Different by Neeha Gupta | Book Review

Different by Neeha Gupta was published in 2017 by The Write Place Publishing.

Blurb:

Science Geek. Whiz Kid. Alien…

Nicole Grace, the only surviving member of Bridgen – a planet in the neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda – crash-landed on Earth fifteen years ago.

She survives and learns to walk, talk, eat and sleep and then comes the toughest challenge…High School!

Will Nicole be able to cope with the pressure?
Will she adapt with the teenagers?
Or, will she expose herself?

Braving quirky attitudes and moody sarcasm, life tests her as she goes on a mission to save Earth and her school. To add to it all, Nicole discovers that she isn’t the only one of her kind on this planet…”

My Take:

Different by Neeha Gupta is a breath of fresh air. The plot is not one that you come across often, especially in the Indian writing scene. Different intrigued me and kept me reeled in from start to finish. The seemingly peculiar thought process of the protagonist fits perfectly with her identity as an alien but it also fits the age bracket to the t.

The author is brilliant at capturing the mindset of a teenager accurately. Being a teenager herself, the author, Neeha Gupta, has come up with a unique and humorous concept. I am not one for science fiction works in general but the writing, the concept and the characters are so relatable that you can’t help but be part of the story. Different by Neeha Gupta is a quirky coming of age tale about a girl starting high school, having her first crush, and learning to love and grow.

Another thing that worked for me was the level of detachment and vulnerability that the protagonist portrays at the same time. It is hilarious at times. We have all felt like outsiders at one point or the other, and if it not constructed carefully, this quality can translate to a negative or sulky character. Thankfully, that does not happen in this novel.

The only grudge/complaint I have about this book is that I wish I could have come across this book when I was 14. It would have been such a  comfort to know that being different or feeling different is not uncommon.

This book was sent to me to be reviewed.

To stay tuned to the upcoming reviews, features, and blogs follow us on:

What did you think of the book? Let us know.

If you would like us to review a book of your choosing, please leave your recommendations in the comments section.

Happy reading!

Bookish Brat