Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins (Delacorte Press, 2009), 240 pages

Summary
In the 1970s India, when Dad loses his engineering job and goes to the United States in search of a brighter future, Mom takes Asha and her sister Reet to her uncle’s house in Calcutta. Seventeen-year-old Reet soon begins attracting suitors, and her uncle begins looking for a good match. Asha bristles under the constraints of this more conservative environment and struggles to keep the promise she made to her father while still trying to not give up on her dreams.

Thoughts
An absorbing, quick read. A great story. I loved it, and I can’t wait to read more of Perkins’ work. In some ways this reminded me of A Disobedient Girl, although that feels like a very strange comparison. On the surface, the main likenesses are: Asia setting, teenage protagonist. It’s more than that, though.

I loved the setting. I hurt and rejoiced and hoped along with Asha. I was caught up in this lovely, engrossing tale. I loved the strong women (and how strength looked different depending on the situation).

I’d place Secret Keeper in the same category as Beth Kephart’s books — real, down-to-earth characters struggling through deep things, conveyed through great writing. An excellent book, I have no complaints.

Perkins’ latest book, Bamboo People, was released July 1, 2010. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it!

About the author
Mitali Perkins (@mitaliperkins) was born in India and immigrated to the States with her parents and two sisters when she was seven. Perkins is the author of several books; she lives in Massachusetts.

Other reviews
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Semicolon
Sarah’s Random Musings
Biblio File
Book Nut
Jenny’s Books

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I won this book in a Twitter giveaway.