Neil

Neil is the main character and first person narrator of the novel. When Neil is young, he grows up in Hammond Creek, Georgia, with his mother, father, and sister, Prachi. As the son of immigrant parents, Neil feels constant pressure to succeed. He struggles to locate his own desires amidst his parents' constant expectations of who he is and who he must become. What is most important to Neil as a teenager, is securing the attention of his best friend and neighbor, Anita.

The summer following freshman year, Neil's parents force him into isolation. He is not allowed to spend time with his friends, or attend parties. Instead, he takes specialty math classes and studies for debate in the library. He and Anita grow apart. Then one day, Neil sneaks into Anita and her mother Anjali's home, and discovers a curious alchemy lab in their basement. While consuming...