Showing results by narrator "Sneha Mathan" in All Categories

This modern, groundbreaking YA anthology explores the complexity and beauty of interracial and LGBTQ+ relationships where differences are front and center. When people ask me what this anthology is about, I'm often tempted to give them the complicated answer: It's about race and about how being different from the person you love can matter but how it can also not matter, and it's about Chinese pirate ghosts, black girl vigilantes, colonial India, a flower festival, a garden of poisons, and so, so much else.  

This exceptional and powerful anthology explores the joys, heartbreaks and triumphs of immigration, with stories by critically acclaimed and best-selling YA authors who are shaped by the journeys they and their families have taken from home - and to find home. 

Riya loves Diwali for the tasty treats but not the darkness and loud fireworks. Can Riya be brave and find a way to celebrate Diwali with her family without being scared? Presented as a 'Once Upon a Time' bedtime story, children will learn the origin of Diwali and how it came to be a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Diwali is a five-day long celebration beginning from purchasing silver and gold items, to decorating the home with lights and candles, to preparing baked goods and visiting friends and family, to ending the holiday with fireworks and a celebration of siblings.

It's 1972 and Viva’s Indian family has been expelled from Uganda and sent to a resettlement camp in England, but not all of them made the trip. Her father is supposed to meet them in London, but he never shows up. As they wait for him, Viva, her mother, and her sister get settled in camp and try to make the best of their life there.

Reeni is wild about birds! So when she and her best friend, Yasmin, have to pick a survey topic for a school project, asking their neighbors what they know about birds is an obvious choice. They are shocked to learn that no one—not one single person—has heard about Bird Count India and the major event it is about to launch all over the country. Thousands of birdwatchers will be out counting birds as part of a global movement. Global means world, and isn’t this city part of the world? How come people don’t seem to care about the threats to city birds?

Anil loves karate, his friends, and the solar power project he has been championing in his community. He doesn’t love having to speak up—as his karate sensei says, best fight, no fight. Still, Anil wishes his classmate Mohan would stop picking on him. Then Anil learns where the city is planning to build a new solar panel factory. More sustainable energy is good news—but this factory will threaten plant and animal species and force the village people who live on the land to move. Maybe staying quiet isn’t an option anymore....