How to be...The Best At It!

Text: The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy

I don't know that I have related to a character quite as well as I related to Rahul. His middle school experience sounds awfully familiar to mind, and that makes me feel as though any middle schooler could find something to relate to in this book, which is why I loved it so much!

At the end of the book, after Rahul has been trying his darndest to prove himself as the best at just something, Bhai tells Rahul the message (via walkie-talkie—cool as heck!) that I needed my whole life.

"I mean, it's fun to win. But winning isn't everything. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone. You're already the best, Rahul, because you're you," (Pancholy 319).

I mean, cue tears streaming out of my eyes....I always struggled with this and I STILL do. Not that this needs to be that personal, but I always tried so hard to be the best I could be at just SOMETHING because growing up, I always felt like everyone was so far ahead of me, and doing so much better. Anxiety was very prevalent. Depression came not long after. So I can relate to Rahul's feelings a lot and I think a lot of other middle schoolers could as well!

Okay. So after I finish every book I read I immediately write a book review on Goodreads and this is what I had to say:

"I love this book. This exactly the kind of book I needed when I was in middle school. I found myself crying at times because I could feel exactly how Rahul was feeling and felt I could relate to him in A LOT of ways. Such a good book to help students learn self-appreciation/love, winning isn’t everything, the struggles of coming out, cultural and family values, and the effects of bullying. Such a cute book and a heartwarming, at times heart wrenching, read."

After saying that, I want to just make a quick list of all the important topics this book hits and why I think it is a great book to incorporate into middle school classrooms:

1. Effects of bullying

2. Difficulty of coming out/discovering yourself

3. Cultural differences, cultural values, and cultural discrimination

4. Self-appreciation/self-love

5. Winning isn't everything

6. Family values

7. Friendship

8. Anxiety/Depression

9. Awkwardness of puberty/growing up

10. Navigating middle school

I loved this book. I really did. I read it in a day. Super cute and a book I would've loved to read when I was in school!