Psst! Here’s what readers are saying!
The reading-room noticeboard
Notes pinned up by children, parents, teachers, bloggers, and newspapers
“Some books just make you smile – I absolutely love the audacity and grit of little Geet, who wants to conquer the world, one competition at a time. A beautiful read about dreaming, trying, failing and rising again, but always working hard to make your dreams a success! Love this Varsha Seshan and love the illustrations by Mihir Joglekar”
“This book written entirely in letters was such a treat to read. Fast-paced, utterly engrossing, and altogether unputdownable. This book also tenderly draws the young reader’s attention to the differences we have in society and the importance of learning to empathise.”
“Fishbowl is a metaphor used by the author for the process of tuning out the world around you, which the protagonist does quite often in the book. The depiction of Mahee’s relationship with herself is also described very vividly and as the story progresses, you see it change.”
“It’s got emotion, it’s got suspense, it’s got thrill, it’s got a forest and it’s got a boy who has run away from boarding school. […] I absolutely love how the book deals with the theme of wildness. Right from a glimpse into man-eating tigers, to a standoff between a porcupine and tiger cubs and finally to the wildest animal of all, the humans. The book explores power and greed at the expense of nature and its harmony and man’s dangerous obsession of encroaching upon the forbidden, all in the name of science and money. The cruelty of man is well brought out in this book, not only by conspiracy and thirst for power but also by the instances of bullying in Veer’s school.”
“True to its name, the book proved to be a riveting read. My 9.5 year old and I just couldn’t put it down and were drawn into the world of Ro and the uncontrollables. The book had a good mix of adventure, magic, fantasy and mystery. The verse format had us enthralled through the book. This was our first book in the format and we enjoyed it thoroughly.”
“I absolutely love this story where kids had freedom to share their thoughts and teachers were so supportive to listen to them. Teachers encouraged them to think out of the box, do voting and gave them liberty to decide what they wanted. Dhara and Carol's friendship is so adorable.”
“My 8.5 year old loved reading the book with me. He could relate so well to the characters and the theme of the story. The topic is so contemporary and has been presented without being too preachy. There were moments of humour and anticipation as to what would happen next that kept us racing past the pages.”
“A great mini-detective-ish story by Varsha Seshan, great for aspiring little Sherlocks. Or Sheerlucks. […] Incredibly entertaining”
“When I first read this book, I was so engrossed in it that I took no notice as I kept turning the page. I was gobbling the stories up quickly, much like I gobble up food.”
“Varsha Seshan’s Sisters at New Dawn ingeniously normalizes adoption and presents it in a framework of parental and familial loving and cherishing. […] Sisters at New Dawn cleverly embeds the issue of adoption into a popular convention of children’s literature, the school story.”
“Sure to tickle the imagination”
“The idea of a man sitting in mid-air and counting ideas is my favourite!”
“Think Big! is a gentle, uplifting story about children who dare to dream, even when self-doubt creeps in. Through a simple school setting, the book shows how a small idea sparks hesitation, fear, and finally courage. What I loved is how it normalises fear of failure and turns it into a lesson on confidence. A sweet, empowering read for kids—and a quiet reminder for adults too.”
“Her book traverses the endearing ways in which children navigate rights and wrongs, take decisions, and desire gentle affirmations. She packs in little lessons within the conversations, without making the children sound preachy.”
“It is an unputdownable novel that tackles the often-taboo subjects of mental health and grief with compassion and depth. […] This is a book that lingers long after the last page is turned, making it a significant piece of literature.”
“The author’s writing captured my heart, from the moment she mentioned the rich brown earthen hues of the forest to the sweetness of the blue-white skies.”
“Uncontrollable” isn’t just the title of the book, its also the urge to finish the book once you pick it up! This was the first novel in verse I’ve read and am now in love with the genre! When I received the book from Penguinsters for review, I was unsure of what to expect. Will the verse format be able to do justice to a fantasy story? Was the big question in my mind. But Varsha Seshan just knocks it out of the park. So much detail in such few words!”
“This book was unlike any other read she has read so far ..it was unique, intriguing and kept her excited all through. […] The themes of healthy and ethical election and competition was highlighted beautifully and the most important was the theme of friendship between the competitors […] We definitely need more such books for these young minds!!”
“A heart-warming and uplifting story […] The Best Idea of All by Varsha Seshan combines a familiar scenario with the feel of new-age childhood- where children want to reach beyond and make a difference to the world”
“Loved how this was crafted and all the detailing that went into the story. […]. The illustrations complemented the world-building beautifully”
“These stories remind me of the simplicity and beauty of everyday life.”
“… a well-sketched story which quickly grips you.”
“Satisfying story with a beautiful end.”
“Mesmerizing”
“Cutest book ever! Brings back the long lost art of letter writing as two friends communicate with each other only through letters that they leave for each other in the crevice of a wall! They've never met but the power of words has brought them close and helped them navigate complex feelings and topics.”
“100% recommended”
“Uncontrollable by @varshaseshan a middle grade fantasy fiction book in verse and I must say that I was sucked into the vortex of a fantastical, mysterious world she has created.”
“the way the author writes this delicate story is quite fascinating. Listen to this: instead of saying “it was a day to be lazy,” the author writes, “it was a day to laze and lounge and dream.” What a way to put it! I recommend this book for everyone because of its humour”
“… the right mix of suspense, adventure, friendship and innocence.”
“This is a collection of charming children's short stories of different hues […]. I think this would be a good read for slightly older children, say 9+.”
“beautifully written”
Got something to pin up?
Write to Varsha about a book you’ve read. Your note could end up on this board.