The Best at It (utgåvan 2020)

Rahul is a middle school kiddo with a ton of stress and a handful of secrets. This is the story of how he tries to navigate friendships, low-grade racism, bullies, and the dangers of dating when no one but you (and maybe not even you) know what and who you want.
There's a lot going on in here, and although at times I thought the author was maybe trying to pack in a few too many Important Issues (racism, mental illness, sexual orientation, bullying,...), in general this middle grade novel does a good job of representation, and describing both what it looks like to come out in a safe family space and the potential repercussions of not having that safe space. Overall, happily recommended. ( )

Rahul has a revelation that turns into a personal project. He wants to find something where he is The. Best. At. It. No small undertaking for a middle school kid who is uncomfortable in his own skin. He tries football, acting. Both fail in spectacular ways. He's asked to join the mathletes. He doesn't want to because it sees way too nerdy. His best friend, Chelsea, who is awesome in all ways, tells him them being nerdy is why they are fun! He shies away from his culture. His family knows he is suffering - with his identity, with OCD kind of behavior. They are supportive, they offer help. It is up to him to take it.
I found this story heartfelt, charming, and touching. ( )

Rahul Kapoor is determined to find something he is the best at. Diverse fiction that has universal humor and themes. Lighthearted and fun but not Newbery-distinguished. Did not finish reading.

Moving story about a boy who is determined to be the "best at" something. The protagonist, Rahul, already excels at math, but he resists joining the school "Mathlete" competition because he's convinced it will brand him as a nerd. Rahul also struggles with compulsive and anxious behavior, and homophobic bullying by a classmate. Nice parts to this book are that Rahul has supportive friends and accepting parents and grandfather who love him unconditionally. As his father puts its, "Rahul. Whether you place first or fifth or thirty-fifth or two thousand and fifth ... and no matter who you are. Your mom and I will always love you."