Cultural Comparisons

 Young adult novels about  kids from different cultures lend themselves to teaching the writing of comparison contrast essays, comparing their culture to the one in the book.  Depending on the students' level of sophistication, the essay can range from a simple four paragraph essay to a fully developed paper, where each topic is explored in great detail.  Various issues that can be compared are governments, food, religion, climate, holidays, celebrations, and living conditions.  Have students note the similarities and differences as they are reading.  Three new YA books that lend themselves to this unit follow. Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat focuses on Arya whose family is planning an elaborate Punjabi shaadi (wedding). Structured like a Bollywood movie, the book includes family shaadi drama, scrumptious food and references to many Bollywood films. What's Eating Jackie O? by Patricia Park introduces a Korean American girl who attends Bronx Science in NYC. Jackie would rather cook than study, and when she gets the opportunity to compete in a teen cooking competition, she must convince her parents to let her compete. The Quince Project by Jessica Parra finds Cuban American Castillo Torres attempting to move forward from her mother's death by starting a party planning business. When she get the opportunity to plan a nontraditional quinceanera for a popular online influencer, she thinks her dreams are coming true. 

In Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment, Arya's family is overwhelmed by planning her sister's Punjabi wedding. Her mother and sister are constantly at odds, and her mother retreats to her room, forcing Arya to act as mediator.  In addition her best friends Andy and Lisa have broken up, making her friendship with them awkward, and Dean Merriweather, the white soccer player whom Arya thinks stole the student council presidency from her, is foisting all the event planning on her. Written like a Bollywood movie, complete with intermission, it also has many Desi references, including food, dance and famous movies. The story evolves as Arya's realizes that problems don't always get solved like they do in her beloved Bollywood movies. 

What's Eating Jackie O? focuses on a Korean American sophomore at Bronx Science in NYC, who works at her grandparents' restaurant "Melty's" and dreams of becoming a professional chef.  When Jackie is scouted there for a competitive teen cooking show, "Burn Off," she is thrilled.   Dodging her parents' ivy league dreams for her and making it through the initial cookoffs, she finds more obstacles ahead.  The judges expect her to create Korean dishes, whereas she prefers to combine cuisines. She must also navigate subtle layers of microaggressions against minorities,  shame and sorrow over her older brother's imprisonment, and a romantic attraction to a fellow competitor, as she competes for the opportunity to realize her unconventional dreams.  Recipes are included!

In The Quince Project Cuban-American Castillo Torres, a budding event planner, feels like the best way to movie forward after her mother's death is to apply for party planner Mandy Whitmore's "fairy godmother" internship, help her sister Mariposa "Po" get into college and pry her grieving father away from his video games.  Needing more experience for her resume, she jumps at the chance to organize Disney YouTuber Paulina Reyes' nontraditional quinceanera. Hanging out with cute lifeguard Javier Bae-Luna, Paulina's childhood friend and chambelan, is a bonus.  Unfortunately Cas is caught stretching the truth about her relationship to Mandy Whitmore and her plans go awry.  Healing after the death of a loved one, sisterly love and conflict, and thwarted ambitions are explored in a sympathetic way. as Cas strives for her happily-ever-after.