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Debating Darcy Kindle Edition

by Sayantani DasGupta (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
Editors' pick Best Young Adult
See all formats and editions
This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Leela Bose plays to win.

A life-long speech competitor, Leela loves nothing more than crushing the competition, all while wearing a smile. But when she meets the incorrigible Firoze Darcy, a debater from an elitist private school, Leela can’t stand him. Unfortunately, he’ll be competing in the state league, so their paths are set to collide.

But why attempt to tolerate Firoze when Leela can one-up him? The situation is more complicated than Leela anticipated, though, and her participation in the tournament reveals that she might have tragically misjudged the debaters -- including Firoze Darcy -- and more than just her own winning streak is at stake…her heart is, too.

Debating Darcy is bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta’s reinterpretation of beloved classic Pride and Prejudice -- imaginative, hilarious, thought-provoking, and truly reflective of the complex, diverse world of American high school culture.

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  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Print length
    280 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Scholastic Press
  5. Publication date
    April 19, 2022
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1338797695
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

You can't debate matters of the heart
A modern pride and prejudice retelling from bestselling author, Sayantani Dasgupta

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-The world of high school competitive speech and debate is rife with passion, dedication, and complexity. Fortunately, so is Leela Bose, a Bengali American feminist who is a devoted friend, a loyal daughter, and far more insecure than those who know her might guess. Unfortunately, the incorrigible competitor Firoze Darcy, also Bengali American, pushes all of her buttons. In this comedy of manners, a series of miscommunications (and very intentionally hurtful communications) drives a wedge between Leela and her speech friends and ongoing perceptions of classism continue to put Leela and Firoze into each other's chaotic orbit. This reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice centers a diverse cast of characters navigating through experiences of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia and gives voice to Austen characters who had been voiceless. But make no mistake, Leela and crew are not Austen's characters, they're DasGupta's own. VERDICT Perfect for fans of young adult realism, comedic romances, and feminist themes.-Sarah Voelsα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“Studded with references to U.S. and South Asian pop culture as well as Jane Austen–related Easter eggs, DasGupta’s astute, buoyant comedy of manners employs witty, rat-a-tat dialogue alongside social commentary about subjects including classism, colorism, and sexism.”―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Refreshing….A provocative, humorous and relevant modernization of the classic that inspired it.”―Shelf-Awareness

“While prior knowledge of Pride and Prejudice isn’t a prerequisite, it will certainly add to readers’ amusement and enjoyment of this cleverly conceived romance.”―Booklist

“New York Times bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta makes her YA debut with a brilliant Bengali Pride and Prejudice retelling centering around the world of high school speech and debate.”―BookRiot

“Class, colorism, and the complicated nature of South Asian American identity are explored, while the scandal at the heart of the book has been updated in a realistic way that gives young women space to speak up and fight back…A delight.”―Kirkus Reviews

“Fiercely feminist and utterly delightful. Jane Austen would be proud.”―Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment

“A charming and witty retelling, unlike any other!”―Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars and Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

“One thing isn’t up for debate: readers will swoon for Debating Darcy!”―Tiffany Schmidt, author of the Bookish Boyfriends series and I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas

“Debating Darcy delivers a brilliantly diverse cast of characters who make up the Bennet sibling world and DasGupta superbly explores what class and social mobility mean in America today as well as sexuality and the #MeToo movement.”―Soniah Kamal, award-winning author of Unmarriageable: Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09CKBGB94
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press (April 19, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 19, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6140 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

About the author

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Sayantani DasGupta

Sayantani DasGupta

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Hi, I'm Sayantani DasGupta, New York Times bestselling author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond middle grade fantasy series, which includes The Serpent's Secret, Game of Stars, and the Chaos Curse. I'm also the author of She Persisted: Virginia Apgar and a free-standing Kingdom Beyond novel Force of Fire. I'm a pediatrician by training, but I teach now in a field called narrative medicine, and have written several academic books. I grew up hearing stories about brave princess, bloodthirsty rakkhosh and flying pakkhiraj horses. When I'm not writing, reading, or teaching I spends time watching cooking shows with my trilingual children and protecting my dog Khushi from the many things that scare him, including plastic bags. I'm a team member of We Need Diverse books and can be found on Twitter at @sayantani16.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
60 global ratings
Bollywood and Jane Austen? Yes Please!
5 Stars
Bollywood and Jane Austen? Yes Please!
Every beat straight from P&P, even some dialogue—and so many nods like Netherfield Academy and Mr. and Mrs. Bennett as the forensic coaches. But Dasgupta took Leela and Darcy through major character arcs, bringing this enemies to lovers to a convincing and rewarding end. (And did I mention the meet cute…)One of my many favorite quotes, “His voice was deep and chocolate-molten-cake yummy.”
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Top reviews from the United States

Mary Beth (TinyBookFort)
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect balance of Austen and originality
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
Ok, Debating Darcy is one of my Top 2 books of 2022 thus far, which is to say I LOVED IT. While it’s an incredibly faithful retelling of Pride & Prejudice, it’s enjoyable in its own right because the characters have spark and wit, soft sides and sharp edges all their own. I’m not sure how DasGupta did it because it’s the perfect balance of Austen-inspired and originality.

Leela Bose and Firoze Darcy are teenaged, Desi American forensicators, and that’s where their similarities end (or so they think). Representing rival speech and debate teams from public and private schools respectively, Leela and Darcy are flint and steel, always finding something to argue about. Their banter is to die for and this book has the most entertaining dialogue I’ve read in a long time. It’s *fireworks*.

I appreciate DasGupta’s obvious respect for teens and their intellectual abilities. Her young characters are fully realized, with all their many-layered strengths and foibles. Never does she talk down to her reader, and I can only imagine how thrilled I would have been as a teen to read this positive take on teenagedom and all its possibilities.

There are quite a few sensitive topics regularly mentioned or discussed, and I think this is one of Debating Darcy‘s strengths. Teens are already experiencing//thinking//talking about sex//gender//race//ethnic heritage//etc and all of the associated -isms. To present these topics in a thoughtful, supportive way, through an intersectional lens, is powerful and I applaud DasGupta for her sensitivity and skill.

I only have one request for the author: a retelling of Sense & Sensibility next?! Please??
2 people found this helpful
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Nicole Nixon
4.0 out of 5 stars For lovers of Pride and Prejudice!
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022
If you are a fan of Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, you simply have to pick up this book! It’s one of the best modern-day young adult retellings, even down to some of the quotes. With that being said I felt like the desire to stick close to the original weighed down some of the story in terms of the way some of the characters spoke—very over the top and it didn’t feel quite natural. I think if you haven’t read P&P you might be a little confused, especially in terms of names and places.

This book explored an area of high school that I never engrossed myself in: speech and debate. I think it such a niche audience but if you happen to pick up on it, you’ll enjoy it. I like how many of the characters felt empowered to act on the sexism and double-standards in a way that called people out.

I didn’t feel entirely engrossed in the setting and within the characters’ lives. Everything seemed to happen pretty fast when I felt like we could have taken a moment to spend more time with Leela’s family to get to know Leela in that environment and Leela going to school and seeing her in classes that don’t consist of debate.

Overall this was an enjoyable book and I would highly recommend for any P&P fan who really wants to stick it to the patriarchy!
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Katie Sweeting
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful spin on Pride and Prejudice
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
In Debating Darcy, Sayantani DasGupta has transformed the beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice and created an international cast of characters set in the American contemporary scene of high school debate teams. Darcy and Leela are Desi, Charlotte Lucas, now Tomi, is Nigerian, and Collins, much less annoying than in P & P, is Korean! Jane becomes Jay and wait until you see the incarnation of the Bennetts and the Gardiners, and of course, Catherine de Bourgh.

The debate teams are from Netherfield Academy and Longbourn High, and DasGupta highlights the disparity between private and public school funding in witty and tragicomic fashion. Not only the context of debating, but the content of the debates is central to the story.

A little of the original phrasing is kept intact, but this is definitely a modern novel. And while it is geared to Young Adults, I believe adults of any age will be charmed and enjoy the company of the debaters.

While the book is funny and feisty, serious messages come through, as relayed by the first person narrator, Leela Bose. Sexism, racism, colorism, and homophobia are sent packing, replaced with a strong message of female empowerment.

Whether you’re a confirmed Janeite and have read all six of her novels multiple times, or you’re not even sure who Jane Austen is, you will enjoy this modern remake of Pride and Prejudice.
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Alyssa S.
5.0 out of 5 stars A smart and funny read, good for adults too!
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
I had such a great time reading this book by Sayantani DasGupta. I don't usually read YA but the premise sounded like a lot of fun. Her characters were hilarious and so sassy, and I loved that it featured an Indian American teen debater protagonist, along with a really varied cast of friends. Tons of fun. Loved it!
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Jocelyn Nielson
3.0 out of 5 stars A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice in a high school setting
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
It’s been a long while since I last read a contemporary adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and this was quite refreshing. I liked how the different characters were reimagined (Lady Catherine de Bourgh was perfection as a diction coach. It worked so well!), and how different major plot scenes were adapted to fit the high school age setting. I had wondered before beginning, how the Lydia/Wickham storyline would be handled, and I liked how it was portrayed in this. Lines from the original were woven into the dialogue throughout the book. Sometimes the lines blended in well, sometimes they stood out just enough that it took me out of the story. I also think that the Lizzie Bennet character (Leela Bose) was too over the top at times in her interactions with others. Yes, she’s in high school, so it fit her age, but sometimes it felt like a forced reaction and not natural. I still liked her as a character though, and enjoyed watching her relationship with Darcy grow over the course of the book.
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