A Patch of Sun, A Patch of Shade

A Patch of Sun, A Patch of Shade is an endearing story, one that I read for the first time as a manuscript that was shortlisted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2023, when I served as chief judge. I was curious to read it again, curious to see how the story had grown and developed through its editing journey. And I was not disappointed.

Lalli and Champa come from completely different backgrounds. Yet, they’re drawn to each other because they are both lonely and need a friend.

As Lalli spends more time with Champa, Lalli’s parents are nervous. Champa is the daughter of the coffee estate owner, while Lalli is a worker’s child. Would a bond between them last?

A poignantly told story, the Kannada rhymes woven into A Patch of Sun, A Patch of Shade give it a unique flavour, adding texture and detail. The emotional dynamics between Lalli and Champa ring true on every page. I particularly loved the title! It works at so many levels, from the setting of a coffee plantation, to the importance of Champa’s vitiligo in the story to the more symbolic idea of sun and shade in the relationship between the two girls. An important, bittersweet story, A Patch of Sun, A Patch of Shade is a lovely tale that I’m sure young readers will identify with.