Summary

The first poem is titled “Two," narrated by a girl named Reha. The poem opens with her assessment that she has two lives – “One that is Indian, / one that is not” (1). She also has two best friends – “One that is Indian, / one that is not” (1). At school, she is in a “river of white skin” with the typical school subjects and social interactions. On the weekends, she is surrounded by brown skin with the things she and her friends like. In both places, she has friendship, music, and laughter. Her parents are present only in one of those worlds.

The next poem is titled “Give and Take.” The narrator introduces herself as Reha. Her mother (referred to usually as Amma) almost died when Reha was born. She could never have another child, but “she never regretted it” (2).

The next poem is “Girls Just...