Beyond the "Important" Label
Middle-grade novels that tackle identity often fall into a trap: they feel like they were written by a committee of therapists. They are "important" and "necessary," but they can also be a total slog for a kid who just wants a good story. The Best at It avoids this by being genuinely funny. Rahul isn't a mascot for representation; he’s a seventh grader in Indiana who is deeply, hilariously stressed about his math placement and the social suicide of picking the wrong extracurricular activity.
Maulik Pancholy brings an actor’s sense of timing to the prose. The dialogue between Rahul and his best friend, Chelsea, feels like a real conversation between twelve-year-olds, not a script for an after-school special. If your kid is tired of books that feel like homework, this is a win.
The "Best" Trap
The central conflict stems from well-meaning but high-pressure advice from Rahul’s grandfather, Bhai. He tells Rahul to find one thing he’s the best at to build his confidence. It’s a relatable hook because every middle schooler is looking for a shield. Rahul thinks that if he can just become the "best" at something, the bullies like Brent Mason will magically lose their power.
Watching Rahul cycle through potential "talents" provides the book’s best comedic moments, but it also captures that specific brand of middle-school anxiety. It’s the feeling that you aren’t "enough" unless you have a trophy to prove it. This makes the book a great companion for kids who feel the weight of high expectations, whether those come from family or themselves.
Navigating the Identity Piece
The LGBTQ+ themes are woven into the story with a very light touch. Rahul’s realization that he might be gay isn't a traumatic "coming out" saga; it’s a series of small, quiet observations, like realizing he’s staring at a classmate named Justin Emery. It’s exactly how these realizations often happen in the sixth or seventh grade—confusing, a little scary, but mostly just another thing to manage alongside a science project.
For families who want to explore more stories like this, our guide on Books with LGBTQ+ Characters: A Parent's Guide to Representation in Reading can help you find titles that match your kid's maturity level. If you have an older reader who is ready for more complex emotional stakes, you might look toward LGBTQ+ Books for Teens: A Parent's Guide to Supporting Identity Exploration Through Reading, but The Best at It is the sweet spot for the "tween" years.
If Your Kid Liked...
This book is the natural successor to Tim Federle’s Better Nate Than Ever series. It has that same "outsider finding his people" energy. It also pairs well with books like The Crossover or Front Desk—stories where the protagonist is juggling cultural expectations at home with the brutal social hierarchy of an American middle school.
The plot doesn't reinvent the wheel. You can probably guess where the "be the best" arc is heading by chapter three. But the charm is in the specific details of Rahul’s Indian American household and the rock-solid friendship with Chelsea. It’s a comfortable, high-quality read that manages to be inclusive without being exhausting.
