Right as Rain

A Bangladeshi American teen struggles to manage her depression, especially when a literal cloud that reflects her emotions starts following her around in this affirming speculative novel by Bhuiyan (I’ll Pretend You’re Mine). Megh Rashid is desperate to get away from her constantly arguing parents in New York City and attend UCLA. After she’s waitlisted for admission, though, she fails to see a way forward and her depression worsens. Things seem to improve when her cousin Sadia helps Megh land a TV production internship at the Today show. When Megh finds herself in possession of her own rain cloud following a lightning strike—and the cloud seems to affect the moods of the people around her—she resolves to improve her life outlook. With help from attractive, Turkish American fellow Today show intern Lev, Megh attempts to find joy in the everyday. But her tumultuous homelife with her antagonistic parents continues to drag her down. Splashes of romance alongside the sometimes playful misadventures inspired by Megh’s wayward emotional barometer inject levity into an insightful commentary on mental health and the way it can impact all areas of life. Vivid characters and quick-witted dialogue distinguish this affecting work. Ages 12–up. Agents: Pete Knapp and Stuti Telidevara, Park, Fine, & Brower Literary. (Mar.)