Can you protect Versova from its fate? From the vortex on its way to the village? Karuna was scared. Her father, who had left to go fishing early that morning, was unusually late. She was unable to shake off the ominous feeling that the pillage of the previous storm had seared into her psyche. Friends and a cousin join Karuna as she embarks on a treacherous journey in search of her father where they learn the lore of their people, overcome personal fears, and are collectively forced to come face-to-face with the ravages of climate change. Subuhi Jiwani brings to light the story of a defiant girl from the fishing community of Versova who pledges to rescue her village from impending doom. 10-15 years. story from people's archive of rural India

Coming Home is a story set in a beautiful valley where a small community of farmers and their families live and work. Over the years, many of the young people have begun to migrate to earn a living. Everyone wishes there was a way in which these young people could stay back and earn a living right here. It’s a young boy, Selva, who has an idea which could do just that. But will it take shape and will it bring his older brother home? Read the book to find out just how a small idea can lead to big changes. Written by Priti David, this is a story about migration and home, seen from the eyes of 11-year-old Selva. age 10- 15 years

I’m the boss. I make my own decisions. Naresh has the world’s coolest mother – she wakes up at midnight, dons a miner’s lamp and goes to her field to harvest flowers. Will he be able to show everyone at school that she’s a hero? Aparna Karthikeyan tells the story of Nandhini, a remarkable woman who juggles single parenthood and a sampangi farm in Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu. Based on real events, this is a story about a woman who cultivates a cheery disposition and stubbornly pursues her daring, unusual dreams.

…stone buildings seemed to rise out of a largely garden-like environment, and in the distance were the towering ghats. Snehagao was…beautiful… A new school, a strange new language, and an oddly cheerful roommate – Krishnan doesn’t know what to make of it all. He’s here after losing his only parent to HIV, and finding out that he has it too. Angry at having been made to leave the only home he’s ever known, Krishnan is desperate and homesick. He soon has to make way for new feelings, though – the exhilaration of bolting up and down the school’s running track, and the delicious thrill of competing with his best friend for the post of Prime Minister in the school parliament. Vishaka George’s uplifting story about a brave teenager and his lovable group of friends is inspired by real events, and is proof that wonderful things sneak up on you when you least expect them.

I can’t buy a ticket, but I need to get on this train… Chandrasekhar waits for a job and dreams of being back home with a classmate he’s in love with. Aruna had lost a slipper, and it was her only pair. Balu wishes he could trade his jackhammer for a poetry book. Sadia and her son are sleeping beside their handmade dolls, wondering what the future holds. Anjanamma makes up a story to soothe the relentless sting of mosquitoes. Nagaraju sightlessly navigates the chaos of a train station and puts out a plea to the universe. Subuhi Jiwani traces six uncertain journeys from Andhra Pradesh to Kochi, where migrants were in search of work, survival, and belonging.

On Tamil Nadu’s coast lies a small town that centuries ago must have been filled with the sounds of hammering and chiselling on stone – Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. From a mammoth relief panel to cave temples and monoliths, it showcases sculptural art of astounding skill and a variety of styles rare to find in one location. The book takes us through this ‘open-air museum’ for a one-on-one ‘looking’ experience through its rich archive of 65 vivid photographs. The magnified visual details and narrative cues also throw up a sea of stories – and some riddles to be unravelled!

“I’ve been calling you nonstop. Some actor shared our post about your grandmother last night and it’s gone viral now. It’s being forwarded, retweeted, and even being picked up by other publications. Now get up, call your Paati, and sit her down with your laptop!” In the next few minutes, my world as I knew it changed forever. Dhruv is as upset as his grandmother is to discover that her beloved camera, containing all her memories, has been lost on her solo trip to Europe. When she returns to India, she’s given up hope on ever getting it back. But Dhruv has a brainwave, something that could get people all around the world to help him lift her spirits. What surprises await his Paati?! Prabhu Viswanathan’s simple narration brings to life the tender affection among the members of a family while reaffirming everyone’s faith in humanity. age group-10-15.age group 10-15

Before Nek Chand built his iconic garden, he was a boy with a dream—of home.

2570 BCE, Bagasra Village, Harappa, India Twelve-year-old Avani is a happy-go-lucky, adventurous Harappan girl, who loves to play with her friends Tavishi, Delshad and Ambar. The wedding of the Village Elder’s daughter Ketika brings fresh excitement into their lives. However, something sinister is afoot, as Avani realizes when she overhears a mysterious conversation between two men. Other incidents, like a bizarre robbery and a fire at the grain storeroom, add to the tension. Do these unconnected events point to a bigger plan? How is the monk from far-off China linked to all this? Will Avani and her friends’ quick thinking unmask this plan, and save the honour of Bagasra village and Harappa?

Janaki dreams of a secret world, far from the rigid rules of her town. This is the story of how nature shows her the way to it. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Before Mahasweta Devi became a writer and human rights activist, she was a girl with a love for words.

What if they lost? Would the village not let other girls play in the future? Twelve-year-old Rukku dreams of being a professional footballer someday. There’s just one problem: her village doesn’t think sports are for girls to pursue. But when a retired army officer starts a football coaching center exclusively for girls in the village, Rukku becomes part of a steadily forming girls' football team. Sanjana Ganesh transports readers to Neerodi, a football-crazed fishing village in Tamil Nadu, where a determined young girl navigates the tides of losing her father, coming of age, and confronting the barriers of gender roles.

Before Shankuntala Devi was world-renowned as the human computer, she was a girl to whom numbers were her friends and playmates.

Quick as a bird, fast as a train-there she goes! This is the story of P.T. Usha, before she became a legend in Indian sports.

Curious and spirited, Sharadha loves living life in her ancestral tharavadu. The grand ol’ house, Vishwasam, is right in the heart of her beloved Marayur, in the Chera kingdom. The house is also the centre of activities as Devaki Amma, her grandmother, is a healer for the King no less! Life is good in the sleepy village! But her inquisitiveness takes Sharadha on an unintended adventure. Trying to investigate a secret, she chances upon a mysterious trader and ends up in the bustling city of Mahodayapuram. And it’s not just any city but the busy multicultural melting pot of the Cheraman Perumal Empire! As she traverses the metropolis, Sharadha gets pulled into the magical colours, languages, religions, and the vibrancy of the city. She now realizes how complex the Capital is from her small village life-full of intrigue and political scandals. But as a sudden war with the ambitious and powerful Chola Dynasty looms on the horizon, Sharadha pines to get back to her old quiet life in Marayur. Will she ever be able to see her beloved Vishwasam again? Can she use the wisdom taught by her grandmother to save the others and herself? Peek into an account of what life was like during the final years of the Chera Dynasty of the eleventh century Kerala!

Narayan loved words, while Doodu loved to draw. This is the story of how two brothers created the immortal town of Malgudi. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Before Teejan Bai became a world-renowned singer, she was a little girl who had to fight for her freedom to sing. A delightfully illustrated short biography that will inspire young readers.

Is silence ever the answer? How would you react when you know that one of your best friends is lying to you? Who would you trust? Working on top Hollywood projects in the 3D stereoscopy industry is not as rewarding as zuby thought. Along with mounting work pressure and an arranged marriage to escape from, Ruby is forced to either speak up or accept her fate silently. The hidden truths and half lies from her best friends, Adi and Tanya, only make matters worse. Will Adi owe up to his dark secret? Will Tanya accept the reality finally? With a professional background from 3D stereoscopy industry, hanadi falki has brought to life an engaging account of the lives of these youngsters in the price of our silence as they face to the industry's dark secrets of exploitation, favouritism and company politics.

Awating description for this book

Before Salim Ali was a world-famous ornithologist, he was a boy curious about the mysteries around him. Especially the mysteries of birds.