MANDEEP'S CLOUDY DAYS

A young South Asian girl is devastated when her dad takes a job that keeps him away from his family for long periods.

Mandeep loves spending time with her father. Together, the two sip cha, dance bhangra, and write jokes in Mandeep’s journal. So when Dad is hired as a long-distance truck driver, Mandeep immediately slips into a stormy sadness. At school, she runs out of the classroom when her well-meaning teacher tells her to pay attention, and at home, her mother’s suggestion to clean her room fills her with uncontrollable rage. Although her friends and family try to cheer her up, nothing works until she opens her journal and lets it all out, writing about how much she misses her father and describing all the things he wasn’t here to experience. The practice of journaling eases her turmoil; Mandeep can function once more—and even feel happiness. The author deftly portrays the signs of childhood depression, making space for the protagonist’s negative feelings. While the characters aren't explicitly described as Sikh, the book incorporates elements of Sikh culture, such as Dad’s turban. Though the resolution feels somewhat oversimplified—such intense emotional distress would likely call for methods beyond journaling such as therapy—overall, it opens up an important conversation about grief, loss, and coping. Making use of arresting imagery and intense colors, the illustrations convey the depth of Mandeep’s anguish.

A somewhat simplified but poignant depiction of childhood depression.