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In the Key of Nira Ghani
A contemporary, coming-of-age story, written by an #OwnVoices author, about a Guyanese girl who must find the balance between her parents' "old world" expectations and traditions while pursuing her dream of being a great trumpeter.
Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion.
As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily's attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama.
But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible.
A relatable and timely contemporary, coming-of age story, IN THE KEY OF NIRA GHANI explores the social and cultural struggles of a teen in an immigrant household.
Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion.
As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily's attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama.
But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible.
A relatable and timely contemporary, coming-of age story, IN THE KEY OF NIRA GHANI explores the social and cultural struggles of a teen in an immigrant household.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
21 people are currently reading
854 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Deen
55 books184 followersNatasha Deen's family moved from Guyana, South America to Canada to escape the country's political & racial violence. She loved growing up in a country of snow & flannel, but often felt out of place. Thank goodness for books that showed her being different could also mean being awesome. Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family where she spends A LOT of time arguing with her cats and dogs about who’s the boss of the house. Visit her at www.natashadeen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 8, 2019
In the Key of Nira Ghani is an "Own Voices" YA novel. Nira is a young girl who dreams of playing her trumpet in her school's jazz band. This does not sit well with her traditional Guyanese family who still hold fast to the values of education, hard work, commitment to family and respect for elders. They see music as a deterrent from her goals and her pleas a sign of disrespect. All that Nira wants is something for herself. She is a good girl who manages to keep up her grades and tries to help out her family as much as she can. As the only brown girl in her school she feels that she does not fit in with most of her classmates; invisible most of the time except for when she is with her best friend Emmy. She does not even feel a closeness with her Uncle Raj and his family. Although both he and her father had attained some level of success in their homeland, Raj was allowed to bring his money with him to Canada while Nira's father was forced to start all over. This perpetuates the competitive dynamic that these two brothers have and is the reason for why the two girl cousins are not close at first.
The keystone of the family that holds everything together, their bedrock, is the grandmother. She is such a delightful character. There is no problem that she can't fix with a cup of tea a little milk and some sugar. Sometimes her wisdom is remaining laid back and quiet and letting things fall where they may and other times she has no qualms saying her peace and putting her foot down. But she is revered and she is loved. Even through the pages she feels like family. You want to go home with her. This is my first Natasha Deen novel. I read this to fulfill a PopSugar challenge and am glad that Natasha Deen shared "her family" with us.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Running Press Kids and Natasha Deen for advanced access to this book.
The keystone of the family that holds everything together, their bedrock, is the grandmother. She is such a delightful character. There is no problem that she can't fix with a cup of tea a little milk and some sugar. Sometimes her wisdom is remaining laid back and quiet and letting things fall where they may and other times she has no qualms saying her peace and putting her foot down. But she is revered and she is loved. Even through the pages she feels like family. You want to go home with her. This is my first Natasha Deen novel. I read this to fulfill a PopSugar challenge and am glad that Natasha Deen shared "her family" with us.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Running Press Kids and Natasha Deen for advanced access to this book.
April 9, 2019
I feel very honored to write this review and only wish I could use all caps in an attempt to convey how much I loved this book!
In the Key of Nira Ghani is an ownvoices story that follows teenager, Nira Ghani, as she navigates life in Canada after migrating from her home country of Guyana, with her parents, grandmother, cousin, uncle and aunt. Nira faces an assortment of challenges, including breaking free of cultural norms and familial expectation to pursue her passion of playing the trumpet. While this is going on, Nira must also wrestle with the struggles of friendships and first loves, fitting in/standing out and being from a lower socioeconomic class. The story plays out fluidly and Nira’s voice and character add depth to the narrative with much humor, passion and clarity. I laughed, I cried and I completely enjoyed this story from start to finish.
A book like this one is especially important to me and I feel very fortunate to have read it. Why, you may ask? I too am from Guyana. I too am Indo-Guyanaese. I too immigrated to seek better opportunities abroad. Therefore, I empathize with Nira’s story. Beyond just the struggles to fit in, feeling excluded and oftentimes misunderstood and frustrated, Deen added more layers to the typical YA teen story. She explored the Guyanese culture so well, from the the plethora of food drops (mitthai, curry, and cheese straw, oh my!) to little expressions (like ending up in the gutter) and items that are so familiar to the Indo-Guyanese people (Shoutout to mama’s tawa!). The copious drinking of tea is so reassuringly Guyanese as well! To this day I cannot shake the habit so deeply ingrained in me from my aunties and mother. I particularly adored Nira’s grandmother who was strong, silent and a force to be reckoned with. She was obviously fashioned from a well thought out matriarch, familiar to many a Guyanese household. Her character development was especially meaningful to the story as a whole, and Nira’s story could not be the same without her.
This story is not one that is groundbreaking and unique, if I consider it in a general sense. However, Nira’s story, for some reason does not come across as generic. It is a story about a young girl growing up and standing up for herself, but what is so special is its trueness to her Guyanese culture, that is not often represented in literature.
I haven’t read a book in a while that spoke of things I knew, experiences I had and places I am familiar with quite like In the Key of Nira Ghani . Not a lot of new literature from Guyana have come to my attention but like I said earlier, I am honored that this one did. Readers can enjoy this book knowing that it authentically shows the Guyanese immigrant experience. You did good by us Mrs Deen.
My thanks are extended to the author and Running Press Kids for providing me with an ARC of In The Key of Nira Ghani . All opinions are my own.
In the Key of Nira Ghani is an ownvoices story that follows teenager, Nira Ghani, as she navigates life in Canada after migrating from her home country of Guyana, with her parents, grandmother, cousin, uncle and aunt. Nira faces an assortment of challenges, including breaking free of cultural norms and familial expectation to pursue her passion of playing the trumpet. While this is going on, Nira must also wrestle with the struggles of friendships and first loves, fitting in/standing out and being from a lower socioeconomic class. The story plays out fluidly and Nira’s voice and character add depth to the narrative with much humor, passion and clarity. I laughed, I cried and I completely enjoyed this story from start to finish.
A book like this one is especially important to me and I feel very fortunate to have read it. Why, you may ask? I too am from Guyana. I too am Indo-Guyanaese. I too immigrated to seek better opportunities abroad. Therefore, I empathize with Nira’s story. Beyond just the struggles to fit in, feeling excluded and oftentimes misunderstood and frustrated, Deen added more layers to the typical YA teen story. She explored the Guyanese culture so well, from the the plethora of food drops (mitthai, curry, and cheese straw, oh my!) to little expressions (like ending up in the gutter) and items that are so familiar to the Indo-Guyanese people (Shoutout to mama’s tawa!). The copious drinking of tea is so reassuringly Guyanese as well! To this day I cannot shake the habit so deeply ingrained in me from my aunties and mother. I particularly adored Nira’s grandmother who was strong, silent and a force to be reckoned with. She was obviously fashioned from a well thought out matriarch, familiar to many a Guyanese household. Her character development was especially meaningful to the story as a whole, and Nira’s story could not be the same without her.
This story is not one that is groundbreaking and unique, if I consider it in a general sense. However, Nira’s story, for some reason does not come across as generic. It is a story about a young girl growing up and standing up for herself, but what is so special is its trueness to her Guyanese culture, that is not often represented in literature.
I haven’t read a book in a while that spoke of things I knew, experiences I had and places I am familiar with quite like In the Key of Nira Ghani . Not a lot of new literature from Guyana have come to my attention but like I said earlier, I am honored that this one did. Readers can enjoy this book knowing that it authentically shows the Guyanese immigrant experience. You did good by us Mrs Deen.
My thanks are extended to the author and Running Press Kids for providing me with an ARC of In The Key of Nira Ghani . All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2019
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
This is an own voices novel that follows Nira, a Guyanese immigrant who travels to Canada with her family. She has always dreamed of becoming a musician, but her strict parents want her to become a doctor or scientist instead. Her best friend Emily and her grandmother seem to be the only two supporting her in her dream of playing in the school jazz band. Her crush, Noah, starts paying more attention to her ultra competitive cousin, Farah. Not to mention her enemy MacKenzie begins showing an interest in Emily who begins to pull away from Nira. She becomes defensive and starts second guessing her relationships.
I loved how this was a story about Nira growing and learning to love herself and be more confident. But I must say that the family relationships in this book are by far my favourite aspect of the story. It was great to see the complex and emotional ties everyone had with one another. I loved Nira's grandmother the most and her interactions with Nira. She was such a strong and loving character who was a forced to be reckoned with. I also really liked the underlying tones of friendship and jealousy as well. I think Nira was an interesting character to follow, very relateable and I loved watching her grow as the story progressed!
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
3.5/5 Stars
This is an own voices novel that follows Nira, a Guyanese immigrant who travels to Canada with her family. She has always dreamed of becoming a musician, but her strict parents want her to become a doctor or scientist instead. Her best friend Emily and her grandmother seem to be the only two supporting her in her dream of playing in the school jazz band. Her crush, Noah, starts paying more attention to her ultra competitive cousin, Farah. Not to mention her enemy MacKenzie begins showing an interest in Emily who begins to pull away from Nira. She becomes defensive and starts second guessing her relationships.
I loved how this was a story about Nira growing and learning to love herself and be more confident. But I must say that the family relationships in this book are by far my favourite aspect of the story. It was great to see the complex and emotional ties everyone had with one another. I loved Nira's grandmother the most and her interactions with Nira. She was such a strong and loving character who was a forced to be reckoned with. I also really liked the underlying tones of friendship and jealousy as well. I think Nira was an interesting character to follow, very relateable and I loved watching her grow as the story progressed!
May 23, 2019
This is one of the best 2019 YA contemporary releases I have read this year and it really took me by surprise! In the Key of Nira Ghani is an #ownvoices coming of age story about being a teen torn between the expectations of an immigrant family and wanting to forge your own path. It's funny and heart-warming with a diverse cast of well-developed characters and complicated relationships that feel true to life. Nira has a wry sense of humor that I loved, and I found a great deal of her experience both widely relatable and wonderfully specific. Nira's parents want her to become a doctor or scientist and really push academics, but Nira dreams of playing the trumpet professionally. This story involves her grappling with that conflict, but she also has a really strong arc of personal growth through the book as she slowly comes to recognize her own prejudices and misconceptions.
Nira emmigrated with her family from Guyana to Canada when she was quite young, but due to political circumstances, the family had to leave their wealth behind and so finances are always tight. This creates difficulties as Nira navigates being one of the only brown kids in her school with different culture and fewer resources. (as a side note, my parents are not immigrants, but I still found a lot of the money-centered arguments to be very familiar- being a teen and wanting things like cool clothes or money to hang with friends and not having that option, but lacking the perspective to grasp parental sacrifice) Nira lives with her parents and her grandmother, who is SUCH a great character! You will absolutely fall in love with her, and she is the perfect foil for the teen-parent conflict in the household. She is convinced that a cup of tea helps in any situation and is always pushing tea and food on people, while managing to get her way in almost everything. I loved the family relationships in this book, between Nira and her parents, Nira and her grandma, and also their contentious relationships with extended family.
There is also a strong plot involving friendship and jealousy that I thought was handled really well. Nira has one close friend at school, but when a girl she doesn't like joins their group, she starts to feel threatened and insecure. There is great messaging about how people are complicated and not as simple as they seem, especially in high school when image seems to matter so much. There is also a bit of a romance! I enjoyed it, but also appreciated that the story was really about Nira growing to love herself and the people around her, really coming into her own. I thought it was beautiful, compelling, and entertaining, while also offering insight into understanding immigrant families. This was exactly what I want in contemporary fare for teens with humor and heart.
It is also very much a product of its time in the best possible way! As is appropriate in 2019, we get casually queer side characters, parents who don't assume crushes will be on a single gender, and pushback on traditional forms of masculinity and the sexist behavior that can accompany it. I feel like this is kind of flying under the radar, but I really recommend people give it a try. I was sent a review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Nira emmigrated with her family from Guyana to Canada when she was quite young, but due to political circumstances, the family had to leave their wealth behind and so finances are always tight. This creates difficulties as Nira navigates being one of the only brown kids in her school with different culture and fewer resources. (as a side note, my parents are not immigrants, but I still found a lot of the money-centered arguments to be very familiar- being a teen and wanting things like cool clothes or money to hang with friends and not having that option, but lacking the perspective to grasp parental sacrifice) Nira lives with her parents and her grandmother, who is SUCH a great character! You will absolutely fall in love with her, and she is the perfect foil for the teen-parent conflict in the household. She is convinced that a cup of tea helps in any situation and is always pushing tea and food on people, while managing to get her way in almost everything. I loved the family relationships in this book, between Nira and her parents, Nira and her grandma, and also their contentious relationships with extended family.
There is also a strong plot involving friendship and jealousy that I thought was handled really well. Nira has one close friend at school, but when a girl she doesn't like joins their group, she starts to feel threatened and insecure. There is great messaging about how people are complicated and not as simple as they seem, especially in high school when image seems to matter so much. There is also a bit of a romance! I enjoyed it, but also appreciated that the story was really about Nira growing to love herself and the people around her, really coming into her own. I thought it was beautiful, compelling, and entertaining, while also offering insight into understanding immigrant families. This was exactly what I want in contemporary fare for teens with humor and heart.
It is also very much a product of its time in the best possible way! As is appropriate in 2019, we get casually queer side characters, parents who don't assume crushes will be on a single gender, and pushback on traditional forms of masculinity and the sexist behavior that can accompany it. I feel like this is kind of flying under the radar, but I really recommend people give it a try. I was sent a review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2019
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review also found here at Booked J.
(3.5-4 stars.) Here's the thing: I feel like maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book?
It's not that I didn't enjoy it (I definitely did!) but I did have a hard time focusing on it for prolonged periods of time, much like my experience with a few Sarah Dessen and John Green books in the past. I liked it well enough, but it didn't grip me. It had a very slow start that progressed and quickened as it went. So, there is a big chance that my review is going to be a bit all over the place.
Before I get started: despite my mixed reviews, and my constant stopping and starting, I never felt compelled to completely ditch the book. I always knew I was going to finish it, because I wanted to--so, that definitely ties into my thought process re: my mood. My mind was just not fully in it to win it, I guess. And, as always, my thoughts are my own and taste is subjective.
Instead of focusing on negatives, we're going to focus on the sheer brilliance of the other parts of this book. I find that a lot of my issues with it really were mood oriented and perhaps even just me growing out of YA books almost entirely these last two or so years. Because, when I look back on the story as a whole, there were so many qualities that I genuinely loved about it.
In the Key of Nira Ghani is, first and foremost, a hopeful sign of where YA will go in the years to come--finally, there are more and more diverse works of fiction coming out that have been needed for so long. It is a contemporary, coming of age story that features more than your standard release. It centers around a Guyanese character who is growing up in a way that is very true to life.
In the course of a book, we watch her as she grows and each chapter carries on some very important messages about one's self, judgment and the fact that people aren't always what they seem. In this moment of growth for our main character, we feel the weight of important messages told in a way that is poignant. We learn about ourselves, just as we learn about the characters in this book.
I liked that it took some very serious topics and balanced in some funny interactions, too, creating a sort of balance that is necessary in story telling.
While Natasha Deen's characters and plotlines at times fall into tropes that are a bit overused in YA, she doesn't use the tropes in the way that makes them generic. Instead, Deen creates characters that are developed beautifully. I think that the cast of characters is what makes up for parts of the novel I wasn't wholly keen on, because they were truly present and I loved it.
(And the dynamics! I loved.)
This isn't to say that other YA releases don't fully develop their characters, or relationships, it is just that they rarely do so in the ways that Deen has. She's take great care in doing so and crafted the vast majority of her characters in a way that feels real. You don't feel like they are merely characters.
At its core, it is a pure and simple coming of age novel that will truly stand its own ground amongst its contemporaries. Further, In the Key of Nira Ghani is beautiful promise of what is to come for its author. I can't wait to see where she goes, and I truly believe she is amongst the authors that will be around for years to come. I'm definitely going to look into some of her prior, and future, releases.
Overall, I thought that In the Key of Nira Ghani was pretty solid and intriguing. It's definitely a book that I may reread in the future to see if I missed something, to see if my original rating was merely a mood I was in. Natasha Deen is someone you'll want to be looking out for in the years to come!
This is the kind of book that needs to be kept in classrooms and school libraries.
(3.5-4 stars.) Here's the thing: I feel like maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book?
It's not that I didn't enjoy it (I definitely did!) but I did have a hard time focusing on it for prolonged periods of time, much like my experience with a few Sarah Dessen and John Green books in the past. I liked it well enough, but it didn't grip me. It had a very slow start that progressed and quickened as it went. So, there is a big chance that my review is going to be a bit all over the place.
Before I get started: despite my mixed reviews, and my constant stopping and starting, I never felt compelled to completely ditch the book. I always knew I was going to finish it, because I wanted to--so, that definitely ties into my thought process re: my mood. My mind was just not fully in it to win it, I guess. And, as always, my thoughts are my own and taste is subjective.
Instead of focusing on negatives, we're going to focus on the sheer brilliance of the other parts of this book. I find that a lot of my issues with it really were mood oriented and perhaps even just me growing out of YA books almost entirely these last two or so years. Because, when I look back on the story as a whole, there were so many qualities that I genuinely loved about it.
In the Key of Nira Ghani is, first and foremost, a hopeful sign of where YA will go in the years to come--finally, there are more and more diverse works of fiction coming out that have been needed for so long. It is a contemporary, coming of age story that features more than your standard release. It centers around a Guyanese character who is growing up in a way that is very true to life.
In the course of a book, we watch her as she grows and each chapter carries on some very important messages about one's self, judgment and the fact that people aren't always what they seem. In this moment of growth for our main character, we feel the weight of important messages told in a way that is poignant. We learn about ourselves, just as we learn about the characters in this book.
I liked that it took some very serious topics and balanced in some funny interactions, too, creating a sort of balance that is necessary in story telling.
While Natasha Deen's characters and plotlines at times fall into tropes that are a bit overused in YA, she doesn't use the tropes in the way that makes them generic. Instead, Deen creates characters that are developed beautifully. I think that the cast of characters is what makes up for parts of the novel I wasn't wholly keen on, because they were truly present and I loved it.
(And the dynamics! I loved.)
This isn't to say that other YA releases don't fully develop their characters, or relationships, it is just that they rarely do so in the ways that Deen has. She's take great care in doing so and crafted the vast majority of her characters in a way that feels real. You don't feel like they are merely characters.
At its core, it is a pure and simple coming of age novel that will truly stand its own ground amongst its contemporaries. Further, In the Key of Nira Ghani is beautiful promise of what is to come for its author. I can't wait to see where she goes, and I truly believe she is amongst the authors that will be around for years to come. I'm definitely going to look into some of her prior, and future, releases.
Overall, I thought that In the Key of Nira Ghani was pretty solid and intriguing. It's definitely a book that I may reread in the future to see if I missed something, to see if my original rating was merely a mood I was in. Natasha Deen is someone you'll want to be looking out for in the years to come!
This is the kind of book that needs to be kept in classrooms and school libraries.
September 28, 2020
This was almost 5 stars! Cho. 😄 I do recommend it for its lovable, sarcastic protagonist and the author's skilfull diagramming of varying kinds of loving and problematic family dynamics, the ones where some meeting of minds can occur, and the others that are too toxic.
Fuller review likkle later.
Fuller review likkle later.
November 6, 2019
That's a tear-jerker. Also, pocket trumpets are cute!
November 1, 2020
4.5 ⭐
April 9, 2019
In the Key of Nira Ghani is an ownvoices story following a Guyanese teen who is caught between her parents expectations and her own wishes to be a musician. At the same time her best friend is pulling away from her, and why is the cute popular guy Noah suddenly talking to her?
(laughing at my attempt to write a synopsis without actually writing the synopsis)
In the Key of Nira Ghani has real characters which I felt were written really well. I love how Nira is such a teenager, with all her insecurities and dreams. I loved her family and how everything could be fixed with a cup of tea. All the characters has different sides and I felt for them all.
In my opinion the ending was the weakest part of the story, it wasn’t really executed well and I thought that it could have been more developed. There were also some relationships I wished we could have seen more of: Noah & Nira, Nira’s family vs. Farah’s family (and if they ever found out her uncle’s secret), Mac & Emily! I hope we actually get a sequel because there is a lot left to explore!
More thoughts can be found my full video review: https://youtu.be/bBd66vwYpWI
3.5/5 stars! Would recommend if you want a diverse and nice contemporary.
(laughing at my attempt to write a synopsis without actually writing the synopsis)
In the Key of Nira Ghani has real characters which I felt were written really well. I love how Nira is such a teenager, with all her insecurities and dreams. I loved her family and how everything could be fixed with a cup of tea. All the characters has different sides and I felt for them all.
In my opinion the ending was the weakest part of the story, it wasn’t really executed well and I thought that it could have been more developed. There were also some relationships I wished we could have seen more of: Noah & Nira, Nira’s family vs. Farah’s family (and if they ever found out her uncle’s secret), Mac & Emily! I hope we actually get a sequel because there is a lot left to explore!
More thoughts can be found my full video review: https://youtu.be/bBd66vwYpWI
3.5/5 stars! Would recommend if you want a diverse and nice contemporary.
Read
December 14, 2019Can Nira find the right note to fit into the crazy band of her own life?
Nira dreams of being a musician. This goes against everything her traditional Guyanese family wants. They believe her music will distract her from her education, her "true future". But Nira knows this doesn't have to be. No one but her grandmother and best friend, Emily, support her. But then Nira's enemy McKenzie, starts paying attention to Emily, who shockingly begins to pull away. If this wasn't enough, her cousin Farah begins flirting with her crush. This only furthers the girls already competitive rivalry. Life continues to go out of tune, causing Nira to re-evaluate everyone.
From Nira's ever expectant parents to her wise, loving grandmother, from her flashy aunt and uncle to their sharp daughter, Farah, Nira's family was never shy about expressing their opinions. A tense, ever-present love radiated between Nira and her parents, despite their very different ideas about life. Nira's grandmother was such a gem. Strong and always on top of things, she got Nira like no one else. Bold and boastful, Nira's extended family weren't the people she always thought them to be. A deep-seated love was buried in the messy dynamics of this surprisingly unique family. If this wasn't enough for Nira to deal with, she was also trying to swim through the sea of high school. From her kind best friend, Emily to the popular Mckenzie, to the sweet Noah, along with other teens, Nira found herself facing another set of expectations. It was interesting to see how Nira's relationships evolved as she tried to find her own path amidst a supporting cast who made her feel the extremes of visibility and invisibility. While I thought the character development of Nira's family was fantastic, there was little more than surface traits for her school friends, which left them feeling quite inauthentic.
When we let our emotional mind take over, it impedes our progress. As Nira slowly saw, it makes us blind to everything else, causing difficulties in regards to success. Humorous, heartfelt prose narrated Nira's uniquely personal journey of pursuing passions and discovering the many variations of love. Elements of Guyanese culture heightened the beauty of a story of preconceived notions, family, secrets, and learning. With raw honesty, Natasha Deen also examined poverty, privilege, and the varying effects those life challenges have on people. It was such a pleasure to watch Nira grow and she faced her challenges. As much as the ending caught me off-guard, it was exceptionally moving.
In the Key of Nira Ghani was a beautiful melody.
Nira dreams of being a musician. This goes against everything her traditional Guyanese family wants. They believe her music will distract her from her education, her "true future". But Nira knows this doesn't have to be. No one but her grandmother and best friend, Emily, support her. But then Nira's enemy McKenzie, starts paying attention to Emily, who shockingly begins to pull away. If this wasn't enough, her cousin Farah begins flirting with her crush. This only furthers the girls already competitive rivalry. Life continues to go out of tune, causing Nira to re-evaluate everyone.
From Nira's ever expectant parents to her wise, loving grandmother, from her flashy aunt and uncle to their sharp daughter, Farah, Nira's family was never shy about expressing their opinions. A tense, ever-present love radiated between Nira and her parents, despite their very different ideas about life. Nira's grandmother was such a gem. Strong and always on top of things, she got Nira like no one else. Bold and boastful, Nira's extended family weren't the people she always thought them to be. A deep-seated love was buried in the messy dynamics of this surprisingly unique family. If this wasn't enough for Nira to deal with, she was also trying to swim through the sea of high school. From her kind best friend, Emily to the popular Mckenzie, to the sweet Noah, along with other teens, Nira found herself facing another set of expectations. It was interesting to see how Nira's relationships evolved as she tried to find her own path amidst a supporting cast who made her feel the extremes of visibility and invisibility. While I thought the character development of Nira's family was fantastic, there was little more than surface traits for her school friends, which left them feeling quite inauthentic.
When we let our emotional mind take over, it impedes our progress. As Nira slowly saw, it makes us blind to everything else, causing difficulties in regards to success. Humorous, heartfelt prose narrated Nira's uniquely personal journey of pursuing passions and discovering the many variations of love. Elements of Guyanese culture heightened the beauty of a story of preconceived notions, family, secrets, and learning. With raw honesty, Natasha Deen also examined poverty, privilege, and the varying effects those life challenges have on people. It was such a pleasure to watch Nira grow and she faced her challenges. As much as the ending caught me off-guard, it was exceptionally moving.
In the Key of Nira Ghani was a beautiful melody.
April 4, 2022
I overall really enjoyed this book. There were a few moments of parental drama that reminded me why I don’t read YA as much, but otherwise, I loved Nira and the growth she went through. I loved how she was outspoken in a way that I could only sometimes manage with my own Caribbean parent. Which brings me to another aspect that drew me in: the culture! Some of the foods mentioned, we don’t have in St. Vincent, or I know by a different name. But being born and raised in New York, where there are large expat Caribbean communities, I had the opportunity to be exposed to it all. But also blancing your Americanness (or Nira’s case, Canadianness) with your Caribbean culture and the differing ideals.
My mom wasn’t strict in all the ways that Nira’s were: while good grades were important, I didn’t have a predetermined career path set out for me. But in all of the other ways: being strict about me going out, thinking certain things leading back to boys (or girls), thinking that disagreement/sharing my own opinion was a sign of disrespect, tea being a cure all (though my own mom wasn’t as bad as Nira’s grandmother).
This book was one I loved reading even as Nira sometimes frustrated me. Her journey was a layered one. I loved all of the dimensions the author managed to imbue each of her characters with. I also loved the narrator though her accent seemed a little inconsistent a few times.
My only complaint is the ending which I kind of expected. I’m going to put it in spoiler tags as it’s definitely a spoiler, but I’m including it because it may also be a trigger for some.
I have so much more that I want to say about this book but can’t quite find the right words. So I’m going to make a video where I can ramble in peace. Check back in a week for the link.
My mom wasn’t strict in all the ways that Nira’s were: while good grades were important, I didn’t have a predetermined career path set out for me. But in all of the other ways: being strict about me going out, thinking certain things leading back to boys (or girls), thinking that disagreement/sharing my own opinion was a sign of disrespect, tea being a cure all (though my own mom wasn’t as bad as Nira’s grandmother).
This book was one I loved reading even as Nira sometimes frustrated me. Her journey was a layered one. I loved all of the dimensions the author managed to imbue each of her characters with. I also loved the narrator though her accent seemed a little inconsistent a few times.
My only complaint is the ending which I kind of expected. I’m going to put it in spoiler tags as it’s definitely a spoiler, but I’m including it because it may also be a trigger for some.
I have so much more that I want to say about this book but can’t quite find the right words. So I’m going to make a video where I can ramble in peace. Check back in a week for the link.
April 12, 2019
* Thank you HBG Canada for the opportunity to be apart of this blog tour *
- ACTUAL 4.25 stars -
In the Key of Nira Ghani is a contemporary novel following Nira, a Guyanese girl with a passion for music. Her parents do not approve of her talent, forcing her to take a stand against her parents, who she loves, for what she loves, playing her trumpet. And with a competitive cousin, Farah, and mean girl, McKenzie, trying to push their way into her friend group, and a new found crush on Noah, Nira begins feeling like an outsider among her closest friends. Nira must balance others expectations and her own plans in this culturally diverse story about growing up.
I really enjoyed this book, Nira was an easy character to connect with. The reader followed her struggles fitting in, and felt for her as people continued to disappoint her. The family dynamics were interesting, and more secrets were revealed as the story continued that drew the reader in. I have not read a book with a Guyanese main character before, so that was unique too. It is important to have books share these cultural and social topics, as diversity a key part of today's culture.
At times I did find Nira a bit passive, and there were a couple slow points in the story line, but it was a great quick read. Overall, contemporary fans will adore this sweet novel!
- ACTUAL 4.25 stars -
In the Key of Nira Ghani is a contemporary novel following Nira, a Guyanese girl with a passion for music. Her parents do not approve of her talent, forcing her to take a stand against her parents, who she loves, for what she loves, playing her trumpet. And with a competitive cousin, Farah, and mean girl, McKenzie, trying to push their way into her friend group, and a new found crush on Noah, Nira begins feeling like an outsider among her closest friends. Nira must balance others expectations and her own plans in this culturally diverse story about growing up.
I really enjoyed this book, Nira was an easy character to connect with. The reader followed her struggles fitting in, and felt for her as people continued to disappoint her. The family dynamics were interesting, and more secrets were revealed as the story continued that drew the reader in. I have not read a book with a Guyanese main character before, so that was unique too. It is important to have books share these cultural and social topics, as diversity a key part of today's culture.
At times I did find Nira a bit passive, and there were a couple slow points in the story line, but it was a great quick read. Overall, contemporary fans will adore this sweet novel!
October 29, 2021
Your sense of self refers to your perception of the collection of characteristics that define you. Personality traits, abilities, likes and dislikes, your belief system or moral code, and the things that motivate you — these all contribute to self-image or your unique identity as a person. People who can easily describe these aspects of their identity typically have a fairly strong sense of who they are. Struggling to name more than a few of these characteristics might point to a less defined sense of self. In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen is an amazing YA read it's truly Phenomenal! No lie, I got so invested in the character Nira that not only did I read this all in one sitting, at one point I actually caught myself thinking of Nira as if she's a girl I work with in real life. I had to pause and remind myself that Nira is FICTIONAL.
I didn’t know anything about this author or her work till my friend recommended this book for a group read. I was kind of dragging my feet about it because I’m not a fan of Young Adult Fiction but I decided to give this a go. From the first page I was sucked in by main character. This book is like a love song.
So yeah, Natasha Deen is THAT good. Would recommend to everyone, worth so much more than 5 stars!!!
Highly Recommended!
I didn’t know anything about this author or her work till my friend recommended this book for a group read. I was kind of dragging my feet about it because I’m not a fan of Young Adult Fiction but I decided to give this a go. From the first page I was sucked in by main character. This book is like a love song.
So yeah, Natasha Deen is THAT good. Would recommend to everyone, worth so much more than 5 stars!!!
Highly Recommended!
February 8, 2019
Rating: 3.25 🌟
ARC Review: receiver from Netgalley for an honest review
TW: ableist slurs,
I spent way too long staring at the screen trying to figure out what to say about this book. What I will say with certainty though is that this book should be read by #ownvoice readers from immigrant families, kids who will understand the struggle of moving from one country to another for a better life, understand the struggles of trying to fit in whole still trying to maintain your culture.
So my disclaimer is this: I don't know what it's like to move to a whole new country, I don't know what it's like being poor or close to it, I don't know what it's like being the only POC in a white-only place, so these things I will not touch on because it is not my place to discuss them. What I will discuss are aspects of the book that I feel I can relate to, however.
Okay, I have to admit that I did enjoy this book, that it was nice to read it and I got it done in a day (hours if you don't count the breaks I took). It's not a badly written book at all and like I said before, I did enjoy it. However, it does have a few issues.
1. The description of Emily's weight. It's not baaad, it's not even mean, but I don't know. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive about it, as a fat person, but idk. It just didn't sit in a comfortable way. Like I feel like there may have been a better way to describe her fatness. I mean, she likes to eat, sure, but I don't know. I just feel like there could've been a better way to say she's fat without the “she stuffs her face” feel of things.
2. The handling of Mckenzie is probably one of my least favourite things. This girl is awful to Nira from the start of the book. She says racist and ignorant things all the time and makes Nira feel awful about herself. It's natural for Nira to hate this girl, to not want or be friends with her. But then Mckenzie starts hanging out with them and then Nira's best friend Emily (who is white) comes at Nira like “she's not as bad as you think, just give her a chance” and mm, that feels condescend-y to me. Emily is white and Mckenzie and white, so when Mckenzi says ignorant and racist things, obviously Emily won't find it as problematic as Nira and obviously it'll be easier for her to forgive but mm. Without spoiling more than I might have, I don't really like how things went. Like I knew, I KNEW, that Mckenzie wasn't going to be the bad guy forever and there was going to be some “I'm only mean to you because of (meh excuse)” and it did happen and I wasn't unhappy but I wish that it had gone a different way.
But despite those thing, I liked this book actually. And also there are queer characters in the book and I love that Nira's parents and Grandmother are so chilled when it comes to relationships, like the “Is it a boy?...... A girl?” question every time they were curios about Nira having relationship issues was cool. I'm glad that we were able to see that the may be strict and almost hellish about school and Nira's academic future, but her sexuality isn't an issue.
Overall, a good read and I hope that young Guyanese Canadian kids will find this book and relate to its content.
ARC Review: receiver from Netgalley for an honest review
TW: ableist slurs,
I spent way too long staring at the screen trying to figure out what to say about this book. What I will say with certainty though is that this book should be read by #ownvoice readers from immigrant families, kids who will understand the struggle of moving from one country to another for a better life, understand the struggles of trying to fit in whole still trying to maintain your culture.
So my disclaimer is this: I don't know what it's like to move to a whole new country, I don't know what it's like being poor or close to it, I don't know what it's like being the only POC in a white-only place, so these things I will not touch on because it is not my place to discuss them. What I will discuss are aspects of the book that I feel I can relate to, however.
Okay, I have to admit that I did enjoy this book, that it was nice to read it and I got it done in a day (hours if you don't count the breaks I took). It's not a badly written book at all and like I said before, I did enjoy it. However, it does have a few issues.
1. The description of Emily's weight. It's not baaad, it's not even mean, but I don't know. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive about it, as a fat person, but idk. It just didn't sit in a comfortable way. Like I feel like there may have been a better way to describe her fatness. I mean, she likes to eat, sure, but I don't know. I just feel like there could've been a better way to say she's fat without the “she stuffs her face” feel of things.
2. The handling of Mckenzie is probably one of my least favourite things. This girl is awful to Nira from the start of the book. She says racist and ignorant things all the time and makes Nira feel awful about herself. It's natural for Nira to hate this girl, to not want or be friends with her. But then Mckenzie starts hanging out with them and then Nira's best friend Emily (who is white) comes at Nira like “she's not as bad as you think, just give her a chance” and mm, that feels condescend-y to me. Emily is white and Mckenzie and white, so when Mckenzi says ignorant and racist things, obviously Emily won't find it as problematic as Nira and obviously it'll be easier for her to forgive but mm. Without spoiling more than I might have, I don't really like how things went. Like I knew, I KNEW, that Mckenzie wasn't going to be the bad guy forever and there was going to be some “I'm only mean to you because of (meh excuse)” and it did happen and I wasn't unhappy but I wish that it had gone a different way.
But despite those thing, I liked this book actually. And also there are queer characters in the book and I love that Nira's parents and Grandmother are so chilled when it comes to relationships, like the “Is it a boy?...... A girl?” question every time they were curios about Nira having relationship issues was cool. I'm glad that we were able to see that the may be strict and almost hellish about school and Nira's academic future, but her sexuality isn't an issue.
Overall, a good read and I hope that young Guyanese Canadian kids will find this book and relate to its content.
October 9, 2020
Coming of age – and all that jazz!
Canadian author Natasha Deen was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada where she has become a prize winning author of books for children, teens, and adults. She has both an innate talent for storytelling and the gift for introducing her passion to others, in schools, libraries, and other organizations. Her motto, ‘Change the world one story at a time.’ She has published nineteen books to date! Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
The gift for character development is apparent from page one as Natasha introduces both her primary character Nira and her ‘friend’ McKenzie: “”The cow’s eyeball floats in the formaldehyde. It’s disembodied a part cut off from the whole, just like me, but there’s a difference between me and the orb. It stares out at the kids as though it knows the secret the rest of us are dying to find out. McKenzie catches me looking at the jar. “Are you offended?” ‘What?” “We killed a cow. Are you mad at us or something? Aren’t they sacred to your people or whatever?” “I’m not Hindi,” I tell her for what must be the millionth time. “It’s pronounced ‘offended.’” She slows down the last word and says it louder, like I’m both illiterate and deaf. Smiles, then glowers when I don’t smile back. “No one’s trying to hurt your feelings. We just like burgers.” And right there is the reason that when I graduate high school, I’m taking off to a university that’s light-years away from this town.’ So much of the essence of this fine novel is shared in that conversation.
The story is well distilled in the synopsis: ‘Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion. As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily's attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama. But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible.’
Very capably combining a strong coming of age story with a valued exploration of conflicts in immigrant households, cultural idiosyncrasies, and a following a dream philosophy that crowns this novel, Natasha Deen has become a standard bearer for the art of meaningful (and entertaining) novels. Very highly recommended for abroad audience.
Canadian author Natasha Deen was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada where she has become a prize winning author of books for children, teens, and adults. She has both an innate talent for storytelling and the gift for introducing her passion to others, in schools, libraries, and other organizations. Her motto, ‘Change the world one story at a time.’ She has published nineteen books to date! Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
The gift for character development is apparent from page one as Natasha introduces both her primary character Nira and her ‘friend’ McKenzie: “”The cow’s eyeball floats in the formaldehyde. It’s disembodied a part cut off from the whole, just like me, but there’s a difference between me and the orb. It stares out at the kids as though it knows the secret the rest of us are dying to find out. McKenzie catches me looking at the jar. “Are you offended?” ‘What?” “We killed a cow. Are you mad at us or something? Aren’t they sacred to your people or whatever?” “I’m not Hindi,” I tell her for what must be the millionth time. “It’s pronounced ‘offended.’” She slows down the last word and says it louder, like I’m both illiterate and deaf. Smiles, then glowers when I don’t smile back. “No one’s trying to hurt your feelings. We just like burgers.” And right there is the reason that when I graduate high school, I’m taking off to a university that’s light-years away from this town.’ So much of the essence of this fine novel is shared in that conversation.
The story is well distilled in the synopsis: ‘Nira Ghani has always dreamed of becoming a musician. Her Guyanese parents, however, have big plans for her to become a scientist or doctor. Nira's grandmother and her best friend, Emily, are the only people who seem to truly understand her desire to establish an identity outside of the one imposed on Nira by her parents. When auditions for jazz band are announced, Nira realizes it's now or never to convince her parents that she deserves a chance to pursue her passion. As if fighting with her parents weren't bad enough, Nira finds herself navigating a new friendship dynamic when her crush, Noah, and notorious mean-girl, McKenzie "Mac," take a sudden interest in her and Emily, inserting themselves into the fold. So, too, does Nira's much cooler (and very competitive) cousin Farah. Is she trying to wiggle her way into the new group to get closer to Noah? Is McKenzie trying to steal Emily's attention away from her? As Farah and Noah grow closer and Emily begins to pull away, Nira's trusted trumpet "George" remains her constant, offering her an escape from family and school drama. But it isn't until Nira takes a step back that she realizes she's not the only one struggling to find her place in the world. As painful truths about her family are revealed, Nira learns to accept people for who they are and to open herself in ways she never thought possible.’
Very capably combining a strong coming of age story with a valued exploration of conflicts in immigrant households, cultural idiosyncrasies, and a following a dream philosophy that crowns this novel, Natasha Deen has become a standard bearer for the art of meaningful (and entertaining) novels. Very highly recommended for abroad audience.
March 21, 2019
Read more at between-the-shelves.com!
I'm actually giving this 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press Kids for providing me with an advanced copy to review! This was a quick read for me, which means that I basically flew through this book! At the surface, this is a fun read full of humor and your typical high school drama. But as you dig deeper, there's a lot to love from this book, between familial expectations, finding your voice, and navigating changing friendships.
Nira's at the core of the novel, and while she's completely oblivious to things happening around her a lot of the time, her voice is what carries readers through the novel. Though I was frustrated with her at times, I loved the way her character was able to learn and grow. And her relationship with her grandma! Her grandma was one of the best parts.
The portrayal of Guyanese culture within the book comes from an own voices author, making it feel authentic and giving readers a glimpse into a culture that is almost non-existent in YA. I actually learned a lot with the interactions between Nira and her family, and those scenes felt very intimate and real.
The only negative I think I'd take away from this book is that the plot is a bit predictable. It has a typical YA feel to it, meaning that the characters and themes are all the more important. For the most part, I think they're up to the task.
Overall, In the Key of Nira Ghani is sure to pull on your heartstrings, and a fitting read for the coming spring!
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I'm actually giving this 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press Kids for providing me with an advanced copy to review! This was a quick read for me, which means that I basically flew through this book! At the surface, this is a fun read full of humor and your typical high school drama. But as you dig deeper, there's a lot to love from this book, between familial expectations, finding your voice, and navigating changing friendships.
Nira's at the core of the novel, and while she's completely oblivious to things happening around her a lot of the time, her voice is what carries readers through the novel. Though I was frustrated with her at times, I loved the way her character was able to learn and grow. And her relationship with her grandma! Her grandma was one of the best parts.
The portrayal of Guyanese culture within the book comes from an own voices author, making it feel authentic and giving readers a glimpse into a culture that is almost non-existent in YA. I actually learned a lot with the interactions between Nira and her family, and those scenes felt very intimate and real.
The only negative I think I'd take away from this book is that the plot is a bit predictable. It has a typical YA feel to it, meaning that the characters and themes are all the more important. For the most part, I think they're up to the task.
Overall, In the Key of Nira Ghani is sure to pull on your heartstrings, and a fitting read for the coming spring!
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November 21, 2018
I was given an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I went into this book thinking it was going to be a run of the mill book about high schooler's with the main character being from Guyana. But this book isn't really a HS drama, it's more of a introspective of Nira's family and her looking back at her previously unnoticed flaws. She wants to join the jazz band at school, but is surprised when Mackenzie (a girl at her school who Nira sees as vapid and dumb) plays the Saxophone, and plays it well. This is juxtaposed with her cousin Farah who is better, richer, and prettier etc. than her in every way, who is initially kinda of a bitch she later comes into her own and shows that she has her own problems and Nira sees that people are more than there appearance.
The book has a lot of humor, especially between Nira and her grandmother as well as her side comments made about just about everybody. I found this to be the best part(s) and carried me through the book. While yes, there is somewhat of a romance (I say somewhat because Noah is a barely there character who is just there because I don't know it's a YA?) but the main story is on Nira and the people around her, and her growing interest in jazz band.
I liked learning about Nira's home life, her life in Guyana and having to relocate to Canada and what that means to her as a person. She wants to be Canadian like everyone else (by buying expensive clothes) but she also wants to keep her culture, a balance that she finds by joining the jazz band. I feel the book frames this well, and the relationships throughout make the somewhat twist towards the end very complete and natural.
It's a hidden gem that I think could be a major hit for 2019.
January 9, 2020
4.5 Stars
This book is so dang good I am surprised there aren't more people talking about it!
Reading this book reminded me of being a teen in all of the best and worst ways. Deen puts you so far into the head of her main character that you feel everything Nira feels and it was just one of the best experiences reading a book that I've had in a long time.
This book is definitely more character-driven than plot, which is usually not my thing, but I loved it here.
The musical aspect of this just clung to my little bank nerd heart and wouldn't let go. I loved hearing Nira talk about music and how important it was to her and how it made her feel. It's been such a long time since I've really thought about music like that and it just gave me the best feelings.
Deen's character work is fantastic. I love them all so much but Grandma has a special place in my heart. I'll probably think of her every time I drink a cup of tea for the rest of my life. She was just, the absolute best.
I did dock a little bit in the points department because of some factual errors with a medical scene that actually pulled me out of the story as I yelled "THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS!" while reading.
Cover - 3; Characters - 4; Pace - 5; Plot - 5; Writing - 4; Enjoyment - 5; Cry bonus - 1.
This book is so dang good I am surprised there aren't more people talking about it!
Reading this book reminded me of being a teen in all of the best and worst ways. Deen puts you so far into the head of her main character that you feel everything Nira feels and it was just one of the best experiences reading a book that I've had in a long time.
This book is definitely more character-driven than plot, which is usually not my thing, but I loved it here.
The musical aspect of this just clung to my little bank nerd heart and wouldn't let go. I loved hearing Nira talk about music and how important it was to her and how it made her feel. It's been such a long time since I've really thought about music like that and it just gave me the best feelings.
Deen's character work is fantastic. I love them all so much but Grandma has a special place in my heart. I'll probably think of her every time I drink a cup of tea for the rest of my life. She was just, the absolute best.
I did dock a little bit in the points department because of some factual errors with a medical scene that actually pulled me out of the story as I yelled "THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS!" while reading.
Cover - 3; Characters - 4; Pace - 5; Plot - 5; Writing - 4; Enjoyment - 5; Cry bonus - 1.
May 24, 2020
I wasn't always sure about this book, because Nira's parents came off as rather harsh at times, but as Nira grew, so did they. It was fantastic seeing Nira go from feeling lonely and disconnected, to having an actual circle of friends, who felt like family. I won't lie, I was frustrated with MOST of the adults in this book. The demands of her parents, and the sibling rivalry between Nira's uncle and father, which robbed her of a friendship with her cousin. Had she had Farah on her side, maybe she wouldn't have had to struggle with feeling "other" by herself. A real shining star in this story was grandma. Grandma was always ready with tea to make things better. She was a quiet support system for Nira, and a source of endless unconditional love.
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February 16, 2020
I waffled between 3 and 4 stars. I liked this. It was realistic fiction, looking at Nora's life in an immigrant family and trying to find her path in life, not necessarily the same image as that of her family. The story was very relatable and well written. Some interesting language and prose choices, which I appreciated. This is a 2020 Red Maple nominee.
October 12, 2021
One of the greatest things an author can make in order to connect with the reader is to tell the truth, and Natasha Deen does exactly that, by showing a “watered down” reality when it comes to the discrimination, emotional bullying of “Brown” girls in school driven by ignorance, narcissism and white-privilege, and how it affects them both emotionally and academically, while also, letting us know that many times, this is but a reflection of the perception of people towards themselves and their own worth and Natasha Deen does so in a non-violent, hilarious and well put narrative filled with sarcasm, and nuggets of wisdom in each page.
The humour is EXCEPTIONAL all the way and it only gets better as the book progresses, stealing hard and long laughter and amused eye-rolls from us readers with the abundant and witty remarks that sometimes boarder the dramatic and many times touch the hyperbole standards.
“But the sandwich squishes in my mouth. Mom hasn’t figured out the correct ratio of mayo to tuna. It’s either dry enough to use as a desiccant or so wet, I think it could bring the fish back to life.”
It’s fantastic to read this book.
The emotional display of anxiety and sometimes despair on our main character as she is facing the “white-dominated” environment of school and the feeling of isolation and unimportance is palpable and very well portrait by the author, and that’s important because it allows us to better understand these situations and grow in compassion and alliance towards the struggles of other “Brown” girls and people, allowing us to check ourselves and the consequences of our behaviours towards other people in general.
We have been talking about “brown” girls, but our main character is, and this is a very interesting fact, Guyanese! YES! She is Guyanese, and that onto itself reveals a lot and makes this book very interesting into itself, adding a layer of diversity and taking off a layer of the expected story. I mean, how many times do you read about the Guyanese culture and their people? Super cool.
The book rolls off smoothly as our main character, Nira tries to get along school, handle her chaotic family life while trying to prove herself on school and make a stand for herself at house towards her… strict parents and takes refuge of a hard life in music, and the musicality of dreams through Georgia and imagination and the want to be acknowledge as a person with value by peers, sometimes for the wrong reasons, but still, we can understand the human instinct of socialization and belonging to a group at all costs, and the anger of not having the financial means to do so.
And then we have Emily, a girl with LOADS of self-esteem, confidence, love and humor although she would be considered as “fat”, which is a breath of fresh air as a character because she defies the norms of the cliché of “fat loser” as she is actually a great and highly interesting character with depth and shine! Impressive and a very nice touch by Natasha, but her the BIGGEST Gem, and THE #1 Reason you will remember and drool over this book is GRANDMA! OH MY GOD! She is THE soul of the book and one of the BEST characters ever written in modern literature, you have never seen a character as funny, as loving, as human and as smart as her. The Master Puppeteer and the Grand Master of jokes! You will LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE her! No doubt.
There isn’t much description of the environment, but that’s totally fine because Natasha grips us in the narrative, the simplicity of the characters, the plot and the humour so intensely that we completely forget about it and one of the coolest things about this book are the chapter titles. Yes, we pay attention to that too, and we have to tell you that there are some mad interesting and captivating chapter titles in this book such as “Isolation is an organic compound”, “Fortune is a two-headed snake”, “Envy is the new black” and much more, each giving us a sliver of the story before the story even begins!
This book deserves a deep and long read, as it is calling upon the facts that must be acknowledged and dealt with such as the conflicts on family, homosexuality, the love of and independence of children from their parents, the need of understanding and being honest to oneself, the need for standing your ground when all seems hopeless and I love the audacity of the narrative of Natasha Deen on this book, as it is a laughing and humorous punch on the gut, and even more that for the fact that Natasha pulled it off with such grace and without actually risking offending people, as this book is filled with love and humour all the way through. I love it!
There are statements so profound that simply take the breath out of you like:
“That’s the problem with being in this country. I see all the things I could be and do. Everyone and everything, from TV to school and books, encourages me to shoot for the moon. But I’m a poor kid who wasn’t even born here, and every day is a struggle just to get people to see me. Reach for the heavens? I’m busy trying to stay upright on the ground.”
Yet the humour makes it aaaaalllllll worth it! OHHH THE DRAMA!!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAH, I mean: “He asks the question like I’ve not only confessed to being pregnant but admitted that the father in question is Satan and my child will bring about the end times.”
How Amazing is THAT?
Besides heavenly humor, this is a book that shows the courage of a Guyanese girl that dares to defy the principles of her parents in order to strive and adapt to a better life and have a chance at her own life, of an intelligent, non-conformist girl that actually fights her way up, mostly on her own to have the independence that she needs and overcome the conflicts with her parent, and show them that they aren’t wrong, but they aren’t right either and reality is just different. This is powerful and beautiful in so many ways.
This is one book you cannot miss to read, or unread. It is so gripping that it will suffocate your heart with its message and tattoo itself onto your heart and mind through its deep, sarcastic and highly poignant narrative and story. Highly recommend this book, it’s a rare gem that you DON’T want to miss out on. Trust me on this, this book is a MASTERPIECE! Priceless!!!!
Pros:
EXCELLENT Humour and sarcasm. EXCELLENT!!!!
Characters with great depth and colour
A very rich and accurate cultural portrait of the Guyanese people
Great and poignant portrait of the bullying and discriminatory aspect of European Canadians, towards “brown” people
Very strong messages throughout the book
Grandma is a GREAT character, OMG, LOL
Nice examples on how to discuss and put your points across
Lovely, funny interactions, reactions, internal thoughts and perceptions of the characters, specially our main character.
The exaggeration is ON POINT! LOOOOOVED IT!!!!
Cons:
No complaints on the written part, I LOVED IT, yet the new cover felt “white” and rosy and didn’t really make justice to the story, the yellow and brown cover was better.
Favourite Characters: Grandma and Emily.
Lesson from the book: “Have some tea.”
Cover Score: 7.2/10
Book Score: 9.0/10
Original review @ - https://scribblesworth.wordpress.com/...
December 29, 2019
I was drawn immediately to the absolutely gorgeous cover of this book (I know, we're not supposed to judge books by their covers, but don't we all get pulled in by them?) and then my interest was sealed by the Guyanese background of its main character. Of partial Jamaican heritage myself, I am particularly interested in authors of Caribbean descent and I always appreciate when a Caribbean culture is made front and centre in a story, and Deen does a wonderful job of that. Her characters are fully realized and Nira is incredibly relatable. Her (very real and valid) frustrations with life and her intense desire to fit in are things we have all felt as teenagers - not to mention as adults.
Criticisms are minor. I picked up on some continuity issues in certain scenes, and felt it was not made clear whether the story takes place in Canada or the U.S., although that may have been intentional. And though there were moments in the book that felt exaggerated or juvenile for me, I think that is largely because I was reading a YA book in my late 20s. On the flip side, there were moments in the book that moved me to tears and I applaud Deen for creating a beautiful, important story about an incredibly talented, strong and determined young woman. This book will bring a strong, diverse voice to many young people's shelves and is truly a worthwhile read - for any age.
Criticisms are minor. I picked up on some continuity issues in certain scenes, and felt it was not made clear whether the story takes place in Canada or the U.S., although that may have been intentional. And though there were moments in the book that felt exaggerated or juvenile for me, I think that is largely because I was reading a YA book in my late 20s. On the flip side, there were moments in the book that moved me to tears and I applaud Deen for creating a beautiful, important story about an incredibly talented, strong and determined young woman. This book will bring a strong, diverse voice to many young people's shelves and is truly a worthwhile read - for any age.
July 4, 2019
"In the Key of Nira Ghani" is a great book to add to your class collection or reading list if you are looking for diverse voices. This is a great book that is not only about the process of coming of age, but also the experience of a second generation immigrant who has to balance living in two worlds--that of her family's culture and the culture of the country of her adopted country. The main character Nira Ghani feels different because she is the only brown girl at her school. Her family immigrated from Guyana to Canada looking to offer her a better life and opportunities for success. This sets the stage for her trying to balance her parents expectations for her to become a surgeon and her desire to follow her dreams of becoming a musician. The book also explores the intergenerational dynamics within her family, which adds another layer to her maturation within the book. Overall, the story line felt like an authentic teen experience with a good mixture of drama and lightheartedness.
March 31, 2020
Have you ever finished a book and didn't want to start another because you want to savour what you just read? You just want to think, to mull and to sit with the words and feelings that the author evoked. I'm wiping away tears as I write this because I just finished the book.
This book was a journey of generations, friendships and music. Nira is a teen,is torn between living the expectations of her parents as immigrant Guyanese Canadians and fitting in as the lone person of colour in her school. She isn't wealthy as many of her classmates. She has a small support system, her best friend Emily, her amazing, quirky, formidable grandma and music.
Natasha Deen has written a book with a layered cast of characters and a formative stage in Nira's life. I loved following Nira through her awkward moments, her mistakes, her challenges and realizations. I'm a little sad it ended but it's worth good cry.
This book was a journey of generations, friendships and music. Nira is a teen,is torn between living the expectations of her parents as immigrant Guyanese Canadians and fitting in as the lone person of colour in her school. She isn't wealthy as many of her classmates. She has a small support system, her best friend Emily, her amazing, quirky, formidable grandma and music.
Natasha Deen has written a book with a layered cast of characters and a formative stage in Nira's life. I loved following Nira through her awkward moments, her mistakes, her challenges and realizations. I'm a little sad it ended but it's worth good cry.
June 20, 2019
This book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
While it took me a while to finally get to reading this book -- the curse of having what some people might consider too many books -- once I started reading, I absolutely flew through it. The writing is great, the characters are amazing, there were some moments that moved me to tears. I loved Nira and her friends and her family. I loved the character development throughout the novel.
Is the plot itself the most revolutionary thing ever? Probably not. Do I care? Absolutely not.
The characters carried this story, and did so amazingly well. Probably one of my favorite reads of the last two years.
While it took me a while to finally get to reading this book -- the curse of having what some people might consider too many books -- once I started reading, I absolutely flew through it. The writing is great, the characters are amazing, there were some moments that moved me to tears. I loved Nira and her friends and her family. I loved the character development throughout the novel.
Is the plot itself the most revolutionary thing ever? Probably not. Do I care? Absolutely not.
The characters carried this story, and did so amazingly well. Probably one of my favorite reads of the last two years.
December 2, 2021
Nira Ghani’s parents have high expectations for her. She’s supposed to focus on her studies, get good grades, and become a doctor – something that would have been impossible if they’d stayed in Ghana. But Nira has other aspirations. She’s a talented musician and she wants study music and play trumpet professionally. Standing up for and believing in herself is difficult, though. Follow Nira on her journey to self-actualization as she forges a path to her dreams. Along the way she’ll find new friends, love, and discover things about her family she never knew. Also tea. So much tea. Countless cups of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
As a Guyanese person myself I am SO happy to come across an #ownvoices novel about my people that I can relate to! Natasha Deen wrote her protagonist in a way non-Guyanese people can understand - extremely helpful to a reader like me who's not savvy to their culture myself! The pace is excellent, and her writing kept me engaged. My only complaint is the confusion over Nira's beliefs. She mentions God and gods, which perplexed me over which religion she observes. Natasha mentions Nira's grandma is Hindu but she never states what Nira's parents observe after her uncle states during a family gathering there are various religious observances present amongst their relatives who are Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, and Atheist. I also felt the White classmate who made racist jokes as a sign of "friendship" was let off the hook too easily. Everyone knows racist jokes will do the opposite regardless of the person's intent, but other than the two abovementioned faults I mentioned this novel is a worthy addition to those looking for non-Hispanic Caribbean or South American Literature!
March 14, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley, Perseus Books, Running Press, Running Press Kids and the author. I wanted to read this book because it was West Indian and stationed in Guyana but it was not a book that made me feel like the West Indies and I did not enjoy it much.
Want to read
April 23, 2019FOR YOU IF: you're looking to sit down with a new, quick, sweet read by an #ownvoices author
In the Key of Nira Ghani is the story of a young Guyanese immigrant. With the high expectations from her parents and judgment from her relatives weighing heavily on her shoulders, Nira is exhausted. The one thing that lifts her up is playing trumpet, but her parents want her to pursue a job in the medical profession.
Nira's character is responsible and sweet, her relationship with her parents and friends are complicated, and there are many important bits on topics such as the struggles immigrants face and the expectations for them to over succeed to gain the same footing as those born into the country. I especially loved watching as Nira and her cousin Farah learn to truly love, accept, and encourage each other.
Yet even with the opportunity for important narratives, I didn't really feel as much tension or sadness as I think the author hoped. I think that might have been due to the fact many of the other characters--aside from Nira's father and grandmother--are left to the side, their personalities completely skeletal instead of fleshed out. (Most of the time was spent getting to know Georgia... Her trumpet.)
Overall, if you're looking to sit down with a new, quick, sweet read by an #ownvoices author, this might just be for you!
*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
In the Key of Nira Ghani is the story of a young Guyanese immigrant. With the high expectations from her parents and judgment from her relatives weighing heavily on her shoulders, Nira is exhausted. The one thing that lifts her up is playing trumpet, but her parents want her to pursue a job in the medical profession.
Nira's character is responsible and sweet, her relationship with her parents and friends are complicated, and there are many important bits on topics such as the struggles immigrants face and the expectations for them to over succeed to gain the same footing as those born into the country. I especially loved watching as Nira and her cousin Farah learn to truly love, accept, and encourage each other.
Yet even with the opportunity for important narratives, I didn't really feel as much tension or sadness as I think the author hoped. I think that might have been due to the fact many of the other characters--aside from Nira's father and grandmother--are left to the side, their personalities completely skeletal instead of fleshed out. (Most of the time was spent getting to know Georgia... Her trumpet.)
Overall, if you're looking to sit down with a new, quick, sweet read by an #ownvoices author, this might just be for you!
*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
January 15, 2022
Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Natasha Deen’s In the Key of Nira Ghani in exchange for an honest review. The book releases on April 9.
“I feel like I’m living on a fault line. Everything’s great, but I feel like there’s a rumbling deep down
where I can’t see or feel it, and something’s going to blow” (loc. 835).
I could not have loved In the Key of Nira Ghani more. For me, the novel offers the perfect mixture of compelling, empathetic protagonist; gorgeous writing; and a believable contemporary plot. From the very beginning, Nira captured my heart and my head, and I read the novel in basically one sitting.
Nira lives with her parents and her grandmother in Canada—her family escaped from Guyana in search of safety and security but had to leave without their money. As in many novels about the children of immigrants, Nira walks the line between appreciating her parents’ culture and yearning to blend in with her classmates at her new school. As the only brown girl, Nira feels both incredibly conspicuous and tragically invisible, discounted by everyone but her best friend Emily. Her one escape is her music. Though her parents have decided that she will become a doctor and therefore needs to focus only on her studies, Nira convinced them to buy her a used trumpet, which she taught herself to play via YouTube. When Nira plays, she expresses all of the love, conflict, and confusion that dominate her life.
A brilliant student, Nira vies always to meet the high expectations of her family. She always, however, falls short. After her family emigrated, her father’s brother Raj brought his family to Canada as well, taking advantage of a new loophole that allowed him to escape with his bank account intact. The brothers’ relationship is one of constant comparison: of belongings, of ambition, of their daughters’ academics. Nira’s cousin Farah attends a private school where she blends in with the “Farahbots,” other wealthy girls who share their heritage and culture. Anchoring both girls is Grandma, one of my favorite characters. Grandma is wise, funny, and realistic about the challenges Nira faces as she struggles to find her place. Most of the time, Grandma sits back and lets her family figure things out for themselves, but when she intervenes, she’s a “puppet master” who pulls all the right strings (loc. 664).
Though Nira fights against the superficial judgments of others, she does herself fall prey to judging based on appearances. Much of the novel involves Nira learning to peel back layers, to understand that everyone has secret fears and hopes. Her friendship with Emily changes as they begin to invite others to her group—much to Nira’s chagrin—and Nira must deal with feeling pushed out of the relationships that anchor her. Emily becomes close to McKenzie, a popular girl whose constant misunderstandings about Nira—she’s Hindi, she’s Muslim, she’s from India, and SO many more—and Nira can’t understand how Emily can look past McKenzie’s prejudiced behavior. Nira’s love for music leads her to know Noah, a popular boy in the jazz band. Nira decided early on that Noah is out of her league, so she suppresses her crush in favor of being his friend. Eventually, Farah (despite Nira’s best efforts) joins this friend group, and Nira must strive to figure otu where she fits in this new arrangement of five.
All of these elements are made essential by Deen’s writing: even when, as a reader, I became frustrated with characters, I understood their perspective. Deen crafts characters of such complexity that we understand both why Nira wants new, name-brand clothes and why the entire idea is anathema to her parents. We understand why Grandma insists on making tea in every situation and why her use of sugar in the tea signals the kind of situation she’s dealing with. We understand why Emily is Nira’s best friend, why Nira is jealous of their new friends, and why Emily is insisting that Nira be more understanding. Most of all, we understand both why Nira desires so strongly to please her parents and why she just can’t give up on music. Emily tells Nira early on that her playing reminds her of Neil—not Louis—Armstrong because when Nira plays, “[she] make[s] [Emily] think of moonlight and defying gravity” (loc. 74).
Through the book, Nira becomes a keeper of secrets, both her own and others’, and each secret “steals the stars from the sky and the light from the moon” (loc. 1538). As a reader in on those secrets, I felt every moment of Nira’s story, of her imperfections and her pursuit of growth, of her moments of being an outsider and of belonging, of seeing her path clearly and being pushed off of that path. Watching her figure out herself and those around her is a journey I won’t forget, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Pre-order Natasha Deen’s In the Key of Nira Ghani immediately. You won’t regret it.
“I feel like I’m living on a fault line. Everything’s great, but I feel like there’s a rumbling deep down
where I can’t see or feel it, and something’s going to blow” (loc. 835).
I could not have loved In the Key of Nira Ghani more. For me, the novel offers the perfect mixture of compelling, empathetic protagonist; gorgeous writing; and a believable contemporary plot. From the very beginning, Nira captured my heart and my head, and I read the novel in basically one sitting.
Nira lives with her parents and her grandmother in Canada—her family escaped from Guyana in search of safety and security but had to leave without their money. As in many novels about the children of immigrants, Nira walks the line between appreciating her parents’ culture and yearning to blend in with her classmates at her new school. As the only brown girl, Nira feels both incredibly conspicuous and tragically invisible, discounted by everyone but her best friend Emily. Her one escape is her music. Though her parents have decided that she will become a doctor and therefore needs to focus only on her studies, Nira convinced them to buy her a used trumpet, which she taught herself to play via YouTube. When Nira plays, she expresses all of the love, conflict, and confusion that dominate her life.
A brilliant student, Nira vies always to meet the high expectations of her family. She always, however, falls short. After her family emigrated, her father’s brother Raj brought his family to Canada as well, taking advantage of a new loophole that allowed him to escape with his bank account intact. The brothers’ relationship is one of constant comparison: of belongings, of ambition, of their daughters’ academics. Nira’s cousin Farah attends a private school where she blends in with the “Farahbots,” other wealthy girls who share their heritage and culture. Anchoring both girls is Grandma, one of my favorite characters. Grandma is wise, funny, and realistic about the challenges Nira faces as she struggles to find her place. Most of the time, Grandma sits back and lets her family figure things out for themselves, but when she intervenes, she’s a “puppet master” who pulls all the right strings (loc. 664).
Though Nira fights against the superficial judgments of others, she does herself fall prey to judging based on appearances. Much of the novel involves Nira learning to peel back layers, to understand that everyone has secret fears and hopes. Her friendship with Emily changes as they begin to invite others to her group—much to Nira’s chagrin—and Nira must deal with feeling pushed out of the relationships that anchor her. Emily becomes close to McKenzie, a popular girl whose constant misunderstandings about Nira—she’s Hindi, she’s Muslim, she’s from India, and SO many more—and Nira can’t understand how Emily can look past McKenzie’s prejudiced behavior. Nira’s love for music leads her to know Noah, a popular boy in the jazz band. Nira decided early on that Noah is out of her league, so she suppresses her crush in favor of being his friend. Eventually, Farah (despite Nira’s best efforts) joins this friend group, and Nira must strive to figure otu where she fits in this new arrangement of five.
All of these elements are made essential by Deen’s writing: even when, as a reader, I became frustrated with characters, I understood their perspective. Deen crafts characters of such complexity that we understand both why Nira wants new, name-brand clothes and why the entire idea is anathema to her parents. We understand why Grandma insists on making tea in every situation and why her use of sugar in the tea signals the kind of situation she’s dealing with. We understand why Emily is Nira’s best friend, why Nira is jealous of their new friends, and why Emily is insisting that Nira be more understanding. Most of all, we understand both why Nira desires so strongly to please her parents and why she just can’t give up on music. Emily tells Nira early on that her playing reminds her of Neil—not Louis—Armstrong because when Nira plays, “[she] make[s] [Emily] think of moonlight and defying gravity” (loc. 74).
Through the book, Nira becomes a keeper of secrets, both her own and others’, and each secret “steals the stars from the sky and the light from the moon” (loc. 1538). As a reader in on those secrets, I felt every moment of Nira’s story, of her imperfections and her pursuit of growth, of her moments of being an outsider and of belonging, of seeing her path clearly and being pushed off of that path. Watching her figure out herself and those around her is a journey I won’t forget, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Pre-order Natasha Deen’s In the Key of Nira Ghani immediately. You won’t regret it.
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