Deepa M.D. by Priya Swaminathan

What worked:

Deepa’s leukemia is in remission, but she tells everyone she knows that she’s cured. She just wants to get back to having a normal life, so she doesn’t even tell her best friend, Renee. Denying her actual condition causes Deepa to put her health in jeopardy, and readers will anticipate the consequences. Her behavior is ironic, since she wants to become her uncle’s medical partner. Patients call her uncle when their doctors can’t help, and he has a perfect record for diagnosing the causes of confusing symptoms. However, his people skills are lacking, and Deepa can calmly mediate his interactions with patients. She’s surprised when a patient won’t heed her uncle’s medical advice, but she’s doing the same thing in her own situation.

Medicine is similar to solving mysteries, as doctors must make observations and collect clues to understand their patients’ problems. Deepa’s uncle has the role of Sherlock Holmes, and Deepa compares herself to Dr. Watson. The newest patient happens to be the brother of Deepa’s nemesis, which adds a complication to the plot. Their efforts face additional obstacles when they discover some characters are reluctant to be forthcoming with useful information. Tayo, the patient, isn’t telling his parents everything happening with his health, and other characters don’t seem to want Tayo get better. Assumptions and lies make things more difficult.

Childhood diseases are a part of life, but they can be devastating for the patients and their families. Readers will learn about Deepa’s leukemia, from her initial symptoms to the treatments during the diagnosis and remission. Her parents are concerned about a possible relapse, so they’re overly protective. A young, world-famous pop star suffers dizzy spells that keep her from performing, so she doesn’t want to cancel her tour. The most confusing case will remind readers to be vigilant when staying safe from summertime dangers.

What didn’t work as well:

Many different things are going on in the story, and readers’ attention may become distracted. However, the author navigates the numerous problems to bring the story to an emotional climax and resolution.

The final verdict:

This book will appeal to mystery lovers, as Deepa is as obsessed as her uncle when it comes to deciphering symptoms. Honesty and friendships are topics that will resonate with all middle-grade readers. I recommend you give it a shot.