Ages 12 - 16

Retold Traditional Tales

• A Treasury of Ancient Indian Tales, by Swagata Deb. Rupa, 2007 The first section consists of assorted tales that retell the stories of how thunder got its sound, and what happened when the child Hanuman thought the rising sun was a ball, to how Ganesha got the head of an elephant. The second section tells tales of the never-ending wars between the Devas and the Asuras -- the gods and the demons -- and how they constantly tried to outwit each other and seize control of the universe. The third section is about the ten Avataras of Vishnu: from the Matsya (fish) Avatara, who saved living beings from the great flood, to the yet-to-be-born Kalki, who will destroy all evil and create a new, fair and happy world. The fourth section features timeless tales from the Mahabharata -- stories that are not part of the main storyline about the Pandavas and the Kauravas, but which are an integral part of the great Indian tapestry of imagination and myth: how Savitri brought Satyavan back from the dead, the tale of Shakuntala's lost ring, and many others. (Ages 6 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• Brahma's Hair, by Maneka Gandhi. Rupa & Co., Calcutta. , 1989 A collection of mythological and folk tales regarding trees, plants, and flowers of India. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Jambavan: The Immortal Bear King (Mythquest series 3), by Anu Kumar. Hatchette India, 2011 "Jambavan came face to face with Ravana. He moved with a speed and fought with a ferocity that was unbelievable" He was endowed with incredible strength, he had the wisdom of the sages and he was a born leader. Jambavan, the great bear king, led the army of vanaras in their search for Sita. He helped Rama fight Ravana and even helped restore the Syamanatakmani gem to clear Krishna's name. (Ages 6 - 12)

• Jatayu: Saviour from the Skies (Mythquest series 1), by Anu Kumar. Hatchette India, 2011 "The battle raged in the skies ... Jatayu refused to give up, taking on Ravana with his giant claws and mighty wings" He was majestic, he was strong, he was the wise king of birds. Blessed by the gods and armed with celestial powers, Jatayu races to the sun, saves Dasharatha from Shani's deadly glance and, in the end, fights the powerful Ravana, sacrificing all he had in the name of justice and loyalty. (Ages 6 - 12)

• Myths and Legends of India, by DA Mackenzie. , (Ages 12 - 16)

• Nandi: The Divine Gatekeeper (Mythquest series 2), by Anu Kumar. Hatchette India, 2011 "Nandi was fearless?he gored all the powerful asuras to death in a fierce and swift motion" He was ever obedient, he was brave and he was the most favoured of Shiva?s followers. Nandi, the great bull and gatekeeper of Shiva's abode, carried the Three-Eyed One across the universe. Always at Shiva's side, he danced the mystical tandava with him, fought great battles and even drank a deadly poison to prove his complete devotion to his lord. (Ages 6 - 12)

• Shower of Gold: Girls and Women in the stories of India, by Uma Krishnaswami. Linnet Books, CT., 1999 illustrated by Maniam Selven (Ages 6 - 12)

• Stories of the Flood, by Uma Krishnaswami. Roberts Rinehart, USA. , 1994 A collection of great-flood legends from nine world traditions. Includes the Hindu flood legend (Matsya Avatar) as well as a selection from Hawaii, Vietnam, China, West Africa, Maori, Alabama-Native American and ancient Sumeria and Greek traditions. Illustrated by Birgitta Saflund (Ages 6 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• Sufi Stories from Around the World, by Debjani Chatterjee. Harper Collins, India. ., 1994 with black and white illustrations. Nineteen Muslim stories for children 9 - 12. (Ages 9 - 12)

• The Adventures of Young Krishna: The Blue God of India, by Diksha Clayton & Marilyn Heeger. Oxford University Press, 1992 (Ages 12 - 16)

• The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha, by Uma Krishnaswami. Linnet Books, CT, USA. ., 1996 illustrated by Maniam Selven. Seventeen tales of the mirthful elephant headed god of beginnings, pronunciation guide, prefatory material on Hindu mythology and on the character of Ganesha. (Ages 6 - 12)

• The Elephant-Headed God, by Debjani Chatterjee. Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, and Rupa & Co., Calcutta., 1993 illustrated by Margaret Jones. 12 stories for ages 9-12. A collection of Hindu myths. (Ages 9 - 12)

• The Funny Tales of Mulla Nasrudin, by Various. , Mulla Nasrudin can be a fool, he can be a clown, yet he can occasionally be very wise and very funny. The book is full of stories about the way Nasrudin tricks people, and sometimes gets tricked himself. Whatever happens, each story is guaranteed to make you smile, if not laugh. Children and adults, all readers will find the stories extremely enjoyable. The illustrations add to the reading experience, reflecting the humour in the stories. (Ages 6 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• The Mahabharata: A Child's View, by Samhita Arni. Tara Publishing, Chennai. 1996, The author started writing the story when she was 7, and it was published when she was 12. The two volumes are also illustrated by her. (Ages 8 - 12)

• The Monkey God and other Hindu Tales, by Debjani Chatterjee. Rupa & Co., Delhi, 1993 Twelve stories for children 9-12, illustrated in black and white. (Ages 9 - 12)

• The Ocean of Story, by Caroline Ness. Lothrop Lee and Shepherd., 1996 illustrated by Jacqueline Mair, who studied color etching at Shantiniketan for this project. Selected tales from the folklore of India with introduction by Neil Phillips. The title is borrowed from the Kathasaritsagara, stories are from diverse sources. (Ages 8 - 12)

• The Puffin Book of Legendary Lives, by Meena Arora Nayak. Pegnuin., 2004 (Ages 8 - 15)

• The Rajah's Rice, by David Barry. , A mathematical folk tale adapted from an old Indian tale. When Zandra, the official bather of the Rajah's elephants, saves them from serious illness, she exacts from the Rajah a reward more costly than he realizes. (Scientific American books for young readers, 1994). (Ages 8 - 12)

• The Winning Team, by Githa Hariharan. Rupa, 2004 Classic stories with a modern twist. (Ages 6 - 12)

• Three Indian Goddesses, by Jamila Gavin. Egmont, 2001 Three contemporary stories with mythological elements. When their cousin Durga comes to stay, Anil and Kiki find her a bit odd. Her clothes and manners are unusual, and she has a strange knack of seeing what is going on in people's minds. But when trouble threatens, Durga turns out to be a very useful person to know... (Ages 8 - 12)

Nonfiction

• Asian Indians (Recent American Immigrants), by Susan Gordon. F. Watts, 1990 Discusses immigrants from India, their reasons for coming, their lifestyles, and their contributions to the United States. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Child Art with Everyday Materials, by Tarit Bhattacharjee, Kanchana Arni and Gita Wolf. Tara Books, Chennai., An unorthodox and enabling approach to art education, where children experiment freely with different sorts of everyday material: newspaper sheets, clay, leaves, sand and even vegetables. The book features over 75 practical exercises which suggest creative ways of playing with line, design, texture, colour, form, composition and space. (Ages 4 - 12)

• Gandhi: Peaceful Warrior, by Rae Bains & Scott Snow. Troll Associates, NJ, A biography of the man whose nonviolent passive resistance tactics influenced reformers in other countries. (Ages 8 - 12)

• In the Country of Gold Digging Ants, by Anu Kumar. Puffin Books, Penguin India, 2009 Astonishing stories about India written by explorers who came to the country as pilgrims, students, traders, voyagers and fortune-seekers from the 3rd century BC till the mid-twentieth century. These visitors left behind fascinating accounts of their perilous journeys in an unknown land; descriptions of what the people ate, wore and thought; who ruled them and how; the strange animals of this land, and many more startling facts which are often the only written historical records of those times. Filled with incredible stories and nuggets of information, In the Country of Gold-digging Ants brings alive the exciting adventures of eleven intrepid men and women, and may just make history your most favourite subject. (Ages 10 - 15)

• In the Street of the Temple Cloth Printers, by Dorothy Field. Pacific Educational Press, 1996 A finely sketched portrait in words and pictures, of the people who make and paint the fabled temple cloths of Gujarat in Western India. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Mathematwist: Number Tales from Around the World, by TV Padma. Tulika, Chennai, A world where numbers and mathematical concepts unravel in stories, folktales and anecdotes. So whether it's Dividing a Goose, Rounding up Camels or Gourmet Roulette, children at the math level of classes 6, 7 and 8 will have fun with words and numbers as well. (Ages 10 - 14)

• Mother Teresa, by Joan Gruff Cluca. , A biography of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. (Ages 10 - 14)

• On Top of the World, by Anu Kumar. Puffin India, , 2010 A month after he had set out, sixteen-year-old Arjun Vajpai stood on top of the world, having conquered Mount Everest. At that time he was the youngest non-Sherpa person in the world to do so. He remains the youngest Indian to have climbed the peak. It had indeed been a long journey. Arjun s fascination with mountains began at the age of ten, nurtured and encouraged by his parents, teachers, and close friends. As a trekker and an athlete, he had trained and worked hard to achieve this amazing feat of endurance. This is Arjun s story in his own words. Accompany him on an adventure of a lifetime; read about his incredible ascent; and learn what it takes to be a mountaineer. On Top of the World is an unforgettable story of inspiration, fortitude and courage; of having a seemingly impossible dream and daring to chase it. (Ages 12 - 16)

• One, by Jamuna Rangachari. Rupa, New Delhi. , 2005 Stories on all faiths practised in India, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zorashtrianism with a short note on the basic tenets of the faith, and one that brings out the message of Mahatma Gandhi. (Ages 7 - 12)

• Our Non-Veg Cow and Other stories, by Mahasweta Devi. Seagull Books, Calcutta, 1998 Translated from Bengali by Paramita Banerjee. Stories of Devi's childhood in Bengal, growing up as the eldest in a family of nine. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Out of India, by Jamila Gavin. Hodder Children's Books, 2002 A timely memoir of her Anglo-Indian childhood which deepens the understanding of her novels . . . a unique record of dual heritage (Ages 12 - 16)

• Puppets Unlimited wtih Everyday Materials, by Anushka Ravishankar & Gita Wolf. Tara Books, Chennai., Shifts the focus from the finished product to the process of accidents, discoveries and mistakes by which puppets can be made, from everyday materials and found objects. Besides detailed instructions on how to make puppets, it also contains information on traditional and innovative puppetry, and a section on scripting and performance. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Subcontinental Series, by . Bobbie Kalman Books, Various authors.
  India: The Culture, (Crabtree, N.Y. 1993)
  India: The Land, (Crabtree, N.Y. 1993)
  India: The People, (Crabtree, N.Y. 1993)
  Pakistan: The Culture (2003)
  Pakistan: The Land (2003)
  Pakistan: The People (2003) (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Little Lama of Tibet, by Lois Raimondo. , An illustrated biography of Ling Rinpochey, the young Buddhist monk who will be the next leader of the Tibetan people. Ages 6 and up, but the illustrations will keep younger children interested. (Ages 4 - 12)

Fiction

• A Group of One, by Rachna Gilmore. Henry Holt, 2001 An Indo-Canadian girl discovers that both cultures are an important part of her identity. (Ages 12 - 16)

• A Summer Adventure, by Shashi Deshpande. India Book House, 1983, (Ages 8 - 12)

• A Wild Elephant at Camp, by Anupama Moharkar. Tara Books, Chennai., A young boy named Kutti who lives in India within a wildlife sanctuary which is home to wild and domesticated elephants. (Ages 6 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• Aani and the Tree Huggers, by Jeanine Atkins. Lee and Low Books., 1995 Illustrated by Venantius Pinto in an amalgamation of five Indian miniature styles of the 17th century. Based on the Chipko Andolan in India in the 1970s, young Aani and the other women in her village defend their forest from developers by wrapping their arms around the trees, making it impossible to cut them down. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Andamans Boy, by Zai Whitaker. Tulika, Chennai., (Ages 6 - 12)

• Aruna's Journeys, by Jyotsna Sreenivasan. Smooth Stone Press, St. Louis., Aruna, an 11-year-old Indian-American girl, reluctantly visits India and in the process discovers more about who she is. Her feminist aunt in India helps her keep true to her own identity. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Ashok by Any other Name, by Sandra Yamate & Janice Tohinaka. Polychrome Pub. Corp, Chicago. , 1992 An east Indian boy wishes to have a more 'American' name and experiences mishaps as he searches for the perfect name for himself. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Asian Indians (Recent American Immigrants), by Susan Gordon. F. Watts, 1990 Discusses immigrants from India, their reasons for coming, their lifestyles, and their contributions to the United States. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Atisa and the Seven Wonders, by Anu Kumar. Puffin Books, Penguin India, 2008 A strange man crash-landing his even stranger flying machine into Atisa’s home opens a world full of wonders for the fourteen-year-old boy…Full of thrills, chills and spills, Atisa and the Seven Wonders weaves fact and fiction to take you on an action-packed, imaginative and informative exploration of the seven wonders of the ancient world. (Ages 10 - 15)

• Atisa and the Time Machine, by Anu Kumar. Puffin India, , 2010 Atisa is back! This time in his time-travel balloon! Young Atisa thought he was all set for a cushy ride on Daedalus's balloon to join his mother Gaea in Central Asia. But Danyi, a warrior from the Chinese Emperor's court, a fierce Gobi blizzard and a mysterious white horse compel him to cross paths with Hieun Tsang, the famed monk and traveller who is on his way to King Harshavardhan's court. It soon becomes clear that Hieun Tsang is a hunted man, and despite Atisa's invaluable assistance, the situation only becomes ever more dangerous. Sea pirates, several assassination attempts, friends who cannot be trusted-somebody is determined to make sure that he never returns to China. Who is the implacable enemy that seeks to harm Hieun Tsang? Will Atisa find the courage needed to defeat the dark forces? Will he reach China safe with the knowledge so arduously collected? Join Atisa and the great monk on their fantastic adventures across 7th century Central Asia and India. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Beastly Tales from Here and There, by Vikram Seth. , Ten enchanting tales in verse. "Of the ten tales told here, the first two come from India, the next two from China, the next two from Greece, and the next two from the Ukraine. The final two came directly from the Land of Gup.", says the author. Illustrated by Ravi Shankar, the well-known cartoonist. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Beyond the Blue River, by B. Vinayan. Tulika, 2011 Every time GRACE ? City Auto For Hire No. SD 01 3422 hears the Blue River tune, she gets a ?funny? feeling. Sometimes she hears the tune even before it is hummed. What is this about? And how can an auto hear, let alone get funny feelings? Clearly, Grace is no ordinary auto and one day, she decides to follow her instincts and look for the Blue River. This leads to adventures in the course of which she travels through many worlds and meets many characters and and learns many things ? about herself and the universe. Beyond the Blue River is a gripping read and takes the genre of fantasy to a new realm of resonance. (Ages 12 - 15)

• Bhangra Babes, by Narinder Dhami. Random House, 2006 (Ages 12 - 16)

• Bifocal, by Deborah Ellis & Eric Walters. , A student arrested on suspicions of terrorism. A high school torn apart by racism. Two boys from two different sets of circumstances forced to choose sides. These are the issues at the heart of Bifocal, a groundbreaking new novel for young-adults.

  The story is told from two different points of view. Haroon is a serious student devoted to his family. His grandparents emigrated from Afghanistan. Jay is a football star devoted to his team. He is white. One day their high school is put on lockdown, and the police arrest a Muslim student on suspicion of terrorist affiliations. He might be guilty. Or is he singled out because of his race? The entire student body fragments along racial lines and both Haroon and Jay find that their differences initially put them at odds. The Muslim students become targets and a smoke-bomb is set off near their lockers while Jay and his teammates believe they''ve been set-up to look like racists.

  Bifocal is, by no stretch, an easy book. Award-winning authors Deborah Ellis and Eric Walters deliver a serious, hard-hitting book about racism that does not talk down to young people. (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

• Bindi Babes, by Narinder Dhami. Delacorte, 2004 Three fun-loving Anglo-Asian sisters rule the roost since their mom died. They've got a reputation at school for being the coolest babes in town, and what they don't need is an interfering Auntie-ji from India cramping their style. The girls decide the only way out of the problem is an arranged marriage -- for their aunt. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Bollywood Babes, by Narinder Dhami. Random House Children's Books, The girls school is desperate for money and their formidable young auntie has volunteered to do some fund-raising. The sisters can't help but be impressed with her plan for an end-of-term Bollywood party. Then inspiration strikes Amber. What could be more glamorous than a real, live, Bollywood film star at the party? Except that if the so-called star is now ancient, foul-tempered, and demanding, is it really such a great idea? (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Born Confused, by Tanuja Desai Hidier. Scholastic, 2002 Dimple Rohitbhai Lala comes of age and discovers unexpected true love, and her place in the world, in the context of the South Asian club and music scene in New York City. (Ages 14 - 18)

• Camel Rider, by Prue Mason. Charlesbridge (orig. Penguin Australia)., 2007 Adam and his family live comfortably in a compound with other foreigners who work in the Middle East. When war breaks out and all foreigners try to escape, Adam runs away in an effort to save his dog, which has been left behind. Alone and without resources in the desert, Adam meets Walid, an abused camel boy who has run away from his cruel masters. Together they struggle to bridge wide gulfs between their cultures and languages in order to survive. Ultimately both boys learn about true friendship. (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• Child Art with Everyday Materials, by Tarit Bhattacharjee, Kanchana Arni and Gita Wolf. Tara Books, Chennai., An unorthodox and enabling approach to art education, where children experiment freely with different sorts of everyday material: newspaper sheets, clay, leaves, sand and even vegetables. The book features over 75 practical exercises which suggest creative ways of playing with line, design, texture, colour, form, composition and space. (Ages 4 - 12)

• Climbing the Stairs, by Padma Venkataraman. Penguin USA, During World War II and the last days of British occupation in India, fifteen-year-old Vidya dreams of attending college. But when her forward-thinking father is beaten senseless by the British police, she is forced to live with her grandfather’s large traditional family, where the women live apart from the men and are meant to be married off as soon as possible. Vidya’s only refuge becomes her grandfather’s upstairs library, which is forbidden to women. There she meets Raman, a young man also living in the house who relishes her intellectual curiosity. But when Vidya’s brother makes a choice the family cannot condone, and when Raman seems to want more than friendship, Vidkya must question all she has believed in. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Crocodile Fever, by Zai Whitaker. With Rom Whitaker. Orient Longman, Hyderabad. , 1998 (Ages 8 - 12)

• Dahling, if you Luv Me, Would you Please, Please Smile, by Rukhsana Khan. Stoddard Kids, A Muslim girl growing up in Canada finds that pleasing her peers and her older sister just isn't worth the effort. (Ages 14 - 18)

• Fine Feathered Friend, by Jamila Gavin. Egmont; Crabtree, 2002 In India, Raju is angry about spending two months on his aunt and uncle's farm while his family attends a wedding in England, but things looks much brighter after he becomes mother to a newly-hatched chick. (Ages 8 - 12)

• From Out of the Shadows, by Jamila Gavin. Egmont, 2002 Trapped in someone's shadow? Pushed around? Know you're nothing like the person everyone else wants you to be? These stories will make you feel free, whether it's the feeling of the wind in your hair, hanging out with your friends or just smiling a mysterious smile! (Ages 12 - 16)

• Gandhi: Peaceful Warrior, by Rae Bains & Scott Snow. Troll Associates, NJ, A biography of the man whose nonviolent passive resistance tactics influenced reformers in other countries. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Grandpa Chatterji, by Jamila Gavin. Methuen, 1993 Neeta and Sanjay discover their loving and surprising Indian grandfather. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Grandpa's Indian Summer, by Jamila Gavin. Mammoth, 1996 Neeta and Sanjay go to visit their grandfather in Calcutta. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Homeless Bird, by Gloria Whelan. HarperCollins, Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled; her life has been sold for a dowry. In prose both graceful and unflinching, this powerful novel relays the story of a rare young woman, who even when cast out into a brutal current of time-worn tradition, sets out to forge her own remarkable future.Inspired by a newspaper article about the real thirteen-year-old widows in India today, this universally acclaimed best-selling novel, characterized by spare, lyrical language and remarkable detail, transports readers into the heart of a gripping tale of hope. (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• In the Country of Gold Digging Ants, by Anu Kumar. Puffin Books, Penguin India, 2009 Astonishing stories about India written by explorers who came to the country as pilgrims, students, traders, voyagers and fortune-seekers from the 3rd century BC till the mid-twentieth century. These visitors left behind fascinating accounts of their perilous journeys in an unknown land; descriptions of what the people ate, wore and thought; who ruled them and how; the strange animals of this land, and many more startling facts which are often the only written historical records of those times. Filled with incredible stories and nuggets of information, In the Country of Gold-digging Ants brings alive the exciting adventures of eleven intrepid men and women, and may just make history your most favourite subject. (Ages 10 - 15)

• In the Street of the Temple Cloth Printers, by Dorothy Field. Pacific Educational Press, 1996 A finely sketched portrait in words and pictures, of the people who make and paint the fabled temple cloths of Gujarat in Western India. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Indian Summer, by Pratima Mitchell. Walker Books, 2009 Sarla, a Londoner, spends the summer with her mother's family in Daroga, India. She and her cousin Bina, who is quiet, studious and traditional, are very different indeed. When Sarla learns that Bina has a deep, dark secret - concerning her mother, a murder and bandits in the surrounding hills - she is determined to find out exactly what it is. (Ages 13 - 17) [Sawnet Review]

• Keeping Corner, by Kashmira Sheth. Disney - Hyperion, 2007 Pretty as a peacock, twelve-year-old Leela has been spoiled all her life by everyone in her Gujarat village. She has never been interested in school and barely takes notice of the growing unrest between the British colonists and her own countrymen. Why should she? Her future has been planned since her engagement at two and marriage at nine. And now, as the day she moves in with her husband's family draws near, she's too busy collecting bangles and ribbons to care about much else. But when Leela's husband dies, her life changes forever. Instead of being showered with gifts and affection, she is is forced to shave her head and give away her beloved saris and bangles. Leela is considered unlucky now, and will have to stay confined to her house for a year to keep corner in preparation for a life of mourning for a boy she barely knew. When her schoolteacher hears of her fate, she offers to give Leela lessons at home. For the first time, despite her confinement, Leela begins to open her eyes to the changing world around her. India is suffering from a severe drought, and farmers are unable to pay taxes to the British. She learns about a new leader of the people, a man named Gandhi, who starts a political movement and practices satyagraha, a non-violent protest against the colonists as well as the caste system. The quiet strength of satyagraha may liberate her country. Could it be that she can use the same path to liberate herself (Ages 9 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• King of the Skies, by Rukhsana Khan. Scholastic, 2001 Set around the festival of Basant in Lahore, the "King of the Skies" is a young boy in a wheelchair, who is collaborating with his brother and sister to collect the most kites from the traditional aerial kite-battles. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Mathematwist: Number Tales from Around the World, by TV Padma. Tulika, Chennai, A world where numbers and mathematical concepts unravel in stories, folktales and anecdotes. So whether it's Dividing a Goose, Rounding up Camels or Gourmet Roulette, children at the math level of classes 6, 7 and 8 will have fun with words and numbers as well. (Ages 10 - 14)

• Mayil will not be quiet! , by Niveditha Subramaniam and Sowmya Rajendran. Tulika, 2011 Mayil Ganeshan, 12 going on spirited 13, finally has her chance to say all she wants ? in her diary. But this is for her also an important step towards becoming ?Mayilwriter?, to make up for all the stories she hasn?t completed and the novel that didn?t know where it was going. So she begins. What she gives us is a spontaneous, sensitive, honest, intimate and often hilarious peek into the life and mind of an insightful young girl. The Mayil that emerges is as lovable and recognisable as the delightful sketches she presents of her Amma, Appa, brother, grandfather and friends. Mayil has all the confusion and confidence of adolescence as she faces everyday dilemmas of young people, as well as questions of gender stereotyping all around ? from Ramayana stories to Rajnikanth movies. With enough to keep head, heart and funny bone tickled and happy, this is a must-read coming of age book by two highly talented young writers that will strike a chord with all who read it ? pre-teen, teen, and older. (Ages 10 - 12)

• Monsoon Summer, by Mitali Perkins. Delacorte, 2004 Fifteen-year old Jazz Gardner leaves California for a life-changing summer in an Indian orphanage. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Mother Teresa, by Joan Gruff Cluca. , A biography of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. (Ages 10 - 14)

• Motherland, by Vineeta Vijayraghavan. Soho Press, 2001 A coming-of-age tale of an Americanized teenager making a summer visit to grandparents in India. A lively fifteen-year-old, Maya would rather be with her New York friends, but her mother wants her to embrace her Indian heritage and to appreciate the great love and sacrifice of the relatives who raised her until she was four. (Ages 14 - 19) [Sawnet Review]

• Naming Maya, by Uma Krishnaswami. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. , 2004 Maya is made to spend part of her summer in Chennai, India, with her mother, who is trying to sell her grandfather's old house. Soon Maya is drawn into a complicated friendship with eccentric Kamala Mami, who has been a housekeeper and cook for years in Maya's extended family. At the same time, Maya is thrust into an ocean of memories, all coming at her too quickly for her to understand. In particular, she is forced to examine the history of her parents' divorce -- all the more painful because she believes the trouble began with the choosing of her name. For years the tension has simmered in a cauldron of anxiety, secrets, and misunderstandings. It is only with the help of Kamala Mami and Maya's cousin Sumati that Maya is able to see what happened to her parents. In this compelling first novel, a young Indian American girl finally learns that she can choose which memories to keep and which to let go. (Ages 9 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• Neela: Victory Song, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Pleasant Company Publications, 2002 It is 1939, and 12-year-old Neela Sen and her family are preparing for the wedding of Neela's older sister. Neela knows her parents will soon be arranging a betrothal for her, too. She is far more interested in thinking about other things, including India's growing movement for independence from Great Britain. When her father is jailed following a march against British rule, Neela takes matters into her own hands and goes to Calcutta to find him. (Ages 9 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• On Top of the World, by Anu Kumar. Puffin India, , 2010 A month after he had set out, sixteen-year-old Arjun Vajpai stood on top of the world, having conquered Mount Everest. At that time he was the youngest non-Sherpa person in the world to do so. He remains the youngest Indian to have climbed the peak. It had indeed been a long journey. Arjun s fascination with mountains began at the age of ten, nurtured and encouraged by his parents, teachers, and close friends. As a trekker and an athlete, he had trained and worked hard to achieve this amazing feat of endurance. This is Arjun s story in his own words. Accompany him on an adventure of a lifetime; read about his incredible ascent; and learn what it takes to be a mountaineer. On Top of the World is an unforgettable story of inspiration, fortitude and courage; of having a seemingly impossible dream and daring to chase it. (Ages 12 - 16)

• One, by Jamuna Rangachari. Rupa, New Delhi. , 2005 Stories on all faiths practised in India, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zorashtrianism with a short note on the basic tenets of the faith, and one that brings out the message of Mahatma Gandhi. (Ages 7 - 12)

• Our Non-Veg Cow and Other stories, by Mahasweta Devi. Seagull Books, Calcutta, 1998 Translated from Bengali by Paramita Banerjee. Stories of Devi's childhood in Bengal, growing up as the eldest in a family of nine. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Out of India, by Jamila Gavin. Hodder Children's Books, 2002 A timely memoir of her Anglo-Indian childhood which deepens the understanding of her novels . . . a unique record of dual heritage (Ages 12 - 16)

• Picture Imperfect and other Byomkesh Bakshi mysteries, by Saradindu Bandopadhyay. Penguin Books., 1999 Translated from Bengali into English by Sreejata Guha. Written long before Satyajit Ray's Feluda Series, Saradindu Bandyopadhyay's Byomkesh Bakshi mysteries heralded a new era in Bengali popular fiction. Set in the old-world Calcutta of the Raj, these stories featuring the astute investigator and his chronicler friend Ajit are still as gripping and delightful as when they first appeared. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Pink or Black, by Tishaa . Rupa & Co. , Ever wondered about those weird teenage years when you had no clue what you wanted? When you felt that life was just spiraling out of control? Well, Pink or Black promises to take you right down memory lane and re-live those funny, hysterical and oddly moving monents. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Premlata and the Festival of LIghts, by Rumer Godden. Greenwillow, 1996 A heroine with heart, young Prem braves the dark, and the wrath of the nasty Paru Didi, to get Diwali diyas for the house. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Priscilla Rebels, by Maya Chandrasekharan. , Priscilla is an American girl who studies at Grayfield Manor, a boarding school in Ooty, India. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Puppets Unlimited wtih Everyday Materials, by Anushka Ravishankar & Gita Wolf. Tara Books, Chennai., Shifts the focus from the finished product to the process of accidents, discoveries and mistakes by which puppets can be made, from everyday materials and found objects. Besides detailed instructions on how to make puppets, it also contains information on traditional and innovative puppetry, and a section on scripting and performance. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Rangbibi and Langra, by Sohaila Abdulali. Ford Foundation, The books touch on issues such as tribal displacement, sexual abuse and access to health care. They involve an old woman, RangBibi, and a crippled monkey named Langra. The books are set in the desert, the forest and an urban slum. Each book involves a child or children in a crisis, and the stories show the children solving their problems with RangBibi's magical help. These books are available in English, Hindi, Marathi and Tamil. They were widely distributed to rural health and education groups, as well as in urban bookshops. Available from Sohaila Abdulali's website. (Ages 8 - 12) [Sawnet Review]

• Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind, by Suzanne Fisher Staples. Random House Children's Books, When eleven-year old Shabanu, the daughter of a nomad in the Cholistan Desert of present-day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family, she must either accept the decision, as is the custom, or risk the consequences of defying her father's wishes. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Shadowland, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Roaring Brook Press, 2009 The hero of the Brotherhood of the Conch series, now fifteen, is settling back into his life as an apprentice in the lush Silver Valley, nestled high in the Himalayas. There he continues to learn the secret arts of the Brotherhood. But suddenly his adopted home is reduced to a barren wasteland when his beloved conch, the valley’s source of magical energy, is stolen by an unknown force. Together with his friend Nisha, Anand embarks on what may be his most dangerous mission—traveling to the cold and forbidding world of Shadowland in his attempt to restore the conch to its rightful place, and his home to its original splendor. The third and final book in the series. (Ages 8 - 12)

• Shine, Coconut Moon, by Neesha Meminger. garet K. McElderry Books, 2009 SHINE, COCONUT MOON, a debut novel by Neesha Meminger, deals with the Sikh experience post 9/11, as well as issues of family and belonging. The main character, Samar Ahluwahlia (Sam), is Punjabi and Sikh and lives with her single, divorced mother who works very hard to assimilate her daughter into American culture so that Sam might be spared some of the racism that her mother experienced growing up. Sam's mother cut off all ties with her family when Sam was two. But the week of the September 11th attacks, her turbaned uncle walks back into their lives, wanting to reconcile the family, and changes everything for Sam and her mom. (Ages 14 - 18) [Sawnet Review]

• Sorry, Best Friend, by . , edited by Tulika, Chennai., Concerned by the divisive forces of communalism, and its influence on children, the Centre for Science, Culture and Education conducted a workshop to examine ways of dealing with the situation. This collection of short stories focusing on communal harmony is an offshoot of this workshop. It is the first in a series on affirmative themes. (Ages 8 - 14)

• Stitching Stories, by Nina Sabnani. Tulika, 2011 Stitching Stories is based on the award-winning documentary film Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak), and looks at the art of embroidery in Gujarat, particularly the evolution of narrative through stitches. It tells the story of Raniben and her craft: how she and her family left Pakistan during Partition to make a life in Gujarat, how they lost everything in the 2001 earthquake and started again, and how they began to use their craft as a voice -- first to talk about the earthquake and then about their lives and thoughts. To round off the stunning appliqué visuals that tell the story are more gorgeous pictures in the section at the end of the book that makes you ?look? at the art of Gujarati embroidery. (Ages 10 - 12)

• Subcontinental Series, by . Bobbie Kalman Books, Various authors.
  India: The Culture, (Crabtree, N.Y. 1993)
  India: The Land, (Crabtree, N.Y. 1993)
  India: The People, (Crabtree, N.Y. 1993)
  Pakistan: The Culture (2003)
  Pakistan: The Land (2003)
  Pakistan: The People (2003) (Ages 8 - 12)

  That Summer at Kalagarh, by Ranjit Lal. Tulika, Chennai., A gripping tale set in the lush forests of the Kumaon hills -- Corbett country, brought to life with naturalist-author Ranjit Lal's photographic eye for detail. (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

  The Amazing Adventures of Little, by Swagata Deb. Rupa, 2005 A girl called Little, her brother Pickle, and their Uncle Jojo, who is a scientist, an inventor and explorer. He takes them to new worlds, invents time machines...among the characters are a boy who comes from the future to taste alu parathas, and a thief who steals Pickle's Smell. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Blood Stone, by Jamila Gavin. Egmont, 2003 Filippo has never seen his father. Before he was born, his father left their home in Venice to travel to the court of the Great Magul Emperor Shah Jehan. He never returned. Twelve years later, a stranger brings a message that Filippo's father is in the hands of bandits. Filippo follow's his father's journey, into the intrigue of the Emperor's court and on into Afghanistan... (Ages 12 - 16)

  The Buggles, by Antara Ganguli. Rupa, 2001 A fantasy novel with one central human character who finds herself in a frightening, magical underground world.The heroine is a fiesty ten-year old Indian girl and the rest of the characters are non-human. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Conch Bearer, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Millbrook Press, 2003 The story opens in a poor section of Kolkata, where 12-year-old Anand is entrusted with a conch shell imbued with mystical powers. Anand's task is to return the shell to its rightful home high in the mountains. Will he succeed? Accompanied by a mysterious stranger and a resourceful street urchin, Anand will encounter good and evil - both in himself and in those around him. (Ages 9 - 12)

  The Dream Machine, by Subir Richa Ghosh Bansal. Children's Book Trust, 1998 SAFAUW is a predatory outfit. It steals new and startling inventions and findings and announces them in the names of its members for fame and money. The scientific community is up in arms. Dr. Roy Chowdhury's Dream Machine too is in peril. This unique machine can not only convert dreams into visual images but let a person enter another's dream! His son, Shailesh, and his friend Lata, who knew its mysteries, are determined to save it from the clutches of the gang... (Ages 8 - 13)

  The Feluda Stories, by Satyajit Ray. Penguin, India, 1988. First published in Bengali by Ananda Publishers, 1971, A collection of detective stories starring Feluda and his partners, Topshe and Jatayu, set in Calcutta.

  The Adventures of Feluda. [Review at Parabaas]

  The Mystery of the Elephant God: More Adventures of Feluda

  Feluda's Last Case (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Forbidden Temple, by Padma Venkataraman. Tulika, Chennai, How was everyday life for children long ago? Did they have pets? Did foreign students feel homesick? What was it like to go shopping in a big city? What sort of games did they play? In this book, imagination takes off from carefully researched fact to create ten fascinating stories of children from times past, panning India's history from around 3500 BC onward. Alongside are bits of interesting information -- easy to absorb, just enough for added atmosphere. Finely etched pictures come together in collages to illustrate each story. A perky ant leads the trail through a very visual activity section that makes tracking history so much fun! (Available from Tulika or orders@padmasbooks.com) (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

  The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, by Uma Krishnaswami. Athenium, 2011 Eleven-year old Dini loves movies -- watching them, reading about them, trying to write her own -- especially Bollywood movies. But when her mother tells her some big news, it does not at all jive with the script of her life she has in mind. Her family is moving to India -- and, not even to Bombay, which is the center of the Bollywood universe and home to Dini's all-time most favorite star, Dolly. No, Dini is moving to a teeny, tiny village she can't even find on a map. Swapnagiri. It means Dream Mountain and it only looks like a word that's hard to pronounce. But to that open-minded person who sounds the name out, one letter at a time, it falls quite handily into place: S-w-a-p-n-a-g-i-r-i. An honest sort of name, with no surprise letters waiting to leap out and ambush the unwary. That doesn't mean there aren?t surprises in Swapnagiri like mischievous monkeys and a girl who chirps like a bird -- and the biggest surprise of all: Dolly. So now, Dini is hard at work on a new script, the script in which she gets to meet the amazing Dolly. But, life is often more unpredictable than the movies and when Dini starts plotting her story things get a little out of control. (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

  The Hidden Treasure, by Shashi Deshpande. India Book House, 1980, (Ages 8 - 12)

  The House of Djinn, by Suzanne Fisher Staples. Frances Foster/FSG, New York, 2008 It has been ten years since Shabanu staged her death to secure the safety of her daughter, Mumtaz, from her husband’s murderous brother. Mumtaz has been raised by her father’s family with the education and security her mother desired for her, but with little understanding and love. Only her American cousin Jameel, her closest confidant and friend, and the beloved family patriarch, Baba, understand the pain of her loneliness. When Baba unexpectedly dies, Jameel’s succession as the Amirzai tribal leader and the arrangement of his marriage to Mumtaz are revealed, causing both to question whether fulfilling their duty to the family is worth giving up their dreams for the future. A sequel to Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind and Haveli. (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

  The Little Lama of Tibet, by Lois Raimondo. , An illustrated biography of Ling Rinpochey, the young Buddhist monk who will be the next leader of the Tibetan people. Ages 6 and up, but the illustrations will keep younger children interested. (Ages 4 - 12)

  The Magic Liquid, by Jamuna Rangachari. Rupa, New Delhi. , 2005 Taro is on a mission to rescue his planet. With the help of Raju, he explores the planet Earth while searching for the elixir of life. Taro is from the planet Zyrus and Raju is a student of doorstep school in Mumbai (Ages 7 - 12)

  The Mahatma and the Monkeys, by Anu Kumar. Hatchette, India, 2009 This book, for today’s kids with an introduction by Anupam Kher, brings together the most interesting incidents that shaped Gandhiji’s life and his most important sayings. From his quest for truth, non-violence, equality and freedom, from the lessons he learned, and from his powerful words, you too can learn to be a little bit like Gandhiji. Through what he did and what he said Gandhiji inspired millions of Indians and made one of the mightiest empires in the world bow to his dream: freedom for India. That’s what made him an uncommon man and the greatest leader of the millennium. And that’s why, even decades after his death, his work and his words matter in today’s world. Mahatma Gandhi never said, “What can I do, I’m only one person.” Instead he said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” And he did. (Ages 12 - 15)

  The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Roaring Brook Press, 2005 Set in contemporary India as well as that of several hundred years in the past, The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming continues the adventures of Anand and his efforts to become a fully fledged member of The Brotherhood of the Conch. This time Anand's journey takes him back to Moghul times, as he encounters powerful sorcerers, spoiled princes, noble warriors and evil jinns. Divakaruni is a master storyteller, and once again she weaves a vibrant tapestry of action, suspense, and rare beauty. Fans of The Conch Bearer as well as readers new to her work will be entranced. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Monkey in the Stars, by Jamila Gavin. Mammoth, 1998 Combines mythological elements in a contemporary story. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Moon Over Crete, by Jyotsna Sreenivasan. Holy Cow Press, Duluth, Mn. , 1994 A time-travel adventure novel with a feminist theme. Lily, the heroine, has an Indian mother and a Jewish father, and travels back in time to ancient Crete where men and women were equal. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Hatchett Books, USA, Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help. (Ages 10 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

  The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Hatchett Books, USA, The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain. With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them. (Ages 10 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

  The Narayanpur Incident, by Shashi Deshpande. India Book House. Reprinted by Puffin, 1995 8 August 1942. Quit India! Gandhiji warns the British. As he and most leaders are put in jail the very next day, the people rise in protest. As schools close down, and family moves to Narayanpur, a sleepy little village seemingly untouched by the turbulence in the country. But Narayanpur is seething within, and it all comes to a head when a group of children dare to confront the police. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Only Witness, by Shashi Deshpande. India Book House, 1982, (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Rainbow & Other Stories, by Maneka Gandhi. Puffin, 2000 A collection of fairy tales. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Roses in my Carpets, by Rukhsana Khan. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, An Afghani boy in a Pakistani refugee camp cares for his mother and sister, until he finds work as an apprentice carpet weaver. The roses he weaves are a contrast to the starkness of his life, in this unsentimental, compassionate story about hope amid adversity. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Singing Bowls, by Jamila Gavin. Methuen, 1989 A British teenager explores his father's adoption from India. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Sower of Tales, by Rachna Gilmore. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, King's men on horseback, riding through the Plains. Rumors and fear. Fingers flicked to ward off evil, whenever the Sorcerer Odhran is mentioned. Something is definitely not right, and Calantha isn't the only one to feel it. The Seers and the Gatherers all agree - the Essences have become twisted, hard to read. But why? No one seems to know. Trying to shut out the discord, Calantha loses herself in the tales of the story pods - the story pods whose seeds are scattered nightly by the Sower of Tales. But then the unthinkable happens. There are story pods in the fields as always, but there is no new growth. Where are the seeds? What will become of the Plains folk without the Tales to bring them together? Has the Sower of Tales abandoned them? In desperation, Calantha sets off on a harrowing journey to seek the Sower of Tales, only to be burdened with a terrifying task. Others will help her, if Calantha can trust them. Her dearest dreams - and her worst nightmares - will guide her, if Calantha can face them. And she must. For the fate of the Plainsfolk, the fate of the Sower of Tales herself rests in Calantha's hands. And her one passion, the Tales, will make her more vulnerable - and more powerful - than anyone could have known. (Ages 11 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

  The Sunita Experiment, by Mitali Perkins. Scholastic, An Indian-American girl whose grandparents come to visit from India. Also about cultural conflicts she faces, and her maturing relationship with her mother. (Ages 12 - 16)

  The Surya Trilogy, by Jamila Gavin. Mammoth-., 1997 This trilogy is the story of the interlinked lives of two families living in India and England between 1947 and 1951 The books provide a compelling account of life in India around the time of partition, thoughtfully contrasted with British life in the aftermath of the Second World War.

  The Wheel of Surya. Marvinder and Jaspal flee from their burning village after Partition, and make their way to England to find their father. Methuen, 1992

  The Eye of the Horse. Jaspal's and Marvinder's father is in prison. In different ways they both feel drawn toward India. Methuen, 1994.

  The Track of the Wind. The Singh family is reunited. Mammoth, 1997. (Ages 8 - 12)

  The Trouble with Dilly, by Rachna Gilmore. Harper Collins, Dilly can't believe her eyes. That new kid, Gedion, is shoplifting from her family's store, and Dilly's mom is letting it happen. Just because Gedion's family is struggling financially doesn't mean that her parents have to let him get away with it. But as soon as Dilly tells on Gedion, she realizes that some things are better left unsaid. Particularly since it means Gedion's father has to give back some groceries in order to pay for the chocolate bars his son has stolen.

  Dilly wants to make up for her mistake and comes up with the perfect idea: recreating a wonderful Christmas for Gedion and his parents, just like the ones Gedion's father said they used to have in the old country. Enlisting the help of her best friends, Dilly soon discovers that the whole community wants to be involved--but has the party become too big? And will they be able to raise all the money they need without Dilly having to dip into her own savings for that very special pair of skates she's been yearning for? (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

  The Village By the Sea, by Anita Desai. Allied Publishers, 1982., Lila is 13 and her brother Hari 12, yet as the eldest children of a family fallen on hard times they feel responsible for looking after their young sisters. Their mother is seriously ill, and their father, out of work, spends most of his time drunk. Lila and Hari desperately seek to keep the family together. Then one day Hari goes to Bombay, and suddenly things begin to change. The story is set in Thul, a small fishing village near Bombay. It won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award in 1983. (Ages 12 - 16)

  Usha the Mouse Maiden, by Mehlli Gobhai. Hawthorne Books, 1969, (Ages 8 - 12)

  YoungUncle comes to Town, by Vandana Singh. Viking Children's Books/Penguin USA, In a small, sleepy town in northern India, three children gaze out onto a rain-drenched street, waiting for a most unusual guest. Who is Younguncle? Was he really kidnapped by the monkeys when he was little? Can he truly make a noise like a sewing machine? Will he ever Settle Down and Get Married? When he finally arrives, Sarita, Ravi and the baby know instantly that their lives will never be the same again... (Ages 8 - 12)

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