The blurb of Hope in the Valley speaks of how the book is a tale of "growing up in Silicon Valley at a time when immigrants are looked at with suspicion". With news coming in from all over the world--and most recently from Belfast--I can't help wondering, how much has changed? How is it that a book set almost fifty years ago is still relevant today? Hope in the Valley is a layered story told from the point of view of the youngest of three siblings, Pandita Paul. Pandita doesn't want things to change. She doesn't want the house across the street to be demolished, and she doesn't feel set for middle school, especially now that her erstwhile best friend is friends with trendy Katrina Reed. She certainly doesn't want to join drama camp, but when it's something her father asks her to do for him, what can she say? The various threads of the story are beautifully woven together to bring … [Read more...]
Becoming Naomi León
Some time ago, I read about how searching for belonging creates among the most powerful children's stories. Time and time again, that rings true. Becoming Naomi León is the story of a young girl and her brother Owen, who are being raised by their Gram. As with Foxlight, Naomi has dreams of how her mother does want her, will want her, will shower her with love, and bring her family. As expected, Naomi's mother does turn up. But she's nothing like Naomi imagined. She's unpredictable, alternately showing love and blazing in anger. Worst of all, her mother wants Naomi, but not Owen. What is Naomi to do? Becoming Naomi León is a beautiful story of courage, love, and making difficult choices. Can Naomi live up to her name and become the lion she is? Can she stand firmly in support of what she wants, even though being abandoned led to selective mutism that she continues to struggle … [Read more...]
Wild
I read Boy 87 by Ele Fountain several years ago, and it stayed with me. Stark, powerful, frightening--I still remember the mood it left me with. And Wild is no different. Jack is a bundle of rage and resentment. His mother never had time for him. Why should anything change? Why must he suddenly forge a relationship with her when the only person he wants to be with is gone? Bubbling with frustration, he doesn't care what he does. If it means getting into trouble at school, so be it. Full of raw energy and power, each page of Wild pulses with Jack's anger, and the anticipation just keeps building as we read on. We dread what he will do next, terrified at everything that could go wrong. And yet, just like Boy 87, Wild is, ultimately, a story of courage and hope, of doing the right thing. Jack is lost but perhaps he can find his way again. And maybe he isn't as alone as he … [Read more...]
The Case of the Vanishing Gods
I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, and that is what makes it all the more remarkable how well the M4 series by Mallika Ravikumar works for me. I read The Case of the Mysterious Witches some time ago, and it left a powerful impression on me. The Case of the Vanishing Gods was no different. The story begins with a simple robbery--Mrs Shenoy's jewellery is stolen, and along with it, an antique idol. Malhar, a fan of detective stories, is determined to find the criminal, and soon, he ropes in his sister Meera. However, two urban kids living in a bubble of privilege have little experience of a murky world where innocent people are jailed and beaten. Enter Mirchi, who might not be able to read well but certainly knows the ways of the world. With the dog Munna, we have the M4 who dip their toes into a theft and find themselves neck deep in a racket far bigger than they imagined. What I … [Read more...]
Mondays Are Murder
I used to read a lot of Tanya Landman when I was a member of the British Library. I remember Apache, Hell and High Water and The Goldsmith's Daughter, but I feel I've read more! Recently, at Kahaani Box, I found Mondays Are Murder, and even though I don't usually pick up murder mysteries, I picked it up because it was by Tanya Landman ... and I wasn't disappointed! Poppy Fields is off camping on a remote Scottish island. But one by one, all the camping instructors start dropping dead. Could it be a ghost? A series of accidents? Or murder? I don't think I've read any other murder mysteries for this age group, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. For one, unlike most other books in the genre, it wasn't a thick volume with detail after detail that the reader must remember. It's all of 107 pages of action and adventure. For another, I am not a fan of gore or any graphic details, and … [Read more...]
The Piano
I've been meaning to read The Piano by Nandita Basu for a long time. I read and loved Rain Must Fall, and although Starry, Starry Night didn't entirely work for me, I loved the idea and the artwork. The Piano is another lovely graphic novel, a sweeping story that takes us from 1912 to 2012 in just a few pages. I like how sparsely it is told, allowing us to ride through the story, tasting its beauty, and rejoicing in the relationships forged. The Piano is inspired by a real piano that author Nandita Basu was drawn to many years ago. Her investigation into the origin of her piano led her to tell this story, the story of an instrument crafted in 1912 in Leipzig. Although Jorge, the original recipient of the piano, cares nothing for it, the piano eventually crosses time and place, finding its way to a girl who is in search of a friend. History and story are woven together to create a … [Read more...]
The Case of the Mysterious Witches
What a powerful, important book! I haven't read the first two M4 mysteries, but I have read--and admired--some of Mallika Ravikumar's other work. My first was the award-winning The District Cup, which I loved. More recently, I read The Battle for Baramulla, and I commented on how meticulously researched it is. That's what makes The Case of the Mysterious Witches stand out too. Detailed, eye-opening and hard-hitting, it is a pacy, gripping read that makes the reader stop and think. The Case of the Mysterious Witches begins with the discovery of a woman being chased and beaten by an angry mob. Aghast, the M4--three children and a dog--race to her rescue. Soon, however, they are enmeshed in a larger social problem, one that deals with daakins and chudails, witches and evil spirits. Through the lens of caste and gender, the author examines the branding of women as witches and … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Top 3 Young Adult Books -2025
I can't remember how many young adult books I read in 2025, but there were just three books that stood out to me. The White Lotus I've recommended The White Lotus to more readers than I can count! A powerful work of historical fiction, what makes it stand out is the way in which the feisty protagonist Arali stands out without seeming oddly anachronistic. She develops slowly and believable, with circumstances shaping ehr character. Although I don't read mystery much, everything about the story drew me in--the sensitive storytelling, the believable characters, and the compelling plot. Book review With the Fire on High Elizabeth Acevedo's storytelling is stunning. I love how she tackles difficult subjects head-on, layering courage with love as she touches upon a range of themes. With the Fire on High is about a … [Read more...]
Top 16 Middle-Grade Books – 2025
SIXTEEN middle-grade books stood out to me last year! When I looked at my list, I did a quick count of how many books I read in all. I lost count at sixty! Of course, that includes picture books and chapter books that make for quicker reads. Here's my list, beginning with the books I gave five stars and then moving to those with 4.5. Willodeen What can one say about Katherine Applegate's writing that hasn't been said before? Willodeen is a stunning book, richly textured and beautifully detailed. It's a work of fantasy that brilliantly touches upon ideas and themes that are relevant to our very real world. Through hummingbears and screechers, she shows us what havoc we're wreaking on the world around us. Book review Gossamer Gossamer by Lois Lowry is another gorgeous book. I often find myself thinking that I … [Read more...]
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