A Reading Group Guide to

Karma Khullar’s Mustache

By Kristi Wientge

About the Book

As if starting middle school isn’t scary enough on its own, Karma Khullar has to deal with a lot of other life changes at the same time. Her dadima has recently passed away, her father has become a stay-at-home dad, her mother has a new time-consuming job, and her best friend Sara wants to spend all her time with Lacy, her popular new neighbor. On top of all that, Karma has recently grown a mustache—seventeen black hairs, to be exact! She’s nervous and self-conscious and isn’t sure how she’ll navigate her new life without her usual support network. Once school starts, it’s up to Karma to figure out how to live up to her name and attract the good karma that she needs to survive sixth grade.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Karma is so fixated on the emergence of her new mustache? Describe and discuss some of Karma’s emotions associated with the mustache. Is she overreacting? How would you react if you were her?

2. Karma’s dad recently lost his job and has taken on a new role as a stay-at-home parent. Why do you think this is a hard adjustment for Karma? How do you think her dad feels about this new situation? How does his new role affect their relationship?

3. Compare and contrast the friendship between Sara and Karma and the friendship between Sara and Lacy. Why do you think Sara is drawn to Lacy when she moves to town?

4. When Karma feels that Sara doesn’t care enough about her mustache she says, “a best friend should think my big deals were her big deals.” What does Karma mean? Do you agree with her? Do you think that’s an important part of a friendship?

5. Discuss Karma’s relationship with Dadima. What were some of the important lessons that Dadima taught Karma and how did Karma apply those lessons to her life?

6. Karma’s brother, Kiran, loves music, and their mother encourages his exploration of the arts. However, Karma’s dad would prefer that he focus on the sciences. How do the arts differ from the sciences? Why do you think Karma’s parents have different opinions on what’s important? Do you think one is more important than the other?

7. Every day Karma brings her tiffin filled with Indian food to school. It’s a source of both comfort and embarrassment for her. Discuss why it makes her feel these two very different emotions. Why do you think she chooses to continue bringing her tiffin to school at the end of the story?

8. Dadima taught Karma that the idea of karma is better explained by thinking “your actions start a trail of reactions” instead of thinking that “what goes around comes around.” How are these two ways of looking at karma different from each other? Describe a time when your actions started a trail of reactions.

9. As Karma begins to keep track of her karma points, she has a list of vices to avoid, including anger, pride, greed, and attachment to things of this world. Consider a time when you exhibited one of these vices. What happened? Is there anything you could have done differently to improve the situation and how you felt?

10. There are several instances in the book when Karma wishes Sara would stick up for her but Sara stays silent and ignores the situation. Karma says “until Sara had sat quietly around this past week, I never really got it that sometimes the silence hurts worse than the teasing.” What does Karma mean by this? Do you agree or disagree?

11. When Karma goes to Lacy’s house to tutor her, she discovers that Lacy and her mother are having a hard time adjusting to their new town. She also learns that Lacy was held back a year in school. How do you think Lacy’s home life and being held back affect her behavior toward others?

12. Go back to chapter 24 and reread the story that Dadima told Karma about the potter and his lump of clay. Discuss the significance of this story and why it has suddenly become very meaningful to Karma.

13. When Karma’s mom discovers her shaving in the bathroom, she admits to Karma that she’s been preoccupied and regrets that Karma hadn’t wanted to discuss her mustache with her. How does this represent a turning point in their relationship? What changes between them after their conversation?

14. At the end of the novel Karma says, “Things weren’t exactly the same as the old way, but I was learning to be comfortable in the newness.” What does she mean by this? Describe a time when you had to adjust to a new situation. Were you able to find comfort in the newness?

15. When Ginny gives Karma a bumper sticker with her name on it, Karma can’t wait to go home and hang it next to the one from Sara. Why is this significant? How have Karma’s thoughts on friendship shifted throughout the book?

16. How have the characters changed at the end of the novel? Who changed the most? What events do you think contributed to that character’s progression?

17. Why do you think the author chose the name Karma for her narrator? How did the name Karma help shape the character?

18. Discuss an instance of peer pressure in the novel. Have you ever felt peer pressure to do something you didn’t want to do? How did you react?

19. Throughout the novel, Karma is referred to as “Stache” and “Stache attack.” Discuss some reasons why name-calling is very hurtful. Why do you think that some people resort to these hurtful tactics?

Extension Activities

1. In the novel, Karma decides to keep track of her “karma points.” She would give herself points for not getting angry, prideful, greedy, or showing attachment to the things of this world. If she caught herself having any of these vices, she’d lose points. Try keeping track of your own karma points for one morning. How many points did you end up with? Is it difficult to avoid certain vices? Did you discover anything about yourself in this process?

2. When Karma goes to tutor Lacy for the first time, we read about the experience from Karma’s point of view. Rewrite this scene from Lacy’s point of view. Consider what Lacy would say about her mother’s behavior and admission that Lacy was held back, how she would feel about having Karma over to her house, and how she would feel about needing a tutor.

3. Mrs. Clark suggests that each student come up with a big idea to put in the suggestion box. Come up with your own big idea for your class. Explain why your idea would be successful. Just like in the novel, your idea should be about making learning engaging beyond the classroom.

4. The food that Karma brings in her tiffin to school is unfamiliar to her classmates but it’s very normal for Karma because it’s part of her family’s culture. Think of a food that represents your family’s culture. Write about a memory you have that involves eating this food.

5. There are many instances of bullying throughout the novel. Brainstorm ways that you can help prevent bullying in your school. Write a letter to your teacher presenting your ideas and explaining why bullying prevention is so important.

Guide written in 2017 by Laura Swerdloff Moreno, an elementary school teacher.

This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.