The Unpronounceables (2026)
A modern-day Looking for Alibrandi meets Bend It Like Beckham, The Unpronounceables is a wonderfully warm-hearted and hopeful YA novel full of humour, friendships, family, art and a touch of romance.
'My name, Navkiranjhot Ahloowalia, means "the new light," and contains a legacy of love and spiritual depth that go back centuries. But there's being unique and then there's watching a teacher reconsider their profession when they're trying to pronounce your name.'
At school, Navy's often mistaken for her best friends, fellow unpronounceables. At home, Navy's loving parents believe she must move to a select-entry STEM high school to secure a bright future. In secret, Navy's nurturing a new, addictive passion for art history that changes the way she sees herself.
Set adrift after a misunderstanding with her besties, Navy struggles to balance her parents' expectations with her own dreams of the future, and must decide what she wants and who she truly is. Then there is Rishal, who is mentoring Navy for the all-important entry exam. But he's just a friend, right?
Perfectly pitched and in the spirit of a contemporary Looking for Alibrandi, The Unpronounceables shines a light on second-generation migrant families and is a glorious celebration of Indian-Australian culture – a delightful, upbeat and ultimately hopeful coming-of-age YA novel.
“Jaswal brilliantly explores how a single name holds an entire universe of identity, heritage and expectation. The Unpronounceables perfectly captures the rare and glorious spark of a young person discovering a true passion.”
“So many young readers will feel seen by this book, which dives deep into the lives of teenagers who are, like Navy, feeling caught between two worlds and competing priorities and pressures. I only wish it had been around when I was in high school.”
“With warmth, wit and piercing honesty, Balli Kaur Jaswal captures the tender complexities of growing up between cultures - the friendships, the fractures, the fierce desire to be seen on your own terms.”
“Balli Kaur Jaswal has written the book I needed in high school to help me navigate the cultural challenges of trying to fit into two different worlds and finding an identity that could hold both. It is beautifully written, with a sharp, clever sense of humour, and its cultural references are intricately woven throughout giving the book deep meaning for those of us who traverse the world as third-culture kids.”
“Brimming with warmth and wit, this story takes us back to school with characters navigating the intense anxieties and irreverent playfulness of teenage years. Littered with the punniest of school jokes, it deftly explores the fine balance between East and West, home and school, and family and friends. Balli Kaur Jaswal offers a compelling portrait of contemporary Australian life, that is as entertaining as it is insightful.”