The Family Took Shape

Mira Acharya's life in suburban Toronto sometimes feels like an aberration. After the death of her father, the only family left to her are Ravi, her autistic older brother, and their mother, who is deeply caring but flawed in her parental responsibilities. Only as she grows and changes does Mira begin to understand that her mother and brother face the same challenges she does. Together, the family experiences quiet moments of sorrow, and tenuous moments of hope. Written with humour, grace, and heartbreaking honesty, The Family Took Shape is Shashi Bhat's stunning debut novel about finding one's place in the world, and discovering the rare beauty of those one cannot live without.