Karma Khullar’s Mustache was a fun read and a great middle school read! I was delighted to receive an Advance Reader’s Copy of this novel as part of a YA Blogger promotion from Simon & Schuster Canada. All opinions are my own, and I was not additionally compensated for this post beyond the complimentary novel. This blog post contains affiliate links which are of no cost to the reader. If you make a purchase through the provided links this blog will receive a small commission to help with the financial costs of maintaining the site.
Summary
Karma’s life is changing – she is about to start sixth grade and her life is not as the same as it used to be: her parents have switched their employment status, her best friend is changing in ways Karma does not recognize, and puberty has hit. All of these combine to create a memorable storyline which will engage young readers and remind adults of their youth.
Review
Kristi Wientge’s debut novel Karma Khullar’s Mustache is a must for every middle school classroom library. The content was suitable for late Grade 5 to Grade 7. I was very happy to read a novel with a diverse main character that reflects my students. Karma’s inner thoughts, as well as her social and family struggles, make her a very relatable main character. She is a strong role model for young girls as they strive to find characters in novels to admire. Her growth as a character throughout the novel will help other young girls struggling with similar cultural and religious questions. She remains true to her beliefs and her family values. Karma reminded me of Margaret Simon from Judy Blume’s famous book “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”. I enjoyed every minute reading this novel, and I know teachers and their middle school students will too.