Available Formats
Fitting Indian
By (Author) Jyoti Chand
Illustrated by Tara Anand
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
HarperCollins
26th August 2025
United States
Young Adult
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Religious and spiritual stories
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Disability, impairments and spec
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Families and family members
Hardback
288
This debut teen graphic novel from social media influencer Jyoti Chand and rising star illustrator Tara Anand follows one girlsjourney navigating high school and her mental healthwithin a traditional South Asian family. Perfect for fans of NetflixsNever Have I Everand Tillie WaldensSpinning.
All Nitashas parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughtersomething she is decidedlynot. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just dont get that shellnever be like her doctor older brother.To make matters worse, shes never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.
Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesnt work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She cant stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family Or even for herself
This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.
Jyoti Chand, known as Mamajotes across social platforms, is a dynamic writer, comedian, and passionate advocate for self-care and maternal mental health. With a foundation in stand-up comedy and improv, Jyoti captivates audiences through her highly engaging content across her social and digital platforms, offering an unfiltered look into the realities of motherhood. Her work inspires others to embrace joy and authenticity in their own lives. Represented by Haley Henning at YMU Social, Jyoti holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and is currently working on her second book, among other creative projects. Originally from Los Angeles, she now resides in the Chicago suburbs with her family. Follow her journey at @mamajotes or visit her online at mamajotes.com. Tara Anand is an award-winning illustrator and visual artist from Mumbai, India, based in New York City. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and the LA Times, on Netflix, and more. Fitting Indian is her debut graphic novel. Visit her at taraanandart.com/about.