Embark on the brave journey of Heera, a teenager who lives in India. Using her inner strength and resilience, Heera is forced into the world of poverty, sex trafficking, and societal norms to expose the harsh realities of life. (Grades 7-9)
Winner
Books that have officially won an award from the South Asia Book Awards committee.
Ajay and the Mumbai Sun
Amidst the dynamic pulse of Mumbai, a young boy named Ajay embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As he confronts challenges and uncovers hidden stories in the city’s labyrinthine streets, Ajay learns that the true essence of Mumbai lies in its people—their dreams, struggles, and unwavering spirit beneath the city’s blazing sun. (Grades 3-7)
The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story
The illustrations beautifully capture Dezh Azaad’s story about an Afghan refugee child, her innocence and uncertainty when she remembers the role the carpet has played in her family’s history and memories. This picture book is accessible to readers of all levels from beginner to advanced. Early readers can engage with the illustrations to follow along with the family’s journey, or use the entire book as a read aloud. Azaad’s story highlights the beauty of Afghan culture that is often misrepresented and misunderstood. (Grades PK-3)
Global Reads Webinar Series The Moon from Dehradun
Join us for a conversation with Shirin Shamsi, author of The Moon from Dehradun, moderated by South Asia Book Award committee member Ritu Radhakrishnan. Monday, June 3, 2024, 4-5 PM CDT Watch it on YouTube Here! The Moon …
American Fever
On her first journey away from home, sixteen-year-old Hira experiences many unfamiliar situations, including the threat of tuberculosis. Through it all, Hira faces her own misconceptions about America while dealing with Islamophobia from her new friends and host family in Oregon. (Grades 10-12)
The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of Partition
In 1947, Azra and her family took an unforgettable train ride from Dehradun to Lahore, leaving her home and her beloved doll behind. Throughout her journey, Azra draws hope and resilience as she sees the same moon each night amidst the ever changing landscape. (Grades PK-4)
Thirst
Most people in Mumbai live with limited access to water, with frequent shortages. In contrast, the affluent live above, in high-rise buildings with unrestricted water access. This disparity instigates numerous questions for Minni, as she searches for justice to bridge these inequalities. (Grades 5-6)
Bombay Blues
The dense, chaotic, yet lyrical, pulse of daily life in Bombay collides with the dissonant, hip-hop sensibility of affluent, urban Indian youth in this story of Dimple, a young Indian-American woman’s journey of self-discovery. (Grades 10 and up)
Razia’s Ray of Hope One Girl’s Dream of an Education
Razia dreams of getting an education, but in her small village in Afghanistan, girls haven’t been allowed to attend school for many years. When a new girls’ school opens in the village, a determined Razia must convince her father and oldest brother that educating her would be best for her, their family and their community. Based on the true stories of the students of the Zabuli Education Center for Girls just outside of Kabul. (Grades 3-8).
Same, Same but Different
Pen Pals Elliot and Kailash discover that even though they live in different countries—America and India—they both love to climb trees, own pets, and ride school buses. (Grade 5 & under).