Reviewed by Paige Pagan
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Zain Bandali
Mehndi Boy is an illustrated chapter book perfect for children who are just embarking on independent reading. The novel features an Indian boy living in Tanzania and his resolve to be authentically himself.
Creative Tehzeeb loves doing artwork and once his cousin Rahima’s wedding approaches, he discovers that mehndi, with its intricate paisley and floral designs applied with henna, is another type of beautiful art. Jenny Bai, the renowned local mehndi artist whom Ayaz Uncle hires for his daughter’s wedding, takes notice of Tehzeeb’s artistic talent and interest in the craft and decides to mentor him, much to Tehzeeb’s honor. But when Ayaz Uncle tells Tehzeeb that mehndi is not for boys, Tehzeeb is confused and disheartened. He loves mehndi, but he doesn’t want to disappoint his favorite uncle. There’s one thing he knows for certain — no more mehndi. When Rahima’s wedding day finally arrives, she gets stuck in traffic with her bridesmaids and Tehzeeb; they’re not sure if they’ll make it in time for Jenny Bai to do Rahima’s wedding mehndi! There’s only one person who can step in, but is Tehzeeb ready to do complex, marital mehndi and even more than that, is he prepared to face the repercussions that would come from it?
Bandali presents the gender binary around mehndi via a protagonist who grows in his self-awareness and learns to find confidence in his talent. Without discarding the weight of cultural expectations and traditional gender roles, Bandali makes accessible an elevated message that one mustn’t conform to be accepted, but rather that our family and community must meet us where we’re at. While the decision of Tehzeeb pursuing mehndi ended up not teetering on Ayaz Uncle’s approval, it’s satisfying when Ayaz takes accountability for his judgement, acknowledges Tehzeeb’s exceptionalism at the craft, and vows to begin to change his dated perspective around gender roles (accounting for the natural mistakes bound to be made along the way). Tehzeeb gets to do a mehndi design on Ayaz Uncle, making his apology actionable.
In this story, children see how they can teach lessons to adults and that regardless of age, we’re all constantly learning about the world and each other.
Paige Pagan is a Social Justice Books program specialist at Teaching for Change.
Find more books on this topic on our Art and Gender Diversity booklists.
Mehndi Boy by Zain Bandali
Published by ANNICK PRESS on October 24, 2023
Genres: Art, Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Gender Identity, South Asian
Pages: 108
Reading Level: Grades 3-5
ISBN: 9781773217949
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Publisher's Synopsis:
Tehzeeb drew curvy clouds, grand galaxies, squirmy squiggles, and delicate dots. He made charming checkerboards and even perfected paisleys. His practice was finally paying off!
The first time Tehzeeb tries mehndi, his passion for the art form blossoms. Soon, he’s creating designs for all his friends and family, and dreams of becoming the most in-demand mehndi artist in town. So Tez is hurt and confused when his favorite uncle tells him mehndi isn’t for boys. His art brings people joy. How could it be wrong? Tehzeeb doesn’t want to disappoint his uncle. But when a crisis before his cousin’s wedding puts his talents to the test, Tehzeeb must find the courage to be his true creative self.
Leave a Reply