In honor of the Festival of Lights, here are some books about the celebration of Diwali along with picture books, fiction, and nonfiction by and about South Asian and South Asian American people. These books for young readers — all recommended at the time of their publication by The Horn Book Magazine and Guide/Reviews Database — can be a part of a child’s holiday observation or an introduction to new traditions. See also "Happy Holi!" about spring's "Festival of Colors."

Thanks always to our friends at Mango & Marigold Press (formerly Bharat Babies) and Kitaab World and Lantern Reads whose shared mission highlights children's books by and about South Asian people and cultures and whose recommendations inform our list. And to Tara Books for continuing to send us their eye-catching titles for review consideration.

See also Uma Krishnaswami's excellent 2019 Horn Book Magazine article "Why Stop at Mirrors and Windows?: Children's Book Prisms" and her 2012 article "No Joke! Humor and Culture in Middle-Grade Books." Sayantani DasGupta explored "radical imagination" in 2021's "Imagining Our Way to the Other Side: Children's Literature and Radical Imagination" and #OwnVoices in 2019's "My Characters Don't Wear Shoes in the House." Then there's Padma Venkatraman's 2020 article "Compassion as Well as Correctness." And here are Sadaf Siddique's companion articles (with Heidi Rabinowitz) "We Need Diverse Jewish and Muslim Books: A Conversation" from 2020 and "We Need Diverse Muslim and Jewish Books: An Update" from 2023.

Nonfiction

Alznauer, Amy The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan
48 pp. Candlewick, 2020. ISBN 978-0-7636-9048-9

Gr. K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Miyares. This eloquently written picture-book biography gives voice to the brilliant—and self-taught—mathematician Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan. Born in South India in the late nineteenth century, Ramanujan was a late talker, and when he finally did speak, his unusual questions set him apart. "What is small?...And what is big?" As the boy thought long and hard about infinity, "numbers leaped and roared." However, "in school, numbers were different, stiff and straight, obeying the rules." After he flunked out of college (he ignored his non-math courses), his mother arranged a ­marriage for him, and he ­eventually found work as a clerk in Madras. Encouraged by local mathematicians and his British supervisors, he wrote letters to the top mathematicians at Cambridge University. In 1914, Ramanujan traveled to England, eager to share his mathematical insights—and to no longer feel isolated, "like the first man in the world with no one to hear me speak." Alznauer employs a handful of Tamil words to good effect, and articulately conveys the concept of infinity. She also revisits, quite poignantly, Ramanujan's spiritual anchor—his grandmother's dream of a Hindu goddess who promised to "write the thoughts of God on [his] tongue." Miyares's ink-wash illustrations play with light and dark in realistic scenes and whimsical number-filled spreads. An author's note includes further biographical details and explains that many of the thoughts and quotes are "inspired by" Ramanujan's actual words; a bibliography is also appended.

Bascomb, Neal The Salt Thief: Gandhi's Heroic March to Freedom
272 pp. Scholastic/Focus, 2024. ISBN 9781338701999 Ebook ISBN 9781338702002

Illustrated by Mithil Thaker. In his latest work of narrative nonfiction, Bascomb (recently The Race of the Century, rev. 3/22) delivers a clear and absorbing account of Mohandas Gandhi’s (“or, as many of his countrymen called him, ‘The Mahatma’ [Great Soul]”) Salt March and its impact on the world. The book details how Gandhi (1869–1948), educated in London, spent two decades in South Africa developing and applying his theory of nonviolence before returning to India. When he devised his civil disobedience campaign of marching to the sea to collect salt in protest of the heinous British salt tax, he was accompanied by several dozen devout followers. The 1930 march helped to unite the diverse country behind Gandhi and brought attention to the unjust violence of the British occupiers. The book provides perspective on how the Salt March transformed the Indian independence movement in important ways, although complete independence would not happen for another fifteen years. Bascomb covers a lot of ground in these pages, in terms of both chronology and geography. A map would have been welcome, but portraits of the leading characters preface the narrative, and occasional black-and-white illustrations add visual interest. A bibliography, source notes, and an index (unseen) are appended.

Bradbury, Jennifer Rock by Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand
48 pp. Atheneum/Dlouhy, 2021. ISBN 978-1-4814-8182-3 Ebook ISBN 978-1-4814-8183-0

Gr. K-3 Illustrated by Sam Boughton. Not a formally trained artist, Nek Chand built the famed Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India, "rock by rock," using discarded and found materials. Bradbury's text illuminates the artist's intuitive creative process as a means of easing his feelings of dislocation and homesickness after the Partition of India causes him and other Hindus to depart their ancestral villages, now considered part of the new Muslim nation of Pakistan. "That missing moved from his heart into his hands, and his hands knew what to do," writes Bradbury in the scene where Chand first finds the secluded piece of land on which he builds the garden, with its myriad sculptures, structures, and a "maze of tunnels and paths and arches and stairs." The garden serves as both a monument to the home Chand lost and a secret means of bringing joy and beauty to his new home. When others discover the garden (now grown to cover over forty acres), they are astounded, and the community rallies to save it from officials who threaten to tear it down in the name of development. Throughout, Boughton's illustrations burst with color. The art emulates Chand's use of found materials in its incorporation of newsprint and fabrics into digital collage. The illustrations make several overt references to some of Chand's actual figures, structures, and mosaics, with back-matter pages treating readers to photographs of the Rock Garden and of Chand himself. Pair with Rosenstock and Nivola's The Secret Kingdom (rev. 3/18).

Faruqi, Reem Milloo's Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women's Education
40 pp. HarperCollins/Harper, 2023. ISBN 9780063056619

Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi. In 1930, Maryam "Milloo" Faruqi (the author's grandmother) lived in India and was in fifth grade when her parents told her she didn't need to go to school anymore. At that time, "this is what was expected" of girls. Milloo changed her parents' minds, completing high school and college. Reading was the gateway to physical and emotional harmony. "When she read, her thoughts danced, her mind breathed, and her heart hummed." After marriage, she was unhappy being a housewife, so she opened a school in her home, which led to several more schools in the region. Her legacy was providing education to thousands of girls and nurturing a love of reading and learning. Vivid verbs keep the text snappy, as, for example, Milloo "spun," "cha-chaed," "tiptoed," "snaked," and "danced" her way to school on a circuitous pathway. Paper collage illustrations in bright colors steal the show with lots of detail in textiles, which are embellished with stitching and gold-leaf accents. A glossary and author's note contextualize terms, provide additional historical background, and describe Milloo's other accomplishments, such as founding the Happy Home Schools in Pakistan. This visually impressive, heartwarming tale pays homage to a trailblazing advocate for literacy and education for girls in a predominantly Muslim context.

Heiligman, Deborah Celebrate Diwali
32 pp. National Geographic, 2006. ISBN 0-7922-5922-X LE ISBN 0-7922-5923-8

Gr. K-3 Holidays around the World series. This book uses short, simple sentences and large, colorful, well-captioned photographs to explain Diwali's customs and traditions. Written with a global perspective in mind, the text's use of the "we" voice (rather than "they") makes the information seem more authentic and respectful. Recipes and a game are provided; an essay written by a religion professor is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Narayanan, Priya Friend of Numbers: The Life of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan
40 pp. Eerdmans, 2023. ISBN 9780802856081

Illustrated by Satwik Gade. Born in 1887 in southern India, Srinivasa Ramanujan would, before his untimely death in 1920, become one of the most influential mathematicians of the twentieth century. In an admiring view of an extraordinary individual, Narayanan chronicles Ramanujan's life: from curious young son of a clerk who sees numbers and patterns wherever he gazes, to his travels to Cambridge, England, where he impresses Europe's greatest mathematicians with his novel approaches to numerical thinking, and finally to his illness-induced return to India and death. The clear and succinct text explains Ramanujan's mathematical ideas in a thoroughly understandable manner. Gade's vivid digital art displays Ramanujan's unique mathematical daydreams for readers, helping them to begin to see the patterns that fascinated him. Numbers, patterns, graphs, and diagrams are scattered within most spreads, helping convey the idea that his mind never strayed from his obsession with numbers. Significant back matter (including an informative author's note, a glossary, and an explanation of magic squares) allows Narayanan to fully flesh out Ramanujan's continued importance to both the field of mathematics and the people of India.

Reynolds, Jan The Lion Queens of India
32 pp. Lee & Low, 2020. ISBN 978-1-64379-051-0

Gr. K-3 Gir Wildlife Sanctuary’s first female forest ranger and original “Lion Queen,” Rashila Vadher, narrates this compelling introduction to her life’s work. The sanctuary is home to more than five hundred Asiatic lions—the only wild population left in the world—and a key part of the Lion Queens’ mission is raising awareness about the plight of this endangered species, which faced near-extinction in the early 1900s. Reynolds’s effectively organized presentation appropriately centers conservation as well. The rangers’ duties include patrolling sections of the forest to track lions (and poachers) and providing medical care when necessary. They also work with neighboring villages to educate inhabitants about lions’ importance in the forest ecosystem and the necessity of maintaining the “natural balance of the forest.” Weighing human and animal needs is a constant for the Lion Queens: “How can humans and animals both thrive, living near each other and competing for the same resources?” Vadher’s passion for her work, respect for the lions, and commitment to education come through in the conversational text and many well-chosen photos (some taken by the author); a welcoming page design helps engage readers in the narrative—which has a lot to offer a wide range of interests. In an author’s note, Reynolds talks more about Vadher’s experiences and about her own visit to the sanctuary. A bibliography is appended.

Singh, Rina 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl
36 pp. Kids Can, 2020. ISBN 978-1-5253-0120-9 Ebook ISBN 978-1-5253-0584-9

Gr. K-3 Citizen Kid series. Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. To honor his young daughter's memory, Sundar Paliwal proposes that his Indian village plants 111 trees for each baby girl born. He hopes this act will help change the deeply held belief that "a daughter was a burden..." and counter decades of environmental damage caused by mining. Changing people's minds takes effort and time, but Sundar persists and eventually sees his dream become reality. Accompanied by Ferrer's stylized illustrations in muted earth tones, Singh's approachable text conveys how one person's passion and commitment can have tremendous impact on their community. Five pages at the end of the book discuss in more detail Sundar's mission, gender inequality, the project's "extraordinary changes," and "eco-feminism."

Singh, Rina Diwali: Festival of Lights
95 pp. Orca 2016. ISBN 978-1-4598-1007-5 Ebook ISBN 978-1-4598-1008-2

Gr. 4-6 Orca Origins series. This book successfully expresses that Diwali is celebrated differently around the world. Hindu, Jain, and Sikh Diwali traditions are represented through photographs of celebrations, related legends, included recipes, and anecdotal narratives about real people. Though losing focus as it attempts to cover related topics such as Indian immigration, the book offers in-depth depictions of cultural and religious practices. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Singh, Rina The Forest Keeper: The True Story of Jadav Payeng
40 pp. NorthSouth, 2023. ISBN 9780735845053

Illustrated by Ishita Jain. In 1979 in remote northeastern India, sixteen-year-old Jadav Payeng is troubled by the way the river "goes wild" during monsoon season: it overflows, ravages islands, and decimates wildlife. Young Jadav proposes to plant trees on sandbars and islands as a way to anchor the soil against the river's raging currents. He starts by planting bamboo seedlings, and when those thrive, he experiments with additional species of trees and plants. Thirty years later, "a forest was born," drawing birds and wildlife including tigers, rhinos, and elephants, and "guarding the island" from future destruction. The illustrations make excellent use of color: vibrant shades of green accompany the many burgeoning forest scenes, but there are also visual surprises in a red dawn sky or orange flames that erupt from a blue-black night scene. Varied page layouts aid in the progression of the action, from Payeng's painstaking efforts to sow the seeds to an individual plant's growth. An inspiring true story of an environmental activist whose important work began in his teens and spanned a lifetime. An author's note provides further information about the "Forest Man of India."

Singh, Rina The Lion Queen: Rasila Vadher, the First Woman Guardian of the Last Asiatic Lions
40 pp. Abrams/Cameron, 2023. ISBN 9781951836849 Ebook ISBN 9781647009885

Illustrated by Tara Anand. Singh tells the real-life story of how, at age twenty-one and despite coming from an underprivileged background, Rasila Vadher became the first woman forest guard in Gir Forest National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary, established in Gujarat, India, to protect Asiatic lions. Narrated in first-person prose that captures Vadher’s lion-hearted spirit and the risky but rewarding nature of her work, the book describes how pivotal (and painful) events in her childhood thrust her into the role of family breadwinner, stoked her passion for protecting the large, powerful cats, and prepared her to challenge gender bias. Back matter lists intriguing facts about Asiatic lions and acquaints readers with the Lion Queens—an all-woman forest patrol whose members Vadher trained. Minimalist digital illustrations in tropical monsoon colors create a sense of openness that echoes Vadher’s mindset. Pair with Reynolds’s The Lion Queens of India (rev. 1/21).

Picture Books

Dairman, Tara Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy
32 pp. Putnam, 2020. ISBN 978-0-525-51806-8 EBook ISBN 978-0-525-51807-5

Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan. In this beautifully rendered study of contrasts and commonalities, Dairman imagines a girl and boy from two different biomes in India. Split pages portray the girl going about her day collecting firewood with her family, embroidering patterns with her grandmother, and eating family meals under the desert sky (the back matter indicates that the community is the Rabari nomadic tribe). The yellows of the girl’s dusty surroundings contrast with the lush greens and blues of the boy’s village environment. As heavy monsoon clouds threaten to burst, he attends to his day—going to school, herding goats with his grandfather, and splashing in muddy puddles. As the weather brings about sandstorms (for the girl) and floods (for the boy), both families are forced to move to higher ground—where the children finally meet. Intersecting panels highlight their parallel stories, while the spare rhyming text complements the arresting visuals. This book not only examines climate change through the eyes of communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on the weather, but also provides a starting point for conversations on gendered roles as well as about migration as a form of survival—and how our lives are interconnected. The back matter notes Sreenivasan’s research, including community members’ input into making the book.

Engle, Margarita , Karanjit, Amish & Karanjit, Nicole A Dog Named Haku: A Holiday Story from Nepal

32 pp. Millbrook, 2018. ISBN 978-1-5124-3205-3 Ebook ISBN 978-1-5415-2469-9

Illustrated by Ruth Jeyaveeran. In Kathmandu during the Festival of Lights—called Swanti, Tihar, or Deepawali in Nepal (Diwali in India)—two brothers look for a kukur (stray dog) to honor during the celebration. Coauthor Amish Karanjit, Engle's son-in-law, lived through the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, when rescue dogs played an important role in finding survivors. The interesting holiday story is illustrated with cultural specificity. Suggested activities are appended. Reading list. Glos.

Ghosh, Labanya The Mountains of Mumbai

40 pp. Karadi Tales, 2020 ISBN 978-81-9365-429-3

Illustrated by Pallavi Jain. Doma misses the mountains of Ladakh, a region in Kashmir administered by India, bordering Tibet and Pakistan. Known for its remoteness, jagged mountains, rocky outcrops, and unique culture as a former Buddhist kingdom, it's nothing like the cosmopolitan city of Mumbai--or is it? Her friend Veda believes that Mumbai can give Doma the feeling of Ladakh's mountains, albeit in a different way. "Do mountains have to be exactly like the ones in Ladakh? Big, brown triangles?" Veda asks as the girls make their way through the city. They walk through bustling outdoor markets and streets, while bright-hued illustrations show more expansive views of the city that zoom out far enough to emphasize color and geography: the iconic Bandra-Worli bridge has large, mountain-like, ­triangular-shaped cables, while aerial street views flatten ­proportions, turning buildings into color-saturated blocks. Veda leads Doma into a high-rise building, up many flights of a swirling spiral staircase, shown from both a top-down perspective and a ­disorienting double-page corkscrew. Doma concedes that being on top of a "mountain in Mumbai" brings a similar feeling to being in Ladakh. While the cultural and geographic specificity of Ladakh is what makes the book unique, readers come away from it challenged to view objects and locations in new ways that foster connections, despite differences.

Gopal, Jyoti Rajan American Desi
40 pp. Little, 2022. ISBN 978-0-316-70530-1

Illustrated by Supriya Kelkar. A young American desi (someone of South Asian descent living elsewhere) compares the disparate parts of her own cultural makeup. "Pavadais in bright gold colors / Jersey shirts and faded jeans / Swapping, changing, feeling seen... / Which is the color of me?" While the child's voice is initially curious, there's never any hint of self-consciousness, and the tone becomes proud and grateful. The gently rhyming text uses a dynamic refrain ("Finding the sounds of me," "Blending the flavors of me," etc.) to empower cultural identities of all kinds; Kelkar's rich collages, a potpourri of paper, fabric, and other media, are wonderfully suited to this celebration of "blending, merging, taking wing..."

Khiani, Darshana How to Wear a Sari

32 pp. Houghton/Versify, 2021. ISBN 978-1-328-63520-4 Ebook ISBN 978-0-358-53188-3

Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. A direct-address text demands the reader's attention with the query: "Are you tired of being treated like a little kid?" Who isn't! A brown-skinned South Asian "little kid" in pigtails believes that all she needs to do to be taken seriously is to dress herself in a "colorful, twinkly, silky sari." The offstage narrator walks the girl through the steps of folding and pleating it and putting it on, but nothing goes (or looks) as it should. The petticoat and pleats aren't quite right; a hole appears in the fabric. Instead of obsessing over those faults, the girl loads each of her appendages with bangle bracelets and dons sparkly high-heeled sandals, all borrowed from her unsuspecting mother. As the narrator exhorts her to "go show...your glamorous grown-up look" to her family, the girl starts to teeter on her high heels. A page-turn reveals her careening into an extended family gathering; food, drink, and sandals fly through the air. Illustrations employ a colorful palette that pays homage to richly hued sari fabrics, contrasting a sari's elegance with the girl's clumsy earnestness. Her understanding family takes her youthful missteps with a healthy dose of humor, assuring readers that maybe being a "little kid' isn't so bad after all.

Krishnaswami, Uma Look! Look!
32 pp. Groundwood, 2024. ISBN 9781773069326 Ebook ISBN 9781773069333

Illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy. A young girl passes by an unremarkable patch of ground on her way to and from school. One day she notices “something small and gray beneath a clump of weeds.” She and her friends clear some of the weeds and accumulated garbage and find “stones upon even more stones.” The children tell their elders, and word spreads throughout the neighboring villages. Everyone helps dig until they unearth steps leading to an ancient well. The girl’s grandmother recalls stories from long ago about old wells that caught rainwater. And when the rains come, waking up “deep, sleeping springs,” they send water to the old well. Slowly the dry and dusty fields turn green, and butterflies, bees, crickets, and other creatures return. Resembling tribal Gond art, the acrylic, poster-color, and watercolor illustrations are rich with details of traditional Indian village life, including people collecting firewood, women balancing water pots, carts piled with fruits and vegetables. Accompanying the lively prose, Krishnaswami’s refrain—“Look! Look!”—captures the joy of discovery that unites the community. As the villagers work together to clear out the abandoned well, they learn about ancient methods of water preservation that bring the fields, flora, and fauna back to life. An author’s note provides context.

LaRocca, Rajani Masala Chai, Fast and Slow
40 pp. Candlewick, 2023. ISBN 9781536219401

Illustrated by Neha Rawat. Aarav, a young South Asian boy, is zippy and bursting with energy while his thatha (grandfather) is calm, patient, and prone to taking his time. Despite being polar opposites, the two enjoy a close bond cemented by Aarav’s love of the stories and masala chai that his grandfather expertly concocts. When Thatha is immobilized by a minor injury, Aarav longs to comfort him with masala tea, but his attempts to brew it are repeatedly hampered by his hastiness. Only when Aarav finally heeds Thatha’s expostulations, does he come to appreciate that slowing down just might be the recipe for caring for those we hold dear. The text pairs well with Rawat’s straightforward, heartwarming digital illustrations. An author's note connects the story to cherished traditions in LaRocca’s family, and a recipe for masala chai is appended.

Menon, Uma My Mother's Tongues: A Weaving of Languages
32 pp. Candlewick, 2024. ISBN 9781536222517

Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Sumi's mother switches effortlessly between Malayalam, a regional language from Kerala, India, and English. She speaks Malayalam to Sumi's grandmother, a mix of English and Malayalam to Sumi, and English to others outside the family. Sumi reflects on how her mother's two languages are "woven together like a fine cloth." She knows her mother worked hard to develop proficiency in English, but when she moved to America, unfamiliar words and phrases made her "two tongues" feel like they "were twisted into pretzels." As Sumi travels between America and India, she too works hard to learn two languages and connect with those around her. In awe of this apparent "superpower," she hopes to learn many more languages in order to "speak with people who live in every part of the world." Menon's respectful story highlights the power of multilingualism and examines the link between accents and identity. Bell's tactile mixed-media illustrations incorporate an inventive representation of textiles, fonts, and images reflecting each locale, from a scene of boating in Kerala to a snowy day in America. A diverse cast of characters with a variety of skin tones underscores the focus on multilingualism and multiculturalism. A thought-provoking look at the connecting power of language.

Mepani, Kusum Meena's Saturday
40 pp. Penguin/Kokila, 2024. ISBN 9780593110317 Ebook ISBN 9780593110324

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail. This captivating ode to weekly gatherings of friends and extended family brims with affection for foods, activities, and traditions shared by a loving, large group crowded together in the narrator’s home. Mepani revels in specific references to Gujarati Indian culture within an immigrant experience in an Anglophone country. Young Meena, with her precocious, fierce perspective, is the star of the story. Beginning with early-morning chai, Meena narrates shopping and meal preparations overseen by her mother, greeting beloved cousins and other guests, watching Bollywood films and dancing, and finally enjoying a splendid feast. All the while, she questions strict gender norms, notes the tightly knit fabric of her community, and offers matter-of-fact commentary on her bicultural, bilingual experience. It’s a testament to Mepani’s writerly chops that such reflections feel integral to the storytelling and never tacked on; illustrator Ismail meets and enhances this achievement. Busy, vibrant mixed-media pictures of Meena and her friends and family bear stylistic resemblance to Bob Graham’s, Helen Oxenbury’s, and Quentin Blake’s work but are entirely Ismail’s own. An ­excellent pick for any day of the week.

Nainy, Mamta A Sari for Ammi
32 pp. Amazon Crossing Kids, 2021. ISBN 978-1-54203-507-1

Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. The narrator and her sister marvel at the beautiful saris that Ammi (mother) and Abba (father) make to sell at the haat (market); an intricate and laborious art form, one sari can take months to complete. The girls decide that Ammi deserves to keep one for herself—and when their piggybank savings don't cover the cost, they raise the rest themselves. A sweet family story about appreciation, sacrifice, and generational traditions is woven into an overview of this centuries-old regional artisanship in Northern India. The bright digital illustrations do justice to the rich colors and patterns of sari-weaving. More about "The Saris of Kaithoon" and a glossary are appended.

Perkins, Mitali Home Is in Between
40 pp. Farrar, 2021. ISBN 978-0-374-30367-9 Ebook ISBN 978-0-374-38944-4

Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu. Shanti says goodbye to the village that is her home, a place of "warm monsoon rains" and "green palm trees" and extended family; she arrives in a town of "cold rain and orange and yellow leaves." There is a new language, new currency, new manners, new holidays. It's a challenge, but the young girl begins to learn a new way of life while still actively preserving the one she knew by continuing traditions at home with her parents. On some spreads, Shanti runs back and forth "remembering the village. Learning the town. Again and again. In Between." Eventually, she gets tired of the constant push and pull ("Where was she from? Village? Town?") and decides to make her home right there, in between cultures ("She was good at making anywhere feel like home"). Shanti's enthusiasm for both her home village and her new town offers a refreshing view of multiculturalism as a source of a rich life. Perkins's prose is rhythmic and controlled, with just enough detail to immerse readers in Shanti's experience and follow her satisfying journey. Naidu's cartoonlike illustrations, in a warm color palette, are energetic and full of emotional expression, adding layers to the story and making Shanti an endearing and memorable character.

Sehgal, Kabir & Sehgal, Surishtha Mother Goose Goes to India
32 pp. Simon/Beach Lane, 2022. ISBN 978-1-5344-3960-3 Ebook ISBN 978-1-5344-3961-0

Illustrated by Wazza Pink. In the same vein as the authors' A Bucket of Blessings (retelling an Indian myth) and The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk, the mother-son coauthors recast Mother Goose classics for an audience of culturally South Asian tots. "Jai Be Nimble," "Humpty Dumpty," "Pat-a-Naan," and more: each nursery rhyme maintains the original's characteristic rhythm while subbing-in one or more Hindi words (defined with pronunciation below). In parallel with the Sehgals' English-Hindi mashups, the digital illustrations include both familiar Mother Goose imagery and South Asian cultural details, such as traditional clothing and lotus design motifs.

Sehgal, Kabir and Sehgal, Surishtha The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk
40 pp. Simon/Beach Lane 2015. ISBN 978-1-4814-4831-4 Ebook ISBN 978-1-4814-4832-1

Illustrated by Jess Golden. In an amusing adaptation of the children's song, young readers ride in an Indian tuk tuk (also known as an auto rickshaw) and encounter a smattering of the subcontinent's sights including the traditional "namaste-ji" greeting, the holy cows that wander freely, and a Diwali celebration. The author's note and glossary explain these elements simply. Festive watercolor, pastel, and colored-pencil illustrations enhance the ride.

Shamsi, Shirin The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of Partition
40 pp. Atheneum, 2022. ISBN 978-1-6659-0679-1 Ebook ISBN 978-1-6659-0680-7

Illustrated by Tarun Lak. When India is partitioned in 1947, Azra and her Muslim family members carefully plan their journey to Lahore, in what will be Pakistan, from their home in the Himalayan town of Dehradun in India. However, sudden violence calls for a hasty departure, and the family escapes, dinner still hot on the stove. In the chaos, Azra forgets her beloved doll, Gurya. Digital illustrations show caravans of families fleeing on foot and by crowded trains; the sequencing of several vignette illustrations on a double-page spread deftly captures the chaotic jumble of events. Upon reaching Lahore, where the new Pakistani flag waves, Azra's family moves into a house that, like theirs, was abandoned hastily, and Azra finds a doll under the bed. With a page-turn, a wordless image shows a Hindu family entering Azra's house and a little girl finding Azra's Gurya. A concluding split double-page spread, comfortingly, ­juxtaposes the two girls smiling at the dolls in their respective new homes. Back matter contains a map, a glossary, and further context about Partition. This child's perspective on a major twentieth-century instance of forced migration is rendered with both tenderness and urgency.

Sirdeshpande, Rashmi Dadaji’s Paintbrush
32 pp. Levine Querido, 2022. ISBN 978-1-64614-172-2

Illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane. In a small village in India, a boy and his grandfather (dadaji) enjoy growing and selling fruits in the local market together, as well as reading, and making paper boats for the village children to sail down the street during the monsoon rains. Above all else, they love to paint together, and the grandfather often invites the village children to join them. When the grandfather passes away, the boy locks up all of the artwork and painting supplies; they are too painful a reminder of what he has lost. The soft, smudgy pastel illustrations capture the boy’s sense of loss by changing from warm colors to muted, dull tones. As time passes and the boy processes his grief, bursts of light and color start to creep back in. When a little girl asks the boy to teach her how to paint, it rekindles his joy and he unearths long-put-away objects, such as his grandfather’s best paintbrush. This book honors the complicated feelings of grief while offering hope and solace. The boy comes to the conclusion that the best way to honor his grandfather is by embracing, not forgetting, the things they loved to do together. Sharing his love of painting with others is how the boy knows that “his grandfather will always be with him.”

Srinivasan, Divya What I Am
40 pp. Viking, 2021. ISBN 978-0-59320-401-6 Ebook ISBN 978-0-59320-403-0

After a child with brown skin is asked a mystifying question—"What are you?"—the spare text and childlike illustrations cleverly posit the many (often opposing) whats she is. "I am dark. I am pale" appears over three small (differently melanized) hands reaching into a huddle-circle; the opposite page shows one set of bare tan-lined feet: "In summer I am many colors." The girl is also, for example, a "scaredy-cat" (mid-thunderstorm) then "brave" (catching bugs), and "not mischievous / (most of the time)." A note from the Indian American author explains the dehumanizing nature of the question and expands on the themes of dialectical self-images and identities.

Umrigar, Thrity Sugar in Milk

48 pp. Running, 2020. ISBN 978-0-7624-9519-1 Ebook ISBN 978-0-7624-9521-4

Illustrated by Khoa Le. Loneliness engulfs a young girl in her new life in America, where a roomful of toys and a loving aunt and uncle do little to dispel her homesickness. One day, her aunt tells her a folktale about Persians forced from their homeland seeking ­refuge in India. The Indian king, hesitant to host foreigners, pours a glass of milk and fills it to the brim to indicate that his kingdom is full. Disappointment ripples through the weary travelers. But their clever leader adds a spoonful of sugar to the glass and mixes it without spilling a drop, silently conveying the message that "just like sugar in milk, we will sweeten your lives with our presence." Having won over the king, the travelers, known as Parsis, are welcomed to their new home. The tale her aunt tells shifts the young girl's perspective, and she begins to open herself to her "new and magical homeland." This story of new beginnings, lushly illustrated, celebrates the threads of kindness and ­humanity that bind us together. ­Umrigar's text gracefully alternates between the contemporary U.S. of the girl's story and the ancient world of the folktale, incorporating both pathos and humor; Le's art, with its intricate mosaics and brilliant jewel tones, evokes setting and emotion. A border with dynamic swirls of vines as well as a contrasting typeface sets off the story-within-a-story with clarity. Images of the prophet ­Zoroastra and the deity Ahuramazda suggest that the girl's family, like the author, are Parsis.

Younger Fiction

Sheth, Kashmira The No-Dogs-Allowed Rule
117 pp. Whitman 2012. ISBN 978-0-8075-5694-8

Illustrated by Carl Pearce. East-Indian-American third-grader Ishan wants a dog but first must convince his mother to rescind the no-dogs-allowed rule. From making her parathas bread to pretending he is a dog, Ishan tries everything, with comically disastrous results. However, when their neighbor collapses, Ishan proves his dependability by calling 911 and caring for his dog. Ishan's relatable longings and efforts are accompanied by expressive black-and-white illustrations.

Singh, Vandana Younguncle Comes to Town
154 pp. Viking 2006. ISBN 0-670-06051-8

Illustrated by B. M. Kamath. Younguncle, renowned for adventuring, promises to brighten up the monsoon season when he visits his nephew and nieces. Singh's lively and often hilarious text is written with vocabulary normally reserved for older readers; for full comedic effect, it might best be read aloud. A few spot illustrations help readers picture the contemporary northern Indian setting and the fast-moving events.

Intermediate Fiction

Ahmed, Samira Amira & Hamza: The War to Save the Worlds
368 pp. Little, 2021. ISBN 978-0-316-54046-9 Ebook ISBN 978-0-316-54049-0

Twelve-year-old Amira and her younger brother Hamza, Muslim Indian American siblings in Chicago, are the heroes of this suspenseful, action-packed adventure filled with jinn, ghuls, devs, and other supernatural creatures from Islamic folklore. When the children disturb an ancient artifact in a museum exhibit, two jinn appear, informing them that they are "chosen ones" needed for a serious mission. They must save Earth and Qaf (the jinn homeland) from Ifrit, a "terrible and cruel dev" intent on destroying both worlds. This is a refreshingly different take on the kids-must-save-the-world story in that Amira and Hamza are the most anxious, reluctant, and nerdy heroes ever. Constant clashes between the bickering siblings provide comic relief, in contrast with the seriousness of the task at hand. Dangerous encounters with monstrous foes challenge the two to believe in themselves and work together to fulfill their mission. Fantasy-adventure fans will have a hard time putting down this fast-paced and engaging tale. Author's note and glossary not seen.

DasGupta, Sayantani The Chaos Curse
385 pp. Scholastic, 2020. ISBN 978-1-338-35589-5 Ebook ISBN 978-1-338-35592-5

Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series. Illustrated by Vivienne To. In the final installment of the trilogy, rumors of an alliance between evil Serpent King Sesha and the Demon Queen result in protagonist Kiran and friends, including the newly crowned Raja Neel, forming a resistance group of demons and humans to save the Kingdom Beyond Seven Oceans and Thirteen Rivers. Kiran leaves the Kingdom Beyond and travels across dimensions back to her native New Jersey, on a mission to rescue Neel's brother Prince Lal, aided by helpers: a bird, a gecko, and a gender-nonbinary tiger. But ever since Neel's coronation, Kiran has noticed something odd: reality is mixing with elements and characters from familiar tales, mashing stories from different cultures together (Pooh and Piglet appearing in a scene from a Bengali nursery rhyme, for instance). New Jersey brings further confusion: Kiran's parents have rejected their Bengali identities, and her best friend and her worst enemy have swapped places. But encounters with mythological Greek and Norse figures confirm her suspicions: she is in a different reality, and baddies have formed the Interdimensional Multivillain Anti-Chaos Committee to "destroy diversity" and collapse the multiverse into a singularity ruled by Sesha. DasGupta tackles metaphysics along with ideas of prejudice, colonization, erasure, and the importance of narrative complexity. Exploration of multiple realities also allows Kiran's development in recognizing her own biases and prejudices, in the Kingdom Beyond and in her life as a Jersey middle schooler.

DasGupta, Sayantani The Chaos Monster
240 pp. Scholastic, 2023. ISBN 9781338766738 Ebook ISBN 9781339006086

Secrets of the Sky series. Fourth-grade fraternal twins Kinjal and Kiya couldn't be more different. Kiya, "Lady Logic," is all facts, while Kinjal believes magic is real and is often accused of being a "chaos monster" who gets into trouble. When their dog is taken from the backyard by a swirling gray cloud, they set out to find him and are transported to another dimension in the multiverse called the Sky Kingdom, which is populated by magical creatures from Bengali folklore. The twins find assistance from several pakkhiraj (winged horses), who give them a larger mission of saving endangered bees. Without the bees' honey, the pakkhiraj and other mythical beings will die. In this fast-paced adventure, the twins learn that their immigrant parents are magical beings from another world who were exiled from their homeland. Lighthearted in tone, full of sibling banter, and composed of short, easy-to-digest chapters with interspersed grayscale illustrations, this book gives readers much food for thought about the role of myth in the everyday and the importance of conservation. In the afterword, the author posits that "string/multiverse theory...feels in keeping with the immigrant experience" of feeling out of place and "not really knowing where you come from." DasGupta's (The Chaos Curse, rev. 5/20, and sequels) thoughtful first installment of a new Kingdom Beyond–set multiverse series will leave readers eager for what comes next.

Farook, Nizrana The Boy Who Met a Whale
256 pp. Peachtree, 2022. ISBN 9781682633731

Farook (The Girl Who Stole an Elephant) returns to Serendib, her fictionalized Sri Lankan setting, for an exciting Treasure Island–style tale that pits three young protagonists against two murderous villains. Twelve-year-old twins Razi and Shifa help Zheng, also twelve, who has landed on their beach after escaping a shipwreck. Before his ship sank, Zheng managed to save a treasure map leading to the fabled Dagger of Seredib; but there are two other survivors desperate to get the map by any means necessary. Sea monsters, murderers, hidden treasure, a raging storm, and a fast-paced plot full of twists and turns and clever cliffhangers will pull readers into a tale that is also a moving family story. For example, young fisherman Razi must overcome his grief after a family tragedy left him with a fear of the sea. Short sentences laced with action verbs, short chapters, and specific details of the island setting ensure a lively reading experience.

Faruqi, Saadia The Partition Project
416 pp. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 2024. ISBN 9780063115811 Ebook ISBN 9780063115873

Seventh grader Mahnoor Raheem is less than thrilled when her Pakistani grandmother, Dadi, comes to live with them in Texas. Not only does Maha have to give up her bedroom, but her father also expects her to "babysit" his mother while he and Maha's mom work long hours at the hospital. Although her home life is disrupted, Maha is excited about her media studies elective; she sees the class as a steppingstone to pursuing her dream of becoming a journalist. A class project—making "a documentary on a topic that's newsworthy"—gives Maha the opportunity to learn more about Dadi's life and an appreciation for what history can teach us about the present. By spending time with her grandmother prepping meals, participating in her first Ramadan fast, and playing board games, she learns a great deal about the 1947 Partition of British India into India and Pakistan. Faruqi introduces readers to the Partition, the largest mass migration in history, through relatable characters experiencing recognizable middle-school dynamics. The conversational style of the historical retelling offsets some of the heavier issues of rampant violence, refugee resettlement, and trauma. Readers are rewarded with a deeply immersive and moving story as Maha experiences a shift in understanding of her hyphenated identities and connects her family's history to other immigrant experiences.

Faruqi, Saadia A Thousand Questions
320 pp. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 2020. ISBN 978-0-06-294320-0 Ebook ISBN 978-0-06-294322-4

Issues of home and belonging form the cornerstones of Faruqi's (author of the Yasmin early chapter books) first solo middle-grade novel. Mimi and her mother (her father left the family when Mimi was very young) are on a "forced vacation" from Houston to Pakistan to visit Mimi's only-seen-on-Skype grandparents. There she meets Sakina, the family cook's daughter, who dreams of a future that hinges on passing an English test to secure admission to school. The girls' initial hesitation gives way to a tentative friendship through summer afternoons spent learning English and Urdu, tasting mangoes, dealing with errant centipedes, and exploring Karachi together. Mimi, already at odds with her mother, is privy to Mom's prickly relationship with her own parents, and the family drama is heightened as secrets about Mimi's father are revealed. Told through the girls' alternating points of view, the novel examines contemporary urban Pakistan in all its complexity. Faruqi threads issues of privilege, poverty, democracy, and the meaning of family throughout the book. She manages to convey the realities of Sakina's hardscrabble life and Mimi's sense of abandonment without being heavy-handed. The author's note and glossary give a sense of Faruqi's personal connection to the city and its characters.

Guidroz, Rukhsanna Samira Surfs
416 pp. Penguin/Kokila, 2021. ISBN 9781984816191

Illustrated by Fahmida Azim. "Water can trick us," believes eleven-year-old Samira, recounting how the river had swallowed her grandparents as her family fled persecution in Burma. As unregistered Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, mired in poverty, resented by locals, and under constant fear of deportation, Samira's family lives in the shadows. Selling snacks on the beach to support her loved ones, Samira feels the acute loss of home, family, and c­ommunity. As she befriends other girls like her, and they learn to surf in secret, her relationship to water changes from ­trepidation to exhilaration. When she decides to take part in a surfing competition, Samira must navigate stringent gender norms; happily, the girls band together to uplift one another. Interspersed with black-and-white sketches, the spare verse contrasts Samira's carefree past and her present-day reality. Exploring fear and freedom in equal measure, the author presents a complex picture by relating the historical oppression and political exclusion of the Rohingya with Samira's trauma and the challenges of resettlement. Samira's ability to be both "grateful and angry" gives her a multifaceted personality that draws readers' empathy. Samira's story (one of few that highlight the plight of the Rohingya refugee community; see also the 2019 picture book The Unexpected Friend) is a testament to how inner courage and the spirit of sisterhood can help brave any storm.

Hiranandani, Veera Amil and the After
272 pp. Penguin/Kokila, 2024. ISBN 9780525555063 Ebook ISBN 9780525555070

Illustrated by Prashant Miranda. In this companion to Newbery Honor Book The Night Diary (rev. 7/18), Nisha's twin brother, Amil, resumes the story. Everything was supposed to get better after their family survived the terrifying journey from Mirpur Khas to Bombay following the partition of India in 1947. Now they have a new flat, their father has a job at the hospital, and the twins are attending school. But Amil keeps flashing back to the terrible things he saw and experienced. He tries to quell his anxieties by drawing in his sketchbook (exuberantly depicted by illustrator Miranda), but what he really wants are "a friend and a bicycle." Part of those wishes comes true when he meets Vishal, a mysterious boy from a local refugee camp. When Vishal suddenly disappears, Amil discovers that the point of his own survival may be to help ensure the same for someone else. Fans of the previous title will appreciate this compassionate and thoughtful continuation of the family's story, while new readers can experience Amil's account of hope and survivor guilt as a standalone volume. A glossary and author's note are appended.

Kelkar, Supriya That Thing About Bollywood
352 pp. Simon, 2021. ISBN 978-1-5344-6673-9 Ebook ISBN 978-1-5344-6675-3

Eleven-year-old Indian American Sonali keeps her emotions to herself. She maintains a stoic demeanor in order to protect her younger brother from her parents' constant arguments, and she attempts to unite the family with weekly Bollywood movie nights. When her parents announce a trial separation and her best friend grows closer to the popular girl at their Los Angeles middle school, Sonali's feelings bubble to the surface and break out as "Bollywooditis." In this alternate reality, her entire life is a Bollywood movie, and as such her emotions are on full display in disruptive musical solos she can't help singing at inopportune moments. A horrified Sonali attempts to tamp down her personal soundtrack, garish makeovers, and coordinated background dancers, to no avail. It is only when she faces up to the reality of her parents' divorce and communicates her pent-up feelings that the "filmi magic" fades. Kelkar creates sympathetic characters burdened by family secrets, cultural expectations, and bottled-up emotions. She deftly draws out the impact divorce can have on friendships, schoolwork, and a child's inner life. The heaviness of these themes is lightened by Bollywood touches, which also explore the seesaw effect of both loving and cringing at one’s culture.

Khan, Hena, Editor The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices
336 pp. Little, 2024. ISBN 9780316450638 Ebook ISBN 9780316450836

Focused on a community center in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, this powerful collection of short stories celebrates the broad diversity of middle schoolers from the South Asian community, commonly referred to as desi. Over the course of the eleven interrelated stories, protagonists celebrate major life events, holidays, and the more mundane at the community center. The dilapidated building serves as the focal point for a heavily Asian American community but is also a target of xenophobic opportunists, who use coded (and sometimes overt) language to try to shut it down. "Together at the Center" by Khan, "Out in the Open" by Rajani LaRocca, and "The Map of Home" by Sayantani DasGupta showcase the importance of open dialogue, community, and speaking out against anti-Asian/South Asian and Islamophobic incidents. Mitali Perkins's "Smile Number Seven" and "Answered Prayers" by N. H. Senzai address in-group judgment, both real and perceived, ethnic and religious; resulting self-defense mechanisms are handled with nuance and care in relation to single-parent households, disability, and domestic violence. Back matter includes a note from Khan and contributing authors' bios.

Poulin, Andrée Burying the Moon
112 pp. Groundwood, 2021. ISBN 978-1-77306-604-2 Ebook ISBN 978-1-77306-603-5

Illustrated by Sonali Zohra. In this powerful verse novel, Latika loves school, but she knows that when she turns twelve she will be forced to quit. The reason? Toilets. In her rural Indian village there are no toilets; women and girls must relieve themselves in fields after dark to avoid "shame." As she approaches puberty, she wants to "stop time / to stay a little girl" so she can continue her education without the complication of menstruation. When an engineer from the city installs a water pump for the village, Latika breaks the taboo and tells him about how the issue affects women's health and girls' access to education. Latika gives voice to something unspeakable and risks censure, but her bravery forces change and lasting improvement. She no longer wishes to "bury the moon" for the light it shines onto a supposedly shameful act but learns instead to view its light as friendly and useful. Emotive illustrations throughout employ deep, rich black and blue hues with bold accents in pinks and purples, accentuating the moonlight. Short poems allow for a powerful exploration of a variety of social issues, all linked to access to toilets and yoking together contradictory elements (fragile but strong; fearful but brave). An appended author's note explains that toilet access is a global problem affecting over four billion people.

Saeed, Aisha Omar Rising
224 pp. Penguin/Paulsen, 2022. ISBN 978-0-593-10858-1

In this companion to Amal Unbound (rev. 11/18), Omar, son of Amal Khan's house servant, wins a full scholarship to attend seventh grade at Ghalib, "one of the most prestigious schools in Pakistan." There, Omar dreams of joining the soccer team and astronomy club, but he quickly learns that all of the "SBs" (Scholarship Boys) must maintain an A-plus average and cannot join any extracurricular activities their first year. They must instead do chores (grounds maintenance, kitchen work, laundry duty), all tasks that are deliberately intended to remind them of their status. As a result, many SBs lose their scholarships and become "Ghost Boys" who never return to school. Omar, inspired by the work and activism of real-life contemporary Pakistani artist Shehzil Malik (who created the eye-catching jackets for this book and Amal), challenges the system instead of accepting its cruel logic. By speaking up about the unfair conditions and forming a community with other students, he reveals how Ghalib makes it impossible for underprivileged students to succeed. An uplifting story about an underdog whose work ethic and "stubbornly optimistic" outlook drive him to make real change for himself and others while gaining the confidence that no matter what other challenges life brings, Omar "will be okay."

Venkatraman, Padma Born Behind Bars
272 pp. Penguin/Paulsen, 2021. ISBN 978-0-593-11247-2 Ebook ISBN 978-0-593-11248-9

Born in prison in Chennai, India, to a Hindu mother falsely accused of stealing from her employer, Kabir has known only a harsh life behind bars. Upon his ninth birthday, he is released to the outside world. He wants nothing more than to find his Appa's (father's) family in the neighboring state of Bengaluru (Bangalore). All Kabir knows of his father is that he is Muslim; Appa didn't tell anyone of his marriage to Amma; and he stopped writing to them after he left India to work in the Gulf. When Kabir befriends Rani, a Kurava (Roma) girl, they team up to find Kabir's paternal grandparents, and the pace of the plot quickens. Short chapters and paragraphs guide the story to its bittersweet conclusion for both Rani and Kabir. As in The Bridge Home (rev. 1/19), Venkatraman portrays children's experiences of poverty and other social issues; here, she explores Hindu-Muslim animosity, how the Indian caste ­system predetermines social status, and how biased institutions interact with (and ultimately fail) those of lower caste. This earnest, heartfelt adventure will transport many readers to a different setting while guiding them to draw parallels with contexts closer to home. An author's note addresses the Roma community in India, water shortages, and incarceration rates in relation to caste.

Young Adult

Bajaj, Varsha Thirst
192 pp. Penguin/Paulsen, 2022. ISBN 978-0-593-35439-1

Growing up in the slums around Mumbai, India, seventh grader Minni has been raised to follow the rules and stay out of trouble, but she can't keep quiet when she spots injustice. She dreams of going to college but keeps bumping up against the realities of poverty that make that nearly impossible. The narrative focus is on Mumbai's unstable, often non-potable water supply and the lack of indoor plumbing in Minni's neighborhood. When her brother spies the “water mafia” siphoning water illegally, he is sent away for his safety, while their mother goes to the country to recover from a serious illness. This leaves Minni to obtain water and boil it, take on her mother's job as a maid, and struggle to attend school full time. Her own sleuthing leads to a shocking conclusion about corruption and Mumbai's water resources. Bajaj's suspenseful novel peels back the curtain on modern-day class and caste inequities and how they create a cycle of poverty that spirals through generations. Minni's thirst for what's right steers the novel toward an optimistic conclusion in which one person can bring about big changes.

Das, Mintie Brown Girl Ghosted
289 pp. Houghton, 2020. ISBN 978-0-358-12889-2 Ebook ISBN 978-0-358-13130-4

Sixteen-year-old Violet Choudhury is a cheerleader; the best friend of Meryl, a popular iconoclast; and a daughter who never knew her dead mother and barely sees her largely absent father. She's also one of the few people of color in Meadowdale, Illinois, and (as her mother was) a member of the Aiedeo, a group of East Indian warrior queens. When her mean-girl classmate, head cheerleader Naomi, is murdered, the Aiedeo give Violet an ultimatum—catch Naomi's killer or become a ghost. This supernatural thriller presents a main character caught in-between—between India and America, between popular and invisible, between Aiedeo and ordinary. Though the Aiedeo and their purpose could have been better explored, Das creates a credible and complex portrait of the challenges of being a teen girl. Both the supernatural and realistic components have much to say about patriarchy and its impact on young women, and while some lessons feel less than gracefully integrated, the elements about judging others too quickly ring true.

DasGupta, Sayantani Debating Darcy
320 pp. Scholastic, 2022. ISBN 978-1-338-79769-5

This retelling of Pride and Prejudice replaces the Bennets with a ragtag speech and debate team looking to make it amongst the more elite private academies. Leela Bose, an Indian American high schooler, is poised to reach the top this year with her fellow Longbourn High forensicators ("yes, it's a real word"). But then the team meets Firoze Darcy, a debate competitor for Netherfield Academy (and "Desi hottie"). An obnoxious comment from Firoze makes Leela, who has often faced racism and colorism, feel "ugly" in a way she hasn't felt since she left the nearly-all-white town where she grew up, and when Firoze becomes a regular presence at her high-school tournaments, she goes on the offensive. In her YA debut, DasGupta (author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond middle-grade series) balances everyday teen topics like crushes and arguments with more wide-ranging issues like sexism, sexual harassment, and racism. She evokes the feel of Austen through lots of references to the original and writes with a similar witty tone, while keeping the language contemporary and fresh. With its plucky cast of modern-day teens, this is a great entry point for new Austen fans.

Faruqi, Reem Unsettled
352 pp. HarperCollins/Harper, 2021. ISBN 978-0-06-304470-8 Ebook ISBN 978-0-06-304472-2

Faruqi's evocative immigrant story in verse follows a young girl from the "land of the pure" to the "land of the free." Thirteen-year-old Nurah Haqq and her family move from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, seeking better opportunities. Nurah wrestles with her growing teenage insecurities, cultural and faith-based hurdles, and difficulty fitting in. As she observes the struggles and triumphs of her family, she begins to reshape her life. Each new section (e.g., "Uprooting," "Replanting"), decorated in floral henna patterns, reflects her state of mind. Slowly, the familiarity of math, art, and swimming as well as a blossoming friendship help her shed her hesitancy and embrace change. Though a lapse into jealousy leads to a poor decision, she learns to stand up for herself and others. Faruqi's expressive use of free verse folds many disparate ideas of friendship, sibling rivalry, bullying, and terrorism into an ultimately heartwarming story. While other ­Muslim stories in verse, such as Other Words for Home (rev. 7/19) by Jasmine Warga and The Red Pencil (rev. 11/14) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, deal with immigrant refugees, Faruqi focuses on privileged immigrants whose model minority status doesn't insulate them from hate crime and Islamophobia. Nurah's coming-of-age story will inspire ­readers to step into their own light.

Hamza, Nina Samira's Worst Best Summer
336 pp. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 2024. ISBN 9780063024946 Ebook ISBN 9780063024960

Thirteen-year-old Samira’s parents and older sister are in India for two weeks for a wedding, leaving her and her younger brother, Imran, at home in Minnesota with their maternal grandmother, Umma. Recovering from an awful seventh-grade year, Sammy hopes the time without her immediate family’s interference will help her cope with the isolation she feels since being targeted by former-best-friend-now-bully Kiera. It is almost certainly Kiera who toilet-papered the tree in their front yard; Imran (who has autism) fixates on Sammy’s offhand remark that they were targeted because they are brown and Muslim. New neighbor Alice seems eager to solve the mystery of who did it—which makes nonconfrontational Sammy deeply uncomfortable. And she is wary of Alice’s overtures of friendship, especially when Kiera tries to interfere. The protagonist is a relatable character; as an awkward middle child, she both craves and pushes away attention. Hamza tackles cultural diversity and prejudice with nuance, showing both overt occurrences of prejudice and microaggressions. The story features allies of different ages and appearances, along with Samira’s own growing advocacy for herself and others.

Khan, Hena Drawing Deena
240 pp. Simon/Salaam, 2024. ISBN 9781534459915 Ebook ISBN 9781534439939

Thirteen-year-old Deena Rahman's world revolves around spending time with her friends, creating art, and appeasing her Pakistani American family. Deena also helps her mother run a clothing boutique selling Pakistani outfits, hoping to alleviate tension in their home over finances. Deena often overhears her parents fighting about money and feels guilty for their having to spend it on things she needs, such as dental work. She also hesitates to tell them about things she and her brother, Musa, would benefit from, such as art classes for her and talent scouts to further Musa's chances at a soccer scholarship. She tries to ignore the daily nausea and gnawing in her stomach, but soon the physical manifestations of stress demand attention. Both Deena and her parents must confront her anxiety issues and the importance of support. With helpful friends and an artist mentor, she learns to deprioritize others' expectations and advocate for herself, including pushing back against her parents' reluctance to allow her to see a school psychologist. A sensitive look at the effects of anxiety and the pressures of today (including social media) on young people's mental health.

LaRocca, Rajani Red, White, and Whole
224 pp. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 2021. ISBN 978-0-06-304742-6  Ebook ISBN 978-0-06-304744-0

It’s 1983, and thirteen-year-old Reha feels she has “two lives.” In one, she’s a serious student who tries to make her Indian immigrant parents proud but is seen as an outsider (who speaks “Indian”) at her predominantly white school. In her other life, Reha, who doesn’t actually speak her parents’ native languages, feels that “no matter where I go, / America or India, / I don’t quite fit.” These feelings intensify when her Amma (mother) is diagnosed with leukemia, goes through several rounds of chemotherapy, and, ultimately, succumbs to her illness. Composed of short, metaphor-rich poems, this verse novel weaves together complex narrative strands with sophistication. It does the double duty of giving voice to the hyphenated American experience and navigation of dual identities, while also representing the illness and loss of a parent with tenderness and fidelity to the stages of grief. Blood is a predominant metaphor, but it’s not off-putting. The “red, white, and whole” of the title refers to “whole blood…the precious river in our arteries, our veins, our hearts,” and represents both Amma’s illness and Reha’s more abstract yearning to belong wholly to one place. Give this emotionally powerful novel to immigrant, third-culture kids or anyone experiencing grief and loss.

Perkins, Mitali Hope in the Valley
304 pp. Farrar, 2023. ISBN 9780374388515 Ebook ISBN 9780374388508

The former orchard across from Pandita Paul's home, dilapidated though it may be, holds a special place in the thirteen-year-old's heart. It's where she and her late mother used to spend time: "Ashar Jaiga, as Ma and I called it. Ma's name, Asha, which means 'hope,' Ma's place, Ashar Jaiga. Place of Hope." Now the property is up for sale. Pandita, encouraged by the historical society's call to preserve it, becomes the group's youngest member. Meanwhile, one of her twin older sisters, an activist, helps spearhead the fight for demolition of the orchard and subsequent construction of affordable rental units. The story is set in the summer of 1980 in Silicon Valley, California, before the tech boom. It is a place on the cusp, much like the story's protagonist, who finds herself compelled by memories of her past; the complex and fascinating history she uncovers; and possibilities for the future of her town, her family, and herself. Pandita, a budding poet, reluctantly attends summer drama camp, meets a talented new boy, reconciles with her former best friend, and struggles with family changes. An engaging subplot involves a new love interest for her father; the woman (a.k.a. "the Intruder") is brash and outspoken, and her unsolicited opinion on the development issue is enlightening for the characters, and for readers, about both sides having a point and no one being demonized.

Ponweera, Thushanthi I Am Kavi
272 pp. Holiday, 2023. ISBN 9780823453658 Ebook ISBN 9780823457274

At ten years old, Kavi has already experienced her share of trauma and heartbreak. Her father spent a decade at the front lines in the Sri Lankan civil war and returned to their rural home an amputee, only to die of a sudden heart attack. Kavi's mother remarries and becomes pregnant, leaving a still-grieving Kavi certain her mother no longer loves her. When she earns a scholarship to a prestigious school in the capital city, Colombo, Kavi jumps at the opportunity but soon feels ashamed of her poor, rural roots in a school full of wealthy city kids. The novel, set in the late 1990s, is a superb study of the Sri Lankan class system and the lengths to which someone might go to fit in. Convinced she will have to change to make friends with the rich, "cool" girls who have fancy new clothes, cars, and servants, Kavi pretends to be wealthy and creates a web of lies she soon gets caught in, ultimately revealing what really matters. A moving coming-of-age story written in verse about understanding and embracing who you truly are. The war acts as a highly charged political backdrop to Kavi's struggles to accept her family. Back matter provides context on the Sri Lankan civil war; in an author's note, Ponweera reflects on her own experiences growing up during the war.

Sekaran, Shanthi Boomi's Boombox
272 pp. HarperTeen/Tegen, 2023. ISBN 9780063051584 Ebook ISBN 9780063051607

It's 2021 in San Francisco, the "second spring of the pandemic," and twelve-year-old Boomi Gopalan is grieving the loss of her father, a physician who recently died of COVID-19. She's also feeling dejected about a botched ballet audition: although she has had ambitions to be a dancer all her life, she isn't selected to move on to the next level at her snobby ballet academy. When she's given her father's old boombox, Boomi discovers a crumpled note in the battery compartment that reads "you can change your life." The boombox transports her back in time to 1986 to a small English town called Thumpton-on-Soar, where she meets her father as a boy. Boomi experiments with time travel, going back and forth as she tries, indeed, to change her life and somehow prevent her beloved father's death. In the end, Boomi learns about the roots of her family's secrets, finds joy in dancing again with the classical Indian dance of Bharatanyam, and fights against the racist treatment of South Asian immigrants in Thumpton. Boomi learns lessons about staying true to herself and her heritage and that a "big change can start with the smallest action of the very smallest person." Sekaran's well-crafted prose, sharp sense of humor, and knack for building suspense will keep readers interested until the surprising, time-bending conclusion.