Pri questions her mothers motives for moving from her homeland: India. And an even more important question arises: Who is her father and why did he get left behind?
Pri can only use her imagination to figure out what her mother's life was prior to her being born, until she finds a magical pashmina shawl. This shawl takes Pri to the homeland and all of her questions get answered. ( )

In a long forgotten suitcase Mom’s old pashmina is tucked away. Determined to be seen, the pashmina moved itself and the suitcase right into Pri’s path. Several times! Once discovered, the pashmina transported Pri to her mother’s native land, India. Pri had to experience India for herself. Taking her farther than ever before to meet extended family and discover the real India.

Nidhi Chanani wrote and illustrated the graphic novel Pashmina. This heartwarming tail demonstrates the struggles experienced by immigrants and their children. Nidhi does a majority of her work in a monoclonal scale. When illustrations are in full color it creates a lot of stimulation. Pashmina is a lighthearted family tale for any day and all ages. ( )

heavy topics and a bit hard to follow. 6/10

I'm not sure who the target audience for this book is: it feels like it should be young adult, since the character is a teenager and there are some heavy topics, but the tone as well as some dialogue definitely feels more juvenile than that. It is nice to see a graphic novel about Indian culture though, even if the focus sometimes was a bit off and directionless. ( )

Priyanka lives in America with her mother. They love each other, but Pri's mother always deflects her questions about Pri's father or any of their family back in India. Then, Priyanka finds a beautiful pashmina in her mother's things, and when she puts it on, she sees visions of India. She convinces her mother to let her go visit her aunt, who is pregnant, and learns more about her mother's past and the pashmina's origin. Panels in the real word are in grayscale; panels in which the pashmina shows Priyanka or someone else a vision are in color.

See also: Jukebox (same author/artist)

Quotes

"Do not look at the dirt. Look at the people." (Pri's aunt, 115)

"That pashmina will allow women to see their choices. You shall no longer be bound by fear." (Shakti to Rohini, 142) ( )