Shifting the Focus: Centering Marginalised Stories of Colonialism
By Samantha Kokkat Literature reflects and constitutes society. In the imperial period, travel writing and adventure stories penned by British writers such as Rudyard Kipling did not merely represent India. They also built an image of India creating attitudes, beliefs and ways of thinking that legitimised colonial rule. Literature of post-independent India wrested the power […]
When History Comes Calling: Reflecting on the Roald Dahl Controversy
By Samantha Kokkat Puffin Books and the Roald Dahl Story Company found themselves in the eye of the storm when they announced that new editions of Roald Dahl’s books will be revised to make them less offensive. The move came after the publisher and the author’s estate worked with Inclusive Minds, an organisation that aims […]
History, Humour and Animal Rights | Young Readers Write
By Ayaan Gupta, Grade 3 Uncle Nehru, Please Send an Elephant! is a book written by Devika Cariapa and illustrated by Satvik Gade. This is a very interesting book. In this book, the author has tried to teach us a part of our real Indian history by narrating a series of real-life events which took […]
“VAmazing”: Reading When the World Went Dark | Young Readers Write
By Riya Bopanna, Grade 7 When the World Went Dark by Jane De Suza, shortlisted for the Neev Book Award 2022 in the Junior Readers category is a heartfelt novel that explores the feeling of loss from the perspective of a lively nine year-old girl. Swara is not happy. Her country is in lockdown and […]
Comprehending Suffering: Reading Young ‘Jamlo Walks’ and ‘Wounds’ | Young Readers Write
The Neev Book Award 2022 shortlist puts the spotlight on Indian lives. A lived reality numerous young readers picked up on while reading the shortlisted books are the tales of suffering, pain, and systemic inequalities. They speak to readers regardless of how old they are. Two students from Neev Academy, one from Grade 4 and […]
Many Places, Same Story: Reading That Night | Young Readers Write
That Night, a picture book by Bijal Vachharajani shortlisted for the Neev Book Award 2022 in the Emerging Readers category, speaks to readers of all ages. Be they seven or seventeen, this poignant tale has moved plenty of young children. Here are two student voices. Grade 10 student Noyonika Arun writes: The book That Night […]
Art and Authenticity: Reading ‘Wounds’ | Young Readers Write
By Ishaan Varior, Grade 11 Wounds, the only picture book (or the black sheep) shortlisted in the Young Adult category for the Neev Book Award 2022, is a way to give children two things. One, a view into the work of Somnath Hore, who made art about the Bengal famine and the Tebhaga movement. Two, […]
The Beauty in Eternal Memory: Reading Paati’s Rasam | Young Readers Write
By Aida Sandy Shree, Grade 10 Paati’s Rasam is a picture book, written by the mother-daughter duo Janaki Sabesh and Dhwani Sabesh, and illustrated by Pallavi Jain. It follows the story of Malli, a little girl who loves her grandmother, and explores the transitory nature of life, and the impact it leaves behind. Through emotive […]
What Would You Do If Elephants Ruined Your Backyard? | Young Readers Write
By Neyamukil, Grade 3 What would you do, if elephants came and ruined your backyard? That is what happens to a girl called Bumoni in the story Bumoni’s Banana Trees. First, what is this story about? It is about a girl called Bumoni who lives in Assam. Her house has a BIG backyard FULL of […]
Rain Must Fall On Friendship and Empowerment
Children start coming into their own as they inch closer to their teenage years. Confusion may reign high as teenagers embark on a turbulent journey of self-discovery. Nandita Basu delicately addresses this in her 2022 Neev Book Award-shortlisted graphic novel, Rain Must Fall. Centred around the life of an adolescent, the book talks about isolation, […]