A Project of the South Asia National Outreach Consortium
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 …
Harpreet Singh is a practicing Sikh and adores colors. He has a different colored patka, or head covering, for every occasion. But, when his family moves to a new city, everything feels grey. Will he find a way to make life vibrant again? (Grades Pre-K-2)
Lekha, the only Indian American kid in her small town, feels like she must be two versions of herself. At school she is embarrassed by her Indian culture and tries to avoid hurtful comments from classmates. But when a new Indian family moves into town, Lekha rethinks her approach.
In 1857, twelve-year old Meera has become a widow before she even moves into her husband’s house. Desperate to escape her husband’s funeral pyre, Meera joins the household of a British commander as a maid and is drawn into a burgeoning soldiers’ rebellion against the British Raj.
When ten-year old Anjali’s mother is jailed for protesting British rule using non-violent techniques (ahimsa), Anjali must confront her own prejudices and fears to take over her mother’s work. Though she is young, Anjali’s actions become significant in India’s struggle for Independence. (Grades 5-9)
