Optional Practical Training

In the debut novel Optional Practical Training, a young Indian woman named Pavitra navigates her year of work experience in post–9/11 America after graduating with a degree in physics. Set against the backdrop of her role as a math and physics teacher near Cambridge, Massachusetts, the story unfolds through a series of conversations that highlight the expectations placed upon her by those around her. As Pavitra seeks to carve out her identity as a writer, the interplay of race, immigration, and privilege reveals a nuanced exploration of self-discovery and belonging.