Review | Drawing Deena

Summary: Drawing Deena

Deena is an anxious artist with two best friends, Lucia and Nisha. She’s also close to her cousin Parisa who loves social media, makeup, and being famous. Deena doesn’t know it yet, but the knot in her stomach and nausea she feels every morning is thanks to anxiety. One of the main sources of her anxiety is her parents’ bickering about financial issues. When Deena has an idea to promote her mom’s business on social media and help them earn more, she hopes it will reduce her parents’ bickering. But her social media use comes with its unique issues, even as Deena realizes she needs more support for her anxiety.

The Good

I really enjoyed this story and its spotlight on anxiety. Throughout the story, Deena also experiences panic attacks in addition to the persistent sense of malaise that anxiety can sometimes cause. I also loved the way Deena’s parents supported her despite the stigma of mental illness.  Deena’s art is a huge part of the story, and we watch her gain confidence as an artist. An encounter with another artist of South Asian descent broadens her perspective on what kinds of art she can create. There’s also an intriguing conversation about VanGogh and the way his art is used in modern ways, largely without his permission.

This book also features a strong entrepreneurship theme. Deena’s mom designs clothing and has them made in Pakistan. She then sells them to customers in the States where they live. I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes of Deena’s process as a fellow business owner and watching Deena realize that growth is slow. The book also explores financial strain and the challenges that can cause. Deena’s mom sometimes falls into the trap of keeping up with the Joneses (in this case, her elder sister and Parisa’s mother). But Deena also racks up family expenses since she needs a mouth guard for grinding her teeth at night and later wants to take art classes.

This book is one of the many recent middle grade books about the impact of social media on tweens and Khan does a great job at subtly highlighting the benefits and negatives of social media usage without demonizing it. While social media is useful for promoting her mother’s business, Deena also has some disagreements with her friends and cousin about social media usage, and I think these will be illuminating and relatable for young readers. I loved all the great communication and the way the girls resolved their issues.

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None
• Sexual content: None
• Violence: None
• Religious: Mentions of Muslim religious practices

Diversity

• Ethnic: Deena and her family are Pakistani-American
• Sexual orientation: None

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for Kids Who Like:

• Hena Khan‘s books
• Stories about anxiety
• Friendship stories
• Unstuck by Barbara Dee

Publisher Details

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