I am so incredibly thrilled that this magnificent, unforgettable #ownvoices novel will be published in 2021. What a journey it's been for Anuradha! She has put her heart, soul, tears, and joy into creating American Betiya, which won the SCBWI YA Emerging Voices Award. With a setting in Evanston, IL and India, readers will get a personal view into Rani's close-knit Indian family and Oliver, the boyfriend who desperately wants to fit into it.

This is a novel brimming with friendship, family, love, identity, sex-positive experiences, self-discovery, and self-esteem.

Standing ovation, Anuradha!"
--Liza Wiemer, author of Hello? and The Assignment

Rani is a funny, lovable, searching protagonist. This book is a gem."

--Lauren Fox, critically acclaimed author of Days of Awe, Friends Like Us,
and Still Life With Husband

an advance copy of Rajurkar's novel, a vivid portrayal of the challenges of growing up between cultures and traditions, the torturous emotions of first love, and the extremely relatable teenage angst we all experience. Rajurkar's writing is pitch-perfect and anchored in sensory details that immerse you in Evanston and high school. The novel is a combination of silk saris and rubber-soled combat boots: the perfect balance of sensitivity and edgy toughness. Young readers and adults alike will enjoy this fascinating debut novel."

--Christina Clancy, author of The Second Home