SUNNY G'S SERIES OF RASH DECISIONS

A meet-cute moment between two Fresno seniors transforms a mediocre prom night into an evening of unplanned adventure.

When Sikh teen Sunny Gill’s brother, Goldy, died, he left behind a chaotic journal that Sunny has decided to fill with a list of uncharacteristically impulsive goals, starting with getting a makeover and going to prom. The timing coincides with Goldy’s barsi, marking the anniversary of his death, but Sunny isn’t ready to face the finality it represents or explain to all the aunties and uncles why he shaved his beard and stopped wearing a turban. He’s also not in the mood to see his best friend, West African British Ngozi, whose impending post-graduation departure to attend Berkeley he resents. That doesn’t stop Ngozi from enlisting the help of Hmong American classmate Mindii Vang to rescue Sunny from prom and coax him into attending the Snollygoster Soiree, an annual event dedicated to Ngozi and Sunny’s favorite fantasy book series. With several hours to kill, Mindii and Sunny pass the time by making rash decisions to add to his list. The novel’s premise is simple, allowing Sunny’s layered characterization and conflicting emotions to take center stage: His varied interests include cosplay, crochet, and heavy metal, and he struggles with stuttering and insecurity. Mindii is an empathetic partner whose willingness to open up about her own grief shows Sunny that he’s not as alone as he thinks.

Poignant and moving, with an undercurrent of romance.