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Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
Priyanka Das, an Indian girl living in America, has always wondered why her mother abandoned her home in India years ago, taking Priyanka with her, and still refuses to tell Pri anything about India or her father. One day, Pri finds one of her mother's pashminas in a forgotten suitcase, and, putting it on, finds herself transported to a place that very much resembles India--however, it may be another world altogether, and there is danger.
Review from Booklist Reviews:
Priyanka is deeply curious about her mother's past in India, but she won't tell her daughter anything, not even Pri's father's name. Meanwhile, Pri finds a beautifully embroidered pashmina hidden in a closet, and when she puts it on, she's transported to a fantastical version of India, full of colorful scenes, magical creatures, and delicious food, which only amplifies her desire to visit the country. A family crisis causes her mother to reconsider her stance, and soon Pri embarks on the journey she's been dreaming about. Yet when she arrives in India, it's nothing like the visions the pashmina has offered, but tracking down the garment's origin helps illuminate both Pri's relationship to India and her better grasp of her mother's perspective. Chanani's stylized cartoons shift from a palette of gray, black, and white when depicting Pri's life in California to bold, vibrant color when the pashmina transports its wearer to a fantastical reality. Although some plot mechanics are a little murky, Chanani's debut is a lively, engaging exploration of culture, heritage, and self-discovery.
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