Looking for Bapu by Anjali Banerjee
There is so much going on here I almost don’t know where to start. The book opens in the aftermath of 9/11. Anu is Indian and living in Seattle. His Bapu (grandfather) who lived with him dies. Anu is struggling very hard to cope with this loss, while at the same time struggling with the rampant racism displayed by many Americans in the days following the terrorist attacks on the twin towers. Despite the complicated and sensitive topics of racism, bullying and grief, Looking for Bapu is very age appropriate.
It will be difficult for some readers to follow Anu’s thoughts on faith if they have not had prior exposure to Hinduism . Anu himself discovers more as he tries to figure out how to let go of his grandfather.
Great for: Reading about grief in a non-oppressive not depressing way. Anu’s loss is a major one; his grandfather lived with them and was a primary caregiver. Without his grandfather Anu must make a new life for himself and find friendships to fill his time.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – At the Mystery Museum the kids look into an old machine labeled X-Rated movies, but the movie is from the 1920s so all it shows is a women in a tub (all parts obscured by the tub) showing her ankle. They talk about how that was racy back then. Then she wraps herself in a towel (again everything covered) and walks off screen.
Profanity – “Damned” twice, “Damn” twice, “sucks”
Death, Violence and Gore – Bapu dies. There is a brief explanation of what it means to be cremated. There are references to the twin towers. There is a description of how shrunken heads were made. Izzy was spanked once. A kid has cancer (but this is a minor character). In reading about the holy men Anu learns that before the 9th century some holy men sat on dead bodies or even ate flesh and blood. Anu trips his bully.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Bapu smokes a pipe. There is a reference to sadhus smoking cigarettes.
Frightening or Intense Things – None that are not mentioned above.
