What I
Meant...
young adult novel by Marie Lamba
Random House Books for Young Readers, July 24, 2007
Trade hardback, $16.99, ISBN: 978-0-375-84091-3
Library edition, $19.99, ISBN: 978-0-375-94091-0
To
order through your local independent bookstore, click
here!
Or to order through barnesandnoble.com, click
here!
Fifteen-year-old Sangeet Jumnal is crazy about a guy, but her dad, who
is from India, won't let her date until she's sixteen, maybe. And
her mom, who is American and usually sticks up for Sang, suddenly thinks
her daughter is a liar, a thief and a bulimic. Sang knows why. An aunt
who has been living with them for the past few months has been stealing
food and money, and setting up Sang to take the blame. Now Sang must
find a way to prove her innocence and make her parents see her for who
she really is, someone who is pretty dependable, relatively honest, and
totally ready to date.
**New!: Read an
Excerpt of What I Meant... click
here!
**Also New!:
Listen to Marie discuss What I Meant... in an audio
interview with Penelope M. Carrington of The Richmond Times-Dispatch
by clicking here!
Reviews and Praise for
What I Meant...
"Lamba
makes an impressive debut with this contemporary novel introducing
Sangeet, a 15-year-old Indian American girl who at times feels like the
whole world is against her. The trouble begins when Chachi, Sangeet’s
widowed aunt from India, moves in with the family. When some
items—food, money and some personal belongings—disappear from the
house, it’s obvious to Sangeet that Chachi is the thief, but
Sangeet’s parents blame their daughter. To make things worse,
Sangeet’s best friend, Gina, is inexplicably angry with her. Then
there’s the matter of Jason, Sangeet’s crush, who acts like he’s
interested in her but stands her up after they plan to meet at the
skating rink. The harder Sangeet works to prove her integrity and
innocence, the less she is trusted. However frustrating her situation,
misunderstandings do pave the way to some very funny moments. (At one
point, Sangeet’s parents are mistakenly convinced that she has an
eating disorder, because snacks are missing from the cabinet, and
Sangeet is forced to visit a therapist—who happens to be the father of
one of her close friends.)...Ultimately, readers will find much to like
in Lamba’s heroine, who ultimately survives a set of trials worthy of
Job with grace and humor."
- Publisher's Weekly
"Sangeet,
15, is the daughter of an Indian father and American mother. Her
suburban Philadelphia life is getting complicated. An aunt is living at
her house, stealing her stuff and turning her family against her; her
best friend isn't talking to her; her lost schedule book leads to
plummeting grades; her parents think she is bulimic; and she has boy
troubles galore. The teen's family life and struggles will resonate with
readers of all backgrounds, and fans of Narinder Dhami's "Bindi
Babes" books (Delacorte) will enjoy this more mature, American take
on similar issues. Lamba puts the present, first-person narrative to
good use throughout...teens will enjoy the interesting cast of
characters and the book will have broad appeal, leaving readers wanting
more."
- School
Library Journal
“What
I Meant…”
by Marie Lamba (Random House, ages 10-16, $16.99) is a
stunning debut novel. Ever since her aunt from India moved in,
15-year-old Sang’s life has been in turmoil. It’s been bad enough
that her father insists that she waits until at least 16 to date, now
her sister thinks she is a thief, her parents think she has an eating
disorder, and everybody considers her a liar. She means to set the
record straight in so many ways, but each time her words and actions
make the circumstances more twisted than a pretzel. Lamba writes a
hilarious account of teen life in a bicultural family that young readers
will easily relate to. Her characters and plot lines are convincingly
honest and realistic.
Eventually, Sang is able to tell everyone exactly what she means,
and in doing so, gives her family a chance to get back to some semblance
of normal – whatever that is.
- The
Wichita Eagle:
"What I Meant...is an engaging and funny first novel
from a talented author. In Sang, Marie Lamba creates a three-dimensional
character with her own unique voice that she just can't make people hear
over the lies of her Chachi. The rest of the colorful cast of characters
populating this novel are equally well-developed. What I
Meant...is an easy, fun read...it is certainly worth reading and
well-written, with its relatable protagonist (who, by the way is half
Indian and half Italian-- but this is not an "issue" book
about being biracial, it's just a good book about a regular fifteen year
old girl who happens to have that background) making this novel quite
enjoyable."
- teenbookreviewer.blogspot.com
(for more of this review and other teen
recommendations,
click
here)
"...readers become
intimate with Sang through her thoughts and the creative bedtime fairy
tales she weaves for her little sister...adding depth and detail to the
text is the influence of Sang's father's Indian heritage, which
naturally integrates not only elements like traditional Indian foods,
but also cultural beliefs relating to family and dating. Realistic and
well-paced."
- Kirkus
"Perfect
summer read! What I Meant... by Marie Lamba is a
Young Adult novel set in Pennsylvania. This is the story of Sang,
the 15 year old middle child born to an American mother and Indian
father. It is extremely well written and I still am amazed at how the
author is right in the mindset of the adolescent and the choices she
makes in the many situations she finds herself in. Of course I
read this through my 'mom' eyes and would highly recommend it for any
8th grader and older. I was entranced to learn bits and pieces of Indian
culture, as well as to see how our heroine would manage all that was on
her plate. I was not disappointed."
-
Arlene
Lynes, Owner of Read Between the Lynes Bookshop, Woodstock, IL
"...spies and secrets make for great drama, and many readers will
not be able to get enough of Sang's hilarious, angry, hip narrative
about her diverse family and friends."
-
Hazel Rochman, Booklist
"I adored this amazing book. It will grip you and make you laugh
from the very first page."
- Sue Limb, author of Girl,
15, Charming but Insane
"...a breezy, delightful, humorous read..."
- Stacy Briggs, The
Doylestown Intelligencer
"The author skillfully weaves modern young adult problems
with colorful detail about family life in a small town...After the first
few pages, I couldn't put the book down."
- Linda Wisniewski, Story
Circle Reviews, www.storycircle.org
"...delightful novel...The novel entertains, but also has wisdom to
offer."
- Arthur J. Pais, India
Abroad
"Marie Lamba's phenomenal debut What I Meant...will
have you captivated with its drama, touches of Indian culture, and the
trials and tribulations of a biracial teenage girl. This YA novel is
definitely for all ages."
- www.asiansofmixedrace.com
