Pancholy lightheartedly touches upon several serious themes, such as ethnicity, inclusivity, bullying, and sexuality. Ultimately, Rahul finds that being the best is about finding something you love and doing it until you get better at it. After many trials and errors-football team tryouts (which he fails miserably at) and professional acting auditions (where he faces racial discrimination)-he finally discovers his true talent and joins his school’s Mathletes’ team. Please reload the page and try again.Īmidst all this confusion, Rahul’s grandfather tells him that if he dedicates himself to something that he is good at and becomes the best at it, then nobody can stop him and stand in his way. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription.

Moreover, it’s a love letter to his grandparents. And so, while it’s a work of fiction, this is also a deeply personal book that reflects his own struggles, coming to terms with his LGBTQ identity, and the joy of discovering how to be the best at being oneself. He also served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and is the co-founder of the anti-bullying campaign Act to Change.Īs an LGBTQ kid, Pancholy never saw himself in the books he read. Pancholy, based in Brooklyn, New York, has a career spanning hit television shows ( 30 Rock, Whitney ), animated favorites ( Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig ), the Broadway stage, and films. One of Time Out ‘s “LGBTQ+ books for kids to read during Pride Month,” The Best at It has also garnered a coveted Stonewall Honor from the American Library Association. This delightful debut novel by award-winning actor Maulik Pancholy is the story of Rahul Kapoor, an awkward 12-year-old Indian American gay middle-grade boy coming into his own in a small town in Indiana. INALIENABLE: REFLECTIONS ON INDEPENDENCE & BELONGING.Voices Column: Desi Roots, Global Wings.

The best at it maulik pancholy