Midnight Motorbike

Midnight Motorbike Written by Maureen Shay Tajsar. Illustrated by Ishita Jain.
(Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2025) Join a young girl and her Amma on a magical moonlit motorbike ride through the villages, roads, and landscapes of South India on a night too warm for sleep. Through richly sensory storytelling, Tajsar invites readers to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the night as mother and daughter travel together beneath a luminous sky, discovering wonder in the ordinary and comfort in each other’s company. Jain’s dreamlike, jewel-toned illustrations bring depth, movement, and warmth to the journey, immersing readers in a vibrant nocturnal world. Together, the lyrical text and evocative artwork create an engaging work of narrative nonfiction-inspired fiction that celebrates family bonds, cultural memory, and a child’s sense of curiosity and belonging. Without ever losing its gentle intimacy, the story encourages readers to slow down, observe the world around them, and appreciate the enduring connection between loved ones, place, and tradition.