A Project of the South Asia National Outreach Consortium
The South Asia Book Award is delighted to announce our honors list for 2026! We received more than 100 submissions this year. Congratulations to all the amazing authors and illustrators listed below! Award Winners Midnight Motorbike Written by Maureen Shay Tajsar, Illustrated by Ishita Jain Neal Porter Books/Holiday House Join a young girl and her …
The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi. (Quill Tree Books/HarperColllins, 2025) Join Mo, a Pakistani American boy, as he navigates family, faith, friendship, and belonging while confronting challenges that many young people experience but are seldom discussed openly. Moving to a new home and community in Texas, Mo must make sense of changing relationships, cultural expectations, …
Zarina Divided by Reem Faruqi (Harper Collins Children, 2025) A much-needed book focusing on the Partition of India into India and Pakistan. Reem Faruqi’s story in verse is inspired by her grandmother’s life. Zarina, an 11 year-old girl living in Poona in 1947, experiences the heartbreak of having to leave her home and her friends …
The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta (Scholastic Press, 2025) The story of Simi begins in the northwest Punjab region of India and ends in the Bronx neighborhood of New York. Her story takes the reader through the emotions of an international immigrant. Simi’s experience of migrating to the US via Mexico sheds light on the …
I’m From Here Too by Kashmira Sheth (Peachtree Books, 2024) Eighth grader Anoop has a lot on his plate – a new classroom without his best friend, his grandfather in India is sick and possibly dying, and attacks on American Sikhs are increasing. Anoop’s only respite is the poetry that he writes, but as he tries …
Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani (Kokila/Penguin Random House, 2024) In Amil and the After, Veera Hiranandani continues the story from The Night Diary, following 12-year-old Amil as he adjusts to life in Bombay after the Partition of India. Struggling with loss, trauma, and identity, Amil finds healing through drawing, friendship, and small acts of …
The Door Is Open (anthology of stories) edited by Hena Khan (Little, Brown Books for Readers, 2024) The Door Is Open, edited by Hena Khan, is a powerful collection of interconnected short stories that center the voices and experiences of South Asian American middle schoolers in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey. Each story …
Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani (Harper Collins, 2024) Prior to the Partition of 1947, Twelve-year-old Raj, and his best friend, Iqbal, spent their days flying kites, climbing trees, and eating mangoes. After Partition, a British lawyer draws a line on a map splitting India into separate countries. Raj’s family originally lived in what is …
The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi (Harper Collins, 2024). Mahnoor navigates the challenges of home life and the struggles of school, all while dealing with friendships that test her strength. Amid the chaos, her passion for journalism becomes a lifeline—guiding her toward understanding her Pakistani identity. When her grandmother arrives from Pakistan, carrying a history long …
This vibrant nonfiction picture book takes young readers on an enchanting journey across India, showcasing the country's rich cultural diversity, iconic landmarks, and natural wonders. Through lively illustrations and engaging prose, the book explores India’s varied traditions, languages, wildlife, and festivals, providing a window into everyday life. With each page offering a new discovery, readers are immersed in the sights, sounds, and colors of India, celebrating its complexity and charm. (Grades 2-5)
