BOOKS

* TJ Powar Has Something To Prove (2022)

* Reasons We Break (2025)

The cover is bright and colorful, with an illustration of TJ Powar smirking at us with her hair down and other hair we don't often see, too—unibrow, mustache, knuckle hair. She's holding up the same kind of cue card one would use for public speaking, where the tagline 'It's about to get hairy.' is written. The book title, TJ Powar has Something to Prove, is written in cursive next to her, as well as author name Jesmeen Kaur Deo.

TJ Powar Has Something to Prove

Young Adult Contemporary | Out now from Viking Books (Penguin Random House)

When TJ Powar—a pretty, popular debater—and her cousin Simran become the subject of a meme: with TJ being the “expectation” of dating an Indian girl and her Sikh cousin who does not remove her body hair being the “reality”—TJ decides to take a stand.

She ditches her razors, cancels her waxing appointments, and sets a debate resolution for herself: “This House Believes That TJ Powar can be her hairy self, and still be beautiful.” Only, as she sets about proving her point, she starts to seriously doubt anyone could care about her just the way she is—even when the infuriating boy from a rival debate team seems determined to prove otherwise.

As her carefully crafted sense of self begins to crumble, TJ realizes that winning this debate may cost her far more than the space between her eyebrows. And that the hardest judge to convince of her arguments might just be herself.

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German edition also available from Arctis!

PRAISE FOR TJ POWAR HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE

~ Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection ~

~ American Booksellers Association Kids' Indies Introduce and Indie Next Pick ~

~ German Youth Literature Prize Nominee 2024 ~

~ Amy Mathers Teen Book Award Finalist 2023 ~

~ American Library Association Rise: A Feminist Book Project Top Ten Title ~

~ New York Public Library Best Books for Teens Pick ~

~ Ontario Library Association Best Bets Title ~

*“A refreshing take on the familiar self-love narrative." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

*"Invaluable fiction in a world that sorely needs to get over its obsession with appearances... a must-read for everyone–the young and the old." —Quill & Quire (starred review)

"Unlike any book I’ve read before… unflinchingly honest, real, and raw in its examination of body image." —Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars

"With an iconic heroine, delightful banter and a deeply felt message, this debut proves many times over that Jesmeen Kaur Deo is an invaluable new voice." —Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of If I’m Being Honest

"Fans of school stories will enjoy the humor, romance, and fun characters who navigate lost relationships, friendships that endure, and reminders that some people will always have your back—no matter how hairy it may be." —Kirkus Reviews

"Filled with heart, humor, and a swoon-worthy academic rivals-to-lovers romance of my dreams, Jesmeen Kaur Deo proves self-worth isn’t up for debate." —Jessica Parra, author of Rubi Ramos' Recipe for Success

Reasons We Break

Young Adult Contemporary | Expected publication 2025 from Disney-Hyperion (Disney)

In this romantic drama, Simran, the golden girl of her Sikh community, agrees to handle a gang's books to help former member Rajan avoid being forced back in—but, when her actions inadvertently drag them into a gang war, the two find out just what they’d be willing to sacrifice for each other.

[More information to come.]

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