Fitting Indian: A Graphic Novel
Nitasha exists in the painful space between two worlds. Her parents expect her to mirror the achievements of her older brother, a doctor, whilst she struggles to find her footing at school and within herself. Friendships feel fragile, especially when a new girl arrives and suddenly commands everyone's attention. The weight of expectation becomes unbearable. This striking debut graphic novel explores what happens when a teenager reaches for anything that numbs the pressure: substances, self-harm, the slow erosion of self-worth. Chand and illustrator Tara Anand don't shy away from the messy reality of mental illness, nor do they treat their protagonist as a problem to be solved. Instead, they ask something harder: what does it mean to belong when you feel like an outsider in your own family and your own skin? The illustrations capture the claustrophobic nature of these struggles whilst the narrative unfolds with surprising tenderness. What emerges isn't a neat resolution but something more honest. Nitasha's story reveals how damaging silence around mental health truly is, and conversely, how transformative it can be when people finally listen without judgment. Readers who've felt caught between conflicting identities will find themselves reflected here. It's a book that sits with you long after the final page.
- Author: Jyoti Chand
- Publisher: Harper Alley
- Genre: Health & Fitness
- ISBN: 978-0063237537
- Pages: 288 pages