DEEPA, M.D.

With her leukemia in remission, 12-year-old Indian American Deepa Chandra longs to return to normal life after missing out on sixth grade.

But between navigating her parents’ protectiveness and pretending to feel better than she does, Deepa finds herself struggling to cope. It doesn’t help that being mostly bald makes people mistake her for a boy and the strict rules she has to follow to stay healthy are affecting her friendship with her bestie, Renée, who went from anxious about middle school to super popular while Deepa was home-schooled. After going on a house call with her beloved physician uncle, who’s cued gay, Deepa channels her fascination with Uncle Jai’s work into becoming a medical detective, helping him deduce the mysterious ailment plaguing 17-year-old Tayo Pratt, a Nigerian American tennis champ. Before long, Deepa finds herself lying to her parents, sneaking around Los Angeles looking for clues, and more. Along the way, she finds unexpected allies—quirky vegan classmate Manu, a boy with a penchant for eyeliner and combat boots; pop idol Willa; and even the formidable Lola, who Deepa fears is stealing Renée away. Packed with diverse, relatable characters, middle school drama, and hilarious banter between Deepa and Uncle Jai, this is a book with heart. Narrator Deepa has a voice that’s fresh and funny and will have readers rooting for her as she faces challenges with grit and humor. Debut author Swaminathan also clearly and engagingly explains the process of medical diagnosis.

Infectiously entertaining!