THE DOOR IS OPEN Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices

Narrators Anjali Kunapaneni and Vikas Adam create a vibrant and energetic atmosphere in this delightful collection of stories about Desi middle schoolers who gather at the Maple Grove Community Center. These preteens come from a wide variety of family structures, religions, and South Asian cultural backgrounds. Adam and Kunapaneni take care to give every character a distinct voice that fits their personality and circumstances. Both narrators excel as they portray kids on the cusp of growing up, alternately exuberant and irritable as they deal with crushes, bullies, and parental expectations. Alongside these common personal challenges, they also face prejudice and xenophobia without letting the ignorance of others dull their senses of self-worth and community pride. N.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]