Papercut Portraits: Masterclass by Thao Lam
By Nikhita Chatterjee, Grade 10 For her masterclass titled “Papercut Portraits”, author-illustrator Thao Lam was greeted by a room packed with enthusiastic children eager to make their portraits. During this engaging session, Thao explained the inspiration and backstory behind her picture book “Thao”. She introduced the book by reading aloud a few short excerpts to […]
Living Like an Emperor: The Mughals and Their World
by Kaavya Sahi, Grade 9 The Mughals were a prominent dynasty that ruled the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century. They are renowned for their warrior spirit, cultural richness, grandeur, and vibrant way of life. The dynasty seems worlds apart from our lives today; our routines, habits, and outlook vastly different from […]
Starting up and Adulting: How to Never Settle, with Andaleeb Wajid
By Devangshee Khemka, Grade 8 In the masterclass “Starting up and Adulting” led by 2024 Neev Book Award winner Andaleeb Wajid, we were able to get to know the author better, and discuss what to do with our life, our dreams, romance, and even briefly explored a sort of feminist perspective of our lives. We […]
Secrets to Narration: Understanding A Writer’s Craft with Adam Gidwitz
by Arin V. Jagtap, Grade 10 Everyone has told a story aloud or in front of an audience at least once in their life. But it’s the way that one may do it that can make the story truly captivating. We all have our unique voices, a theme that Adam Gidwitz explored in his masterclass […]
A Books-Filled Childhood and Adulthood: Manu Pillai and Devika Cariapa in Conversation at NLF 2024
By Samarrah Sivakumar, Grade 10, and Kaavya Sahi, Grade 9 In the opening session of Neev Literature Festival 2024, historians Devika Cariapa and Manu Pillai reminisced, like old friends, about their relationships with books and stories, taking us along on the journey. As the two authors recounted stories from their childhood, the audience was treated […]
Literary Keepsakes—Linda Sue Park
By Aditi Garg, Grade 11 “What’s the one thing you’d save in a fire (family and pets excluded)?” Through her short 45-minute masterclass, Linda Sue Park created a session filled with engaging activities, thought-provoking questions, and witty retorts. She began by introducing herself as a Korean-American and delved into the intricacies of her life, which […]
The Power of Editing in Children’s Books
By Aditi Kaila, Grade 11 I had the pleasure of attending Sudeshna Shome Ghosh’s masterclass, “Snipping Words, Moulding Tales”, which explored what exactly a children’s book editor does. Sudeshna, a publisher at Talking Cub, took the audience through what it takes to edit a children’s book, and highlighted the various aspects of changing these books. […]
Patterns Patterns Patterns—Piquing Interest
By Anya Shenoy, Grade 11 Patterns are fundamental in our world, shaping nature, art, and behavior. They offer predictability and beauty, from the symmetry of snowflakes to the rhythm of music. Understanding patterns enriches our comprehension of systems and helps us find order in the randomness of life. Patterns may vary from simple to complex, […]
Writing History: A Masterclass with Devika Cariapa
By Sanjana Garg, Grade 11 Author Devika Cariapa joined us at NLF 2023 to give a masterclass on the intricacies of writing history. Her book, India Through People: 25 Game Changers, was the focus of her class. Her book is about individuals—women and men with the vision, fortitude, and resolve to leave a mark—who powered […]
Kapil Pandey’s May the Folk Be With You: A Tale of the Missing Barbers
By Kavya Arjun, Grade 12 It’s a tough task to simply capture the attention of one’s audience, but Kapil Pandey’s extraordinary performance had the audience absolutely enraptured. Starting out with a quick get-to-know-you session, the storyteller gave us a sneak-peek into the performance with a short vocal warm-up of ‘Lakdi Ki Kathi’, which transported the […]