Maya and her mother are spending part of their summer in Chennai, India, where her mother is selling her father's house. Maya holds resentment against her mother for many things unspoken, including her parents' recent divorce, family issues and the fact that she doesn't feel her mother is there for her. It is her cousin Sumati and old family friend, the elderly Kamala Mami, who help her find the way to confront her mother.

Naming Maya is about a 12 year old Indian girl who lives in America She comes to Chennai, India for her summer holiday. Meanwhile her mom is trying to sell her granfather's house in India. During her visite in India, Maya finds out more about her parents divorce. She has trouble understanding why it happened. With Kamala Mami, who offers to cook for them, she hears many stories and finds out more. Her cousin Sumati also helps her and they become good friends. She has lots of fun in India while she slowly understand more about what she wants to find out.

Naming Maya is a charming coming of age story about a 12 year old Indian American girl named Maya and her summer visit to Chennai, India with her mother to try and sell Maya's grandfather's house. Maya's parents had divorced the previous year and this trip to Chennai reconnects Maya with her extended family, neighbors of her grandfather and the eccentric Kamala Mami who for years has been connected to Maya's family. During this visit, Maya struggles to understand her parent's divorce. It is the relationships that Maya establishes with her cousin Sumati and Kamala Mami that help Maya piece together the puzzles Maya is trying to unlock.

This quick read captures the sights and sounds of a bustling Indian town, insight into Indian culture and values, and the joys and pains of being a young girl. A great afternoon read. ( )