I didn’t read very many young adult books in 2021, and several that I did read proved to be disappointing. With some, I know I was probably being unfair because I have high expectations of authors I’ve read and loved. I left a number of books unfinished; when there are so many books out there waiting to be read, why plough through books I have to push myself to read? Five YA books stood out to me, though, and I can’t help seeing both how similar they are and how very different.
Postbox Kashmir
This is probably the first time a work of nonfiction features on a list of my top reads! Postbox Kashmir was not a quick read, no. However, for all readers, I think some books are just worth reading, however slowly you need to read them. With Postbox Kashmir, there was so much for me to process that I wanted to take my time over it. A balanced, objective story of the history of Kashmir drawing from a series of letters exchanged by two girls, Divya Arya’s Postbox Kashmir is brilliant and detailed – a book for keeps.
Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame
Two books by Supriya Kelkar feature in my favourite reads from 2021 – Ahimsa was one of my favourite middle-grade books, and on this list, I have Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame.
I like unlikely protagonists. Not everyone is brave, feisty and driven. Sometimes, we’re just pulled by the tide and we struggle to stay afloat. Does that make for a powerful story? When I read this book, the answer was an overwhelming ‘yes’.
Meera goes with the flow, but soon, she discovers too that she can bend only so much before she snaps. It is only when she snaps, though, that she discovers the fire within. Once more, through this story, Supriya Kelkar shows us that there are no easy answers. Justice often takes a long time, but it’s worth fighting for, every step of the way.
Queen of Fire
Queen of Fire by Devika Rangachari is the third book in a stunning series about powerful queens in India. I loved Queen of Ice and Queen of Earth, but I wondered how much I would enjoy reading the story of a queen who was already familiar to me – Rani Lakshmibai.
I loved it.
Fast-paced, thrilling and richly woven together, Queen of Fire gripped me with its portrayal of loyalty, treachery, love and fear. As I raced through the story, I realised that despite the sense of familiarity – or perhaps because of it – this book is my favourite of the three!
Loki Takes Guard
Menaka Raman is another writer who features on more than one list this year. I loved her Nanammal and Kamalathal series of picture books!
Loki Takes Guard is one of those books that, for me, sits somewhere between middle-grade and young adult. With a gritty 11-year-old protagonist, I think it can be enjoyed by quite a large age-group! I love books that make me laugh and cry, and this book did both. Loki’s impossible name (Lokanayaki) and her friends who make me roll my eyes drew a laugh out of me. But as I finished reading the book, I swallowed my tears, charmed by Loki’s story.
Bena's Summer
Bena’s Summer by Shibal Bhartiya is one of those books that needs to come into your life at the right time, when you’re in the right mood. A lyrical book, I was drawn into the poetry of life as it is lived every day. I love how young Bena’s moral compass always points true. Yes, she’s cruel in the way only children can be. Yet, she is innocent and lovely, and filled me up with an aching kind of joy. Bena’s Summer is another slow read, but isn’t summer just like that? Slow, but full of beauty and love?
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