A junior high aged collection of longish short stories that center around a public meeting place that caters to the South Asian immigrant community for a wide variety of social gatherings. When it comes out that the venue might be closed the teens in their own ways try to help keep the place open. The stories are told from the perspectives of a wide variety of cultures and reading the stories would be educational experience for all open minded teens. ( )

An important and uplifting collection of short stories by South Asian American writers featuring South Asian American characters and themes.

The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices was conceived and edited by Hena Khan and is a wonderfully uplifting collection of short stories by and about South Asian Americans. The stories capture vibrant slices of community life and precious family moments, all connected through the social hub of the local community center.

While each story comes from a different author, common threads run throughout and tie the parts into a wonderful whole. Each story is a gem in its own right and self-contained, and there is a much-appreciated section about the contributors at the end of the book that includes each one’s previous works for readers to seek out and binge. The main characters are middle-grade students, for the most part, with younger and older siblings, parents, uncles, and aunties in supporting roles, and the diversity of the cultures and religions of South Asia are represented. There are stories of joy and sadness, coming-of-age moments, personal triumphs, and many emotional moments to absorb. Readers not part of the represented groups can also enjoy all the stories, relate to many of the depicted situations, or learn something new and interesting. There are several very teachable moments to share.

I recommend THE DOOR IS OPEN to middle-grade and chapter book readers, especially those interested in South Asian American culture, community, and experiences.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours. ( )