Monsoon Summer
When Monsoon Summer opened in Berkeley with a do-gooder mother planning a trip where she was going to give back to the orphanage she was adopted from in India, I sighed a little. I mean how cliche, socially conscious people from Berkeley. Luckily, I had just read this piece by Colby Sharpe: That One Time When Linda Urban Put Me in My Place. Please go read it too, it’s short and it’s very much worth it. The thing is, kids (and teens) aren’t adults. They don’t have the years of experience we do. Unlike me, they probably didn’t yet spend four years at an extremely left leaning liberal arts college that could give Berkeley a run for its money when it comes to wanting to save the world.
When I stopped to think, I realized just how few books out there actually have a main focus of charitable works and active involvement in your community. I can’t name very many honestly. And that’s a big part part of what makes Monsoon Summer special. Sure, absolutely, it’s a book about a girl who is in love with her best friend but has no idea what to do about. It’s a book about a family vacation. But it’s also about how many ways there are to make a difference in someone’s life.
Another winning point for Monsoon Summer is that it a feminist book. The main character, Jazz does not conform to what she perceives as the US standard for beauty. She spends a lot of time comparing herself unfavorably with those around her, in a way that had me concerned at first. But Jazz’s trip to India shows her that different parts of the world see things differently. That different physical traits are valued. Which leads to her coming to an understanding that maybe there isn’t just one way to be beautiful. But Monsoon Summer has more to give. It shows women as business owners and developers, consistently showing them as successful entrepreneurs. Jazz’s mother, who is known for her considerable charitable works, is particularly focused on women’s health issues, especially surrounding pregnancy and childbirth (although this is handled with delicacy, for those concerned, neither contraception nor abortion is mentioned).
Despite packing in some pretty thought-provoking material, the book is about family and friendship and does not have a weighty or heavy feel. The tone is light, lots of good things happen for everyone, so in some ways, you have all the positive impact of an “issues” book with none of the real sorrow (except, you know, I had a really hard time leaving kids at the orphanage at the end. I had a strong desire for a completely out of left field ending that involved adoption of the masses).
Age Recommendation: I would recommend this for Grades 6+. The romance is very tame and there’s not very much in the way of concerning content. Readers this young will absolutely understand Jazz’s self-criticism and self-doubt and hopefully will make the journey towards confidence with her.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – Girls discussing making their move on a guy. She daydreams about handholding and kissing. In India Jazz sees a pregnant girl who she thinks is about her age. A 15 year old girl is working to earn money for a dowry. Girls talk about how Jazz’s dad is dreamy. Jazz’s parents were in love for years before they got married. Girls chat about boys and how their families would react if they had boyfriends. A Muslim man has two wives and Jazz’s mother mentions that they can have up to six. Boys and girls dance together at a disco. Boys in India “go wild” over Jazz. A young teen receives a marriage proposal that she must consider seriously. There is conversation about what dating is since there is no dating in the community in India. A girl confesses her feelings to a boy. An 18 year old girl has a baby out of wedlock. Jazz’s parents go on a date. People discuss their feelings for each other, including when they started feeling romantic toward each other. People talk about kissing.
Profanity – Not profanity, but racism – the term “oriental” is used to describe a person.
Death, Violence and Gore – Women sometimes die in childbirth. A teen has lost a prior pregnancy.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A woman is in jail for selling drugs. A university student has a beer.
Frightening or Intense Things – A woman Jazz befriended steals money and equipment. There are poor and malnourished children in India.
