Girl Power meets Goodness Gracious Me! Three fun-loving Anglo-Asian sisters rule the roost since their mom died. They've got a reputation at school for being the coolest babes in town, and what they don't need is an interfering Auntie-ji from India cramping their style. The girls decide the only way out of the problem is an arranged marriage -- for their auntie. "From the Trade Paperback edition." Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Dhami's (Changing Places; Annie's Game) comedic sense of timing and endearing cast of characters will have readers alternately giggling and commiserating with the "Bindi Babes," three sisters whose parents were born in India and emigrated to England. Since their mother's death a year ago, Geena (the oldest), 12-year-old narrator Amber and Jazz have worked hard to push back their grief and put on a brave, cheerful front for their father. The last thing they want is for someone to try to take their mother's place. Nonetheless, "Auntie," their father's sister, arrives from India and seems to be trying to do just that. She urges the girls' father to be stricter with them and has a way of staying one step ahead of the girls, thwarting their plans to pierce 11-year-old Jazz's ears and to manipulate their father. So they conspire to marry Auntie off. Even through Amber's biased narration Dhami cleverly plants clues to Auntie's big heart and pure intentions. Readers will realize what Geena, Amber and Jazz do not that with all her interfering, Auntie is slowly and methodically putting together the pieces of their broken family and will appreciate Auntie's wisdom and compassion long before she wins over her nieces. The author creates a touching story about loss, adjustment and family love, laced with humor. Ages 8-12. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 4-7 Amber (10), Jazz (11), and Geena (13), three Indian sisters, live with their father in England. On the surface, they are perfect students who dress in perfect clothes and get along perfectly with each other. In reality, the girls are missing one big element in their lives, their mom. Ever since her death the year before, their father has indulged his daughters' every material wish, but is rarely at home. That suddenly changes when he invites his sister from India to live with them. The girls immediately plot how to get rid of her, including a plan to marry her off. Auntie is a delightful character who consistently manages to turn their plans around with hilarious results. The story has a nice blend of traditional culture, including a cousin's big fat Indian wedding and more modern discussions of boys and school. With solid writing and a sense of humor, Dhami weaves a tale of three material girls who discover the priceless value of family, friends, and neighbors. They also learn the importance of grieving for their mother and of not having to be perfect. Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 5-8. A year after their mother's sudden death, 14-year-old Geena, 12-year-old Ambajit (Amber), and 11-year-old Jazvinder (Jazz), aka the Bindi Babes, may be perfectly behaved and rule at school and at home (in England), but they still haven't dealt with the loss of their mom. Then Auntie arrives from India and tries to interfere with their carefully constructed routines and coping mechanisms. In an effort to be rid of her, the sisters decide to find her a husband. If they can just get her to their school, they'll orchestrate a meeting with Amber's gorgeous teacher, Mr. Arora. But are these perfect girls able to unbend enough to misbehave? Indian words describing food, clothing, and familial relationships add cultural flavor to the story, but girls from everywhere will relate to the main characters. Although there is some sense of the girls' grieving process, the overall tone of the story is light and innocent as the girls come to realize that being perfect is no substitute for dealing with a life-altering event. A sequel, Bollywood Babes, is planned for March 2005. CindyWelch. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.