengali heritage and hates being the only Indian, possibly only non-white, in her Canadian town. Preteen angst about identity and family. I like Anjali Banerjee's other books better. This one was slow going at first.
Nov 11, 2011
SooMin
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I really enjoyed reading this book because it started very normal and realistic until it went into the REAL part of the story. This was a very easy book to read and teaches what the moral of the story is clearly. I can recommend this book for younger kids like in about 4rth grade.
Aug 13, 2010
Coquille
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Cute and fun, this book is especially poignant if you lived in the 1970's, especially. Benerjee does a great job of bringing the reader back to late '70s Canada, and the middle school years. Wow. Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, comes in to mix the whole book up with a fantasy wish scenario that takes Maya back to her family's roots in India. Sweet book.
Jul 24, 2009
Ginger
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This starts out as a typical teen angst kind of novel, then suddenly gets a supernatural infusion and becomes a page turner
Dec 23, 2007
Alicia
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This is the sort of YA book I don't like much. Of course you all know I'm interested in themes of outsider-ness, so you'd think I'd like a book about a teen Indian girl in Canada in the 1970s, who's the only non-white kid in her class and is trying hard to fit in, balance her two worlds, etc. Unfortunately, this book had absolutely no subtlety, and when things suddenly take a turn for the mystical, I was rolling my eyes on just about every page. Way to throw anvils on heads, Ms. Bannerjee! It wa
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Jul 02, 2011
Hilary
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Suspenseful, magical, enjoyable story. My daughter read it as well and flew through this book! Recommended!
May 19, 2010
Kellee
rated it:
Fits under both realistic fiction and fantasy... You'd have to read to see why. If you've read, let me know which one you think it fits under better...
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