Product Description

Dimple Lala doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent her whole life resisting their traditions. Then suddenly she gets to high school and everything Indian is trendy. To make matters worse, her parents arrange for her to meet a "suitable boy." Of course it doesn't go well -- until Dimple goes to a club and finds him spinning a magical web . Suddenly the suitable boy is suitable because of his sheer unsuitability. Complications ensue. This is a funny, thoughtful story about finding your heart, finding your culture, and finding your place in America.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #195426 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this enlightening first novel, Hidier offers readers an engrossing, personal account of the Indian-American experience through the eyes of an insightful narrator. Dimple Lala, a New Jersey teen interested in photography, has been confused about her identity since she entered the world the "wrong way," causing her mother "twelve treacherous hours of painful labor." Her fascination with photography reveals Dimple's keen sense of perception as well as her role as an observer rather than a participant. "Not quite Indian, and not quite American," Dimple unsuccessfully tries to blend in, riding on the coattails of her blue-eyed, blonde best friend, Gwyn. The author nimbly describes the shared outsider status that drew together the two, "the rich little girl who lived like an orphan and the brown little girl who existed as if she were still umbilically attached to her parents." During Dimple's 17th year, however, the tables suddenly turn when Dimple's parents introduce her to Karsh Kapoor, the son of their close friends from India. Through their meeting, the author reveals Dimple's mother's own secret creative aspirations (to become a dancer in her youth) as well as another first-generation teen's attempt to straddle both cultures. When Gwyn becomes infatuated with Karsh, Dimple helps Gwyn become a suitable girlfriend for him, even as she gradually comes to admire Karsh herself. In the process, the heroine embarks on a journey of self-discovery. On one level, the book explores the growing pains, rebellious phases, peer pressures and first love experienced universally by teens. On a deeper level, it celebrates a harmonious blending of cultures as it traces one adolescent's bumpy trek towards self-actualization. If a few subplots take the main action on a slight detour (e.g., Gwyn's relationship with her high school-cum-college boyfriend, etc.), the sparkling prose will carry readers along. The author seamlessly integrates descriptions of Indian food, dress and customs, often spiced with Dimple's sarcastic commentary. But even as Dimple distances herself from her family's traditions, her sense of respect and genuine affection for her accomplished parents (both doctors) are never far from the surface. The author poetically captures the essence of her characters and the richness of seemingly insignificant moments. Absorbing and intoxicating, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression. Ages 13-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-Dimple Lala has spent her entire life trying to fit in. In India, she is too American, while in America she feels unable to conform, largely because of her parents' efforts to educate and involve her in Indian culture. By her 17th birthday, she feels incapable of making anyone happy and is hopelessly confused as to where she belongs. Her parents are unhappy about her obsession with photography and her dating activities, while Dimple herself feels that her best friend, Gwyn, is either ignoring her for a new boyfriend or trying to usurp Dimple's family. Her parents come up with what they think is a perfect solution-they introduce her to Karsh, a suitable boy. Dimple is turned off at the thought. Just when she is sure that things can't get more complicated, she meets him again, now involved in activities that would render him completely unsuitable to her parents but that interest her. By this time Gwyn decides that he seems like the perfect boyfriend for her and Dimple ends up with a number of tricky situations. This involving story, filled with detail about the protagonist's life and background, will reward its readers. The family background and richness in cultural information add a new level to the familiar girl-meets-boy story. Teens will be rooting for Dimple and her quest to find her own place in her family and country.
Betsy Fraser, Calgary Public Library, Canada
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Dimple Lala is torn between the traditional life of her Indian parents and the desirable life of an adolescent young woman in the USA. Her choices are colorfully recounted by Marguerite Gavin, who reads with the rhythm of ankle bells and sitar in her soul. But the speed with which she pushes the story forth is too fast. Both the headlong force of the narration and the multiple mispronunciations are disappointing. The quality of Gavin's voice is most appealing, and her regional accents make the scenes picturesque. With a more attentive director and greater precision in pronunciation, this production would be improved. J.P. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Born Consued book review
"They say it's going to be an Indian summer" this quote (on page 500) is important in the realistic-fiction novel Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. The book takes place in New Jersey and New York, in present time. It explains how a young girl named Dimple Lala was born in America, but her parents are from India. She is always confused. Should she go with the Indian heritage? Or should she try to be an American? She has always felt that she never truly fit in with either group.
I thought this book was interesting. The concept of the story was very grasping. It caught the readers' attention by using descriptive words and making drama. One thing I disliked about the book was the explanation of everything into the smallest detail, almost like it was over explained. This made the book very long and easy to abandon. I think the theme of this book was confusion about heritage, because Dimple doesn't know what to be, she doesn't understand who she is. For example, Dimple said she didn't know who she was, or what she should be. She just went along in the shadow of her friend Gwyn. Her growth over time changed the way she looked at things. Overall, I thought this book was very sweet!

A Book Worth Reading
Born Confused is a great book for all. Although the book is focused on an Indian girl Dimple, who is living in New Jersey and is not surrounded by her kind of people. Her best friend Gywn is a Caucasian and they have been friends for a long time. Dimple is interested in photography and hopes to pursue a future career in this field. In the beginning, Dimple is turned off with anything associated with India and wants to be seen as only an American and be exactly like her best friend who she looks up on because in Dimple's mind is the epitome of an All American Girl. After experiencing a summers worth of adventure in the end Dimple and Gywn learn that all that glitters is not always gold in the sense that Dimple and Gywn learn to be happy with who they are in their own skin while learning more about each other and associating their own religion to themselves in a way that makes them comfortable.

All in all I really enjoyed this book because being a teen whose religion is Hindu I can relate to most of the experiences that Dimple goes through. As an Indian there are so many things that are expected of you and it's always tough trying to live up to these expectations. I think that this book could appeal to all teenagers because it is a storyline that is so realistic and everyone can relate to.

Good story
Teenager Dimple Lala is confused about her whole Indian heritage thing, esp. when it touches on her love life. It takes having good and bad times with her popular, all-American best friend to figure out who she truly is and how her heritage and family traditions can be a blessing in disguise after all. This is a fun read touching on some deeper issues. Recommended.