The Problem with Being Slightly Heroic

January 1, 2014
Back from India, Dini ([cf2]The Grand Plan to Fix Everything[cf1]) is thrilled to be with BFF Maddie. Dini's favorite Bollywood actress will be in Washington, DC, too, and Dini tries to ensure the star has everything she needs (including an elephant). Both narration and spot art are light, and readers will relate to Dini's earnest efforts, even when they end in disaster.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-Dini and Maddie, 11-year-old BFFs, are together again in this sequel to The Grand Plan to Fix Everything (S & S, 2011). In this novel, the girls are just as starstruck with dazzling Bollywood actress Dolly Singh and eagerly await her arrival in Washington, DC, where she will have her first U.S. fillum (film) premiere. When the celebrity arrives at the airport dripping and dropping her jewelry in typical Dolly-fashion, she discovers that her passport is missing. Dini comes to the rescue, and the plot springs into a comedic romp to retrieve the passport, find a rose petal milkshake (the only thing that can soothe Dolly's nerves), and locate an elephant for the big event. With the help of her friends, the intrepid girl takes care of the unfortunate mishaps that continue to pop up in the days before the premiere, leaving her feeling "slightly heroic." The narrative is light and lilting, with some dialect woven in, and the details will help kids visualize the story's cultural nuances, while Halpin's black-and-white sketches effectively animate significant events. Dini remains grounded and honest throughout the narrative, even as she begins to doubt her friendship with Maddie when a third girl enters the scene. The protagonist also realizes that even though Dolly is beautiful, sweet, generous, and a true star, she is also slightly egocentric and spoiled. Humorous, entertaining, and with a sprinkle of stardust, this book is an enjoyable treat for the tween set, including reluctant readers.-D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2013
Best friends Dini and Maddie and Bollywood movie star Dolly Singh, from Krishnaswami's The Grand Plan to Fix Everything (2011), return for a breathless dance through Washington, D.C. Dini's visit from India, where she's been living, back to Takoma Park, Md., reunites the sixth-graders. They plan to take part in the grand opening of the star's latest film, part of an Indian festival at the Smithsonian. But this dance doesn't progress smoothly: The flighty star has lost her passport; she wants an elephant for the festival parade; she needs rose-petal milkshakes and a really nice cake for her party. And there's more. The caterers have canceled. Maddie hopes her new friend Brenna can be part of their performance. When Mini, a young elephant in the National Zoo, takes off down Connecticut Avenue, the tranquilizing dart meant for her hits Dolly's husband. Jumping from one scene to another, the fast-paced, present-tense narrative conveys Dini's jittery jet-lagged feeling as she struggles to choreograph her own steps and to make Dolly happy. Just as the star drops jewelry, the author flings pieces of plot everywhere, but she pulls it all back together in fine Bollywood style. Halpin's grayscale illustrations (final art not seen) add flavor. Bits of Indian culture and Bollywood drama add delicious undertones to this confection, a treat for middle-grade readers. (Fiction. 9-12)

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