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Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
Mixed Emotions, by Lakshita Bhargava, and illustrated by Dharini Verma, is an engaging and thought-provoking children's book that explores emotions, guided by the main character Natalia, who has mixed emotions about the big city where her cousin Nancy lives. Natalia looks forward to vising her relative there, as it's been years. At one time Natalia even thought she'd like to live there instead of her little hometown. Something is different about the city now, and this is where mixed feelings come in and are elaborated on. The illustrations add so much characters, settings, and meaning to the story, and young readers will become absorbed in these images as well as the text.
Bhargava expertly tells Natalia's story with depth, color, and insight. Her writing style is inviting and friendly, and parents, as well as young audiences, will connect with the emotions of the narrative. If you think back to when you were a child, or if you have children of your own, you can relate to how difficult it is to identify emotions, what they mean, why you feel them, etc.; and unless an adult or someone older is around to explain them, they can cause uncertainty. I like the relationship between the two girls and the bond between the other family members. The author's way of exploring themes of home, friendship, and emotions is to be commended. It isn't always easy to create a book that uses such a detailed, special story to illustrate universal themes that both adults and children can enjoy. The author captures Natalia's initial doubt, confusion, and even fear in a realistic way, and the story comes to a satisfying conclusion with good lessons learned about emotions, expectations, and adjusting to different environments. If you're looking for a children's book to stir emotions and warm the heart, look no further than Mixed Emotions by Lakshita Bhargava.
