Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy

Nikhil Out Loud

Maulik Pancholy

HarperCollins · Paperback · October 10, 2023

Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Middle Grade From the acclaimed actor and Stonewall Honor–winning author of The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy, comes a new middle grade novel about a gay Indian American boy who learns the power of using his voice.

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Who it’s for
A layered middle grade story pairs performance nerves with the harder work of speaking up.
Themes
LGBTQ+ identity and acceptance, Finding the courage to speak out, Caring for a sick grandparent
Genres
LGBTQ+ Stories, US: Asian American Stories, Theater Stories

About this book

Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Middle Grade From the acclaimed actor and Stonewall Honor–winning author of The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy, comes a new middle grade novel about a gay Indian American boy who learns the power of using his voice. For fans of Merci Suárez Changes Gears and Better Nate Than Ever. Thirteen-year-old Nikhil Shah is the beloved voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space.

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But when his mom temporarily moves them to the small town in Ohio where she grew up to take care of Nikhil’s sick grandfather, Nikhil feels as out of orbit as his character. Nikhil’s fame lands him the lead in the school musical, but he’s terrified that everyone will realize he’s a fraud once they find out he has stage fright. And when a group of angry parents start to protest having an openly gay actor in the starring role, Nikhil feels like his life would be easier if only he could be Raj Reddy full-time. Then Nikhil wakes up one morning and hears a crack in his voice, which means his job playing Raj will have to come to an end. Life on earth is way more complicated than life on television. And some mysteries—like new friendships or a sick grandparent or finding the courage to speak out—don’t wrap up neatly between commercial breaks.

Finding Your Voice

A layered middle grade story pairs performance nerves with the harder work of speaking up.

Come here for

  • A young actor balancing stage fright and an openly gay role
  • Growing-up questions woven through family change and new friendships

Expect

  • A serious but inviting take on courage and belonging
  • Complications that don’t neatly resolve between commercial breaks

Where it sits

LGBTQ+ Stories87%
Theater Stories56%
US: Asian American Stories46%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • US: Asian American Stories
  • Family Stories
  • Illness & Injury
  • Music Stories
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • TV & Radio Stories
  • Growing Up
  • Friendship
  • Bullying
Authors
Maulik Pancholy
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
October 10, 2023
Format
Paperback
Theme
LGBTQ+ identity and acceptance · Finding the courage to speak out · Caring for a sick grandparent
Reading lane
US: Asian American Stories