Dig Deeper: When Archaeology Meets AI
by Ishaan Pokhriyal, Grade 7 When Devika Cariapa said, “It’s not surprising that these two fit together,” I couldn’t quite comprehend the connection. Archaeology is all about piecing together our past, while AI is rooted in the future. But as her session progressed, it became clearer how these two seemingly opposite worlds are beginning to […]
Bee-Safe Future
by Tysha Raheja, Grade 7 Not all ideas for novel-writing come from tedious planning, research, and brainstorming—they could just be ordinary events in our daily lives, as well as unique observations from the environment around us. Pablo Cartaya got the idea for his book The Last Beekeeper while trying to focus on ideating concepts for […]
STEM Poetry
by Vihaan Agarwal, Grade 7 A masterful fusion of scientific insight seamlessly integrated with captivating poetic expression was delivered in the session on STEM Poetry by Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca. The talk introduced us to her book Your One and Only Heart, which simplifies complex anatomical explanations of the human heart through lyrical poetry, displayed […]
Left, Right, Left
by Disha Suresh, Grade 5, and Dayita Raju, Grade 10 At the Neev Literature Festival, Bijal Vachharajani spoke about her book, Left-Out Paru, illustrated by Rajiv Eipe, which explores the life of a left-handed girl who feels isolated in a world where most of those around her are right-handed. She began by asking the audience […]
Finding the Past in the Present
by Amishi Daga, Grade 9 When history recalls events, it typically emphasises on the number of people who were displaced, the manner in which borders were drawn and how history shifted overnight. However, numbers alone are unable to capture the human experience of living through and after a significant moment. Narratives provide a shape to […]
Wordless Warmth
by Ira S Kapany, Grade 6, and Riddhi Mantri, Grade 7 In the Masterclass ‘Wordless Warmth,’ author-illustrator Ogin Nayam introduced the audience to his wordless picture book When the Sun Sets, shortlisted for the 2025 Neev Book Award. He noted how everything was left to the reader’s interpretation in wordless picture books, how the ideas […]
Feeling Shy, Feeling Brave
by Pranat Jain, Grade 12 In the session ‘Feeling Shy, Feeling Brave,’ Rishita Loitongbam engaged with audiences ranging from 6-year-old students to teachers and fellow authors. In her own language of visual metaphors and imagery, Ms. Rishita explained how pictures and colors can be used to depict one’s sentiments. The book Thoithoi Feels Shy is […]
Shifting Perspectives
by Arianna Sethi, Grade 10 Aparna Kapur’s Masterclass ‘Shifting Perspectives’ at the Neev Literature Festival 2025, highlights the importance of how different perspectives work together and enhance a story. In her book An Absence of Squirrels, the main character is a 12-year-old girl named Katli, who has seven different personalities, with different thoughts, opinions, and […]
Make Some Noise
by Kabir Singh, Grade 9 At the whimsical session ‘Make Some Noise’, author Vibha Batra helped remind us that books aren’t just about what we see, but can also portray what we hear, smell, touch, or even taste on an everyday basis. We often focus solely on visual imagery, forgetting how powerfully other senses shape […]
Good Friends and Marvellous Mix-Ups
by Aadya Gupta, Grade 7 In his session ‘Good Friends and Marvellous Mix-Ups’ at the Neev Literature Festival 2025, author Neil Flory was able to draw the audience into a world of laughter, music, and imagination. The children were immediately curious as he began with playful questions, inviting them to share their thoughts and join […]