The following version of the novel in verse was used to create this study guide: LaRocca, Rajani. Red, White, and Whole. Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY 10007. 2021. Kindle AZW file.

NOTE: As a novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole employs poems, instead of prose.

Reha's parents moved to America from India before Reha was born, and the three of them make up a small but close-knit family. Reha's parents, known as Amma and Daddy in this novel in verse, hold to many of the traditional beliefs of their Indian culture. Reha is enmeshed in this lifestyle every day, especially on the weekends. The days she spends at a private school, populated mostly by white students, create a conflict within Reha who embraces her Indian culture but longs to be more like the other girls who attend her school. Reha is 13 years old in this story. She has a best friend named Sunny who attends a different school, but the girls are together most of the time on the weekends. Her best friend at school is named Rachel. Like Reha, Rachel does not entirely fit in with her peers. Reha and Rachel always work together at school until the teacher forces them to split up, partnering Reha with a boy named Pete for a literature project.

Daddy is an engineer who is outgoing and makes friends easily. Amma works in the hematology lab at the hospital. Amma knows a little about her job, including that the red cells and white cells add up to a whole blood stream as long as everything is working correctly.

Reha wants desperately to attend a dance at school, but she doubts her mother will approve. When she finally works up the courage to ask, Daddy says Reha should be allowed to go. Amma seems angry but resigned to the situation and says she will make Reha a new dress for the event. Over the weeks leading up to the dance, Amma is often so tired that she does no sewing. When the dance draws near, Amma agrees that Reha should just buy a dress. Even though Amma sews well, Reha is thrilled with the opportunity to buy a dress similar to what the other girls wear. She has a wonderful time and is surprised that she does not feel awkward dancing with Pete.

A short time later, it become clear that Amma is not well. When Amma has to go into the hospital and is diagnosed with leukemia, the doctor says she needs a bone marrow transplant. Because of her Indian heritage, there are not likely to be many available matches. Reha begs to be tested. Her age would normally exclude her, but the doctor and her parents give in to her pleas. As the doctor expected, Reha is not a match. Amma's health continues to decline. While Amma struggles to recover, Reha and Daddy struggle to go on with their lives. Reha begins spending afternoons at Pete's house. Amma's sister travels from India, taking over many of Amma's duties, including cooking. Amma's health improves briefly before she dies. Reha feels guilty that she was happy to buy a new dress because Amma did not feel like sewing. Reha wishes for the chance to have just one more dress made by the loving hands of her mother.

A month after her mother's death, Reha receives a special letter written by her mother and mailed by Amma's doctor. In the letter, Amma makes it clear she knew of Reha's feelings of conflict as she struggled to fit in with the American way of life while being part of the Indian culture her parents embraced. As the events of this novel in verse come to a close, Reha and Daddy prepare to take Amma's ashes back to India for burial. Reha knows that she will continue to make her way into the future, embracing all the various factors that make her who she is.