Ritu Weds Chandni

December 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 3-This needed and valuable mirror text depicts a traditional Hindi community, where two brides are about to wed each other but not everyone approves. Ayesha, however, can't wait for her favorite cousin Ritu's wedding. When she and her family arrive, she notices that the rest of her extended family isn't there; when she asks, she is told that many of them didn't want to come because Ritu is marrying a woman, who will be leading the baraat, a festive wedding parade, typically a role reserved for a man. The baraat starts out fine until onlookers start jeering; a group of men on horseback holding signs protesting the wedding arrive and threaten the couple. The protesters somehow get a fire hose (this requires a suspension of belief given the folkloric-like illustrations) and soak the entire wedding party. Ayesha saves the day by leading the way back to the wedding ceremony; her love for her cousin shines here and throughout the book. Digital illustrations, although colorful, are stiff; characters look like avatars with rosy cheeks and one-dimensional expressions. Refreshingly, Hindi vocabulary is used freely throughout the book; the context is clear, and there is a glossary in the back. The plot can be difficult to follow in places; coupled with the static illustrations it may make this book a tough sell, but a necessary one. VERDICT With a dearth of picture books authentically addressing marriage traditions within the South Asian community, and particularly LGBTQ+ couples, this is a welcome attempt at rectification.-Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Lib. Syst., Port Angeles, WA

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Starred review from October 1, 2020
Ayesha loves her cousin Ritu, and she loves weddings. So naturally, on Ritu didi's wedding day, Ayesha is bursting with excitement! Except that Ritu's is no ordinary Hindu wedding: Instead of marrying a man, Ritu is marrying her girlfriend, Chandni. This means that Ritu will be leading the baraat, a celebratory procession full of music and dancing that, in Hindu weddings, is traditionally led by the groom. But it also means that many of Ayesha's family shun the wedding, that neighbors shout unkind words at the baraat as it goes by, and that strangers turn hoses on the wedding party to try to stop the festivities. When Ayesha sees the way that the world treats her favorite cousin, she is heartbroken--but she is also determined. In the end, it is Ayesha's love for her family--and commitment to every minute of wedding fun--that saves the day. The book's well-paced, heartfelt narration deftly celebrates the power of resistance without shirking the harsh realities of homophobia in many traditional Hindu communities. The vivid, authentic illustrations, which implicitly set the book in India, showcase a variety of skin colors and body types in a true reflection of South Asia's diversity. Ayesha's unconditional love for her cousin and her spunky insistence on continuing with the wedding ceremonies even in the face of intense hatred are moving and inspiring. Simultaneously confronts homophobia and celebrates child-powered change in Hindu communities: a delight. (Picture book. 3-8)

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