TJ Powar Has Something to Prove

Starred review from July 18, 2022
In Deo’s poignant debut, Punjabi Sikh Canadian high school senior TJ Powar is horrified when a photo of her freshly waxed and threaded face is used in a meme as the pretty “after” to her cousin Simran’s “before.” TJ resolves to disprove the cruel joke’s toxic message surrounding beauty standards by no longer removing her body hair, insisting that she can embrace her natural body and be respected, which results in her boyfriend dumping her in disgust. Emotional upsets with her best friend and Simran, and a decline in her own self-worth complicate matters further. When her cute debate partner, Charlie, compliments her protest, TJ feels validated, but as her feelings for him grow, she dreads the long hours they must spend alone together preparing for Nationals now that she no longer sees herself as beautiful enough for him. As TJ struggles with her own self-image, she engages in valuable moments of internal reflection while reconciling her own role in upholding­—and dismantling—harmful beauty expectations. Deo delivers a refreshing take on the familiar self-love narrative, portraying characters across the Indian diaspora whose determination to be themselves, irrespective of Western cultural perspectives, drives home the idea that the perception of oneself through a singular lens is often incomplete. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary.