Best books for 12 to 15 year olds

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹152 ↗

Ages 9–12Indian author

A little girl in a Himalayan village trades a leopard's-claw pendant for a beautiful blue umbrella, and the envy it stirs in her village.

The Room on the Roof

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹155 ↗

Ages 11–15Indian author

Ruskin Bond's coming-of-age classic about a teenage orphan finding freedom and friendship in Dehradun — written when the author was seventeen.

Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance, Death & grief

Tiger Boy

by Mitali Perkins

Ages 8–12Indian author

On an island in the Sunderbans, a boy searches for an escaped baby tiger cub before poachers find it first.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹208 ↗

Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire: Adventures in Champakbagh

by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

Ages 9–12Indian author

A boy named Jwala Kumar sets off on adventures around Champakbagh, encountering different childhoods and ways of life across India.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹224 ↗

The Incredible Life of Mary Kom: The Queen of Boxing

by Swayam Ganguly

Ages 9–12Indian author

The true story of Mary Kom's journey from a village in Manipur to becoming an Olympic-medal-winning boxer.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹186 ↗

Tiger! Tiger! Stories of the Big Cat

by Various, intro by Zai Whitaker

Ages 10–14Indian author

An anthology of classic and contemporary stories and poems about tigers, from foolish to fierce to supernatural.

Heads-up: Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹273 ↗

How Did the Harappans Say Hello? And 16 Other Mysteries of History

by Anu Kumar

Ages 9–13Indian author

Sixteen playful mysteries from Indian history, answered in short, curious chapters.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹145 ↗

What if the Earth Stopped Spinning? And 24 Other Mysteries of Science

by Roopa Pai

Ages 9–13Indian author

Twenty-five curious science questions answered in short, accessible chapters for young readers.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹228 ↗

Tigers for Dinner: Tall Tales by Jim Corbett's Khansama

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹232 ↗

Ages 8–12Indian author

Tall tales told by the cook who worked for legendary hunter-conservationist Jim Corbett.

Our Nana Was a Nutcase

by Ranjit Lal

Ages 9–13Indian author

A funny, affectionate story about a wonderfully eccentric grandfather seen through his grandchildren's eyes.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹232 ↗

The Puffin Feluda Omnibus: Volume One

by Satyajit Ray

Ages 10–14Indian author

The first cases of Feluda, Bengal's most beloved detective, created by legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

Heads-up: Crime & murder

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹275 ↗

Chander Pahar

by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay

Ages 11–16Indian author

A classic Bengali adventure novel following young Shankar's journey through the African wilderness in search of a fabled diamond mine — one of Bengali literature's best-loved adventure stories.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹175 ↗

Miya Fuski

by Jivram Joshi

Ages 7–12Indian author

The classic Gujarati children's series starring the endearing trickster Miya Fuski, created by Jivram Joshi in 1945 and beloved across generations of Gujarati readers for its wit and warmth.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹125 ↗

Feet On The Ground Head In The Air

by Aditi Sowmyanarayan

Ages 9–13Indian author

A heartwarming middle-grade novel balancing everyday realism with a child's flights of imagination.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹399 ↗

The Gilded Wolves

by Roshani Chokshi

Ages 14–17Indian author

A charismatic hotelier assembles a crew of talented misfits to pull off a heist in a magical, alternate 1889 Paris.

Heads-up: Violence, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹550 ↗

The Bridge Home

by Padma Venkatraman

Ages 10–13Indian author

Two runaway sisters make a home with two homeless boys on an abandoned bridge in Chennai, India, in this moving story about family, disability, and resilience.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Abuse

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹398 ↗

Bhalu Ka Nakhoon (भालू का नाखून)

by Rishi Sahany

Ages 9–12Indian author

Stories drawn from the author-illustrator's travels through the mountains — a small Buddhist monk, a hill shepherd, a mountain guide — with luminous, season-shifting paintings. Parag Honour List 2024.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹130 ↗

Menstrupedia Comic: The Friendly Guide to Periods for Girls

by Aditi Gupta, Tuhin Paul & Rajat Mittal

Ages 9–14Indian author

A friendly Indian comic in which a doctor 'didi' explains periods, puberty and hygiene to three girls — clear, unembarrassed and myth-busting. Used in thousands of schools.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Gulu: The Essential Guide to Puberty for Boys

by Aditi Gupta & Tuhin Paul

Ages 9–14Indian author

The Menstrupedia team's comic guide for boys: body changes, feelings, hygiene — and understanding periods so boys grow up respectful and informed.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹233 ↗

What's Up with Me? Puberty, Periods, Pimples, People, Problems and More

by Tisca Chopra

Ages 10–14Indian author

Actor Tisca Chopra answers the questions Indian tweens are too shy to ask — bodies, periods, skin, crushes, friendships and feelings — in a warm, funny voice.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

We Are the Champions: 40 Iconic Moments in Indian Sports

by Akshay Lokapally & Vijay Lokapally

Ages 9–14Indian author

Forty great moments from Indian sport — cricket, hockey, athletics, badminton, wrestling and more — and the players and teams behind them.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹251 ↗

Trouble in the Tea Gardens

by Mitali Perkins

Ages 9–12Indian author

A middle-grade mystery set on a Darjeeling tea estate, where a young visitor uncovers secrets and danger among the gardens.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹173 ↗

Strong As Fire, Fierce As Flame

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹229 ↗

Ages 10–13Indian author

1857: thirteen-year-old Meera flees a fate she didn't choose as Indian soldiers rise against the British, and finds her own strength and voice.

Heads-up: War & battle violence

And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization, and Resistance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹420 ↗

Ages 6–12Indian author

The story of the Kohinoor, one of the world's most famous diamonds — its journey from South Asia to the British crown jewels, told as a story of history and resilience.

American as Paneer Pie

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹659 ↗

Ages 8–12Indian author

Lekha, the only Indian American kid in her small town, hides who she is — until a new girl arrives who's proud of her roots, and Lekha finds her own voice.

That Thing about Bollywood

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹791 ↗

Ages 8–12Indian author

Sonali hides her feelings — until she starts bursting into Bollywood song-and-dance numbers whenever emotions bubble up.

The Cobra's Song

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹796 ↗

Ages 8–12Indian author

Ten-year-old Gauri, afraid of almost everything, must face her fears and find her voice in an adventure steeped in Indian folklore.

The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices

by Hena Khan, Veera Hiranandani, Supriya Kelkar & others

Ages 8–12Indian author✈️ Import only (pricey)

Interconnected stories set around a community centre, celebrating the variety of South Asian American childhoods.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹2,019 ↗

Roohi and Nate Are Not on the Same Page

by Supriya Kelkar & Jarrett Lerner

Ages 8–12Indian author✈️ Import only (pricey)

Two unlikely friends team up to save the library that brought them together.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,689 ↗

Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule (Amar Chitra Katha)

by Sanjana Kapur

Ages 8–14Indian author

The Amar Chitra Katha comic on the couple who opened India's first schools for girls and fought for the education of all.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹195 ↗

The Incredible Life of Savitribai Phule: The Fearless Reformer

by Swati Sengupta

Ages 8–12Indian author

Married at nine, Savitri learned to read from her husband and went on to become India's first woman teacher, opening schools for girls against fierce opposition.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹225 ↗

Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale and the Freedom Fighter

by Anuradha Kumar

Ages 9–13Indian author

The child prodigy who became the 'Nightingale of India' — poet, fearless freedom fighter and the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹212 ↗

If Elephants Could Talk

by Ranjeeta Raam

Ages 10–14Indian author

Twelve-year-old Meenakshi has not spoken since her mother died, until dance and a temple elephant named Ganeshan help her find her voice to protect the animals she loves.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Animal cruelty

Buy on the publisher ↗

Rain Holiday

by Shreya Ramachandran

Ages 10–13Indian author

During a Mumbai monsoon break, eleven-year-old Rekha tries to find out why her best friend Latisha has stopped seeing anyone. A tender story about friendship, mental health and caring for the people we love.

Heads-up: Mental illness

The Henna Start-Up

by Andaleeb Wajid

Ages 13–17Indian author

Abir, a determined teen in Bengaluru with big tech ambitions, sets out to build a start-up while standing up for herself and her mother, and learns to question her own assumptions about her classmates.

Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹460 ↗

Is It the Same for You?

by Neha Singh (illus. Priya Sebastian)

Ages 12–16Indian author

As violence and death fill the adult world around her in Kashmir, a young girl quietly faces her first period and a changing body, and wonders whether girls elsewhere feel the same. A tender, illustrated portrait of growing up amid conflict.

Heads-up: Terrorism & militancy, Death & grief

Jamini Roy's Unbroken Lines

by Vinitha (illus. Tanvi Bhat)

Ages 7–12Indian author

Seven-year-old Jamini Roy follows his love of drawing in his Bengal village despite his family's objections. Lift-the-flap pages tell his story, followed by a look at his famous paintings and hands-on activities such as making colours from flowers and leaves. Part of the Art Exploration series.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹550 ↗

Somnath Hore: Wounds

by Likla (illus. Kripa Bhatia)

Ages 8–12Indian author

A picture-book biography of the sculptor and printmaker Somnath Hore, whose art grew out of the pain of famine and war. It gently helps children talk about difficult feelings such as pain, anger, fear and uncertainty. Part of the Art Exploration series.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹294 ↗

That Night

by Bijal Vachharajani (illus. Shrujana Niranjani Shridhar)

Ages 7–12Indian author🔍 Hard to find in India

Chaitu wakes up to loud, angry voices and a fire raging in the distance, and fears for her family, friends and home. A short, powerful story about fear, intolerance and how it feels to be targeted.

Heads-up: Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹215 ↗

Kitabon Wala Ghar

by Jasbir Bhullar (illus. Chandramohan Kulkarni; trans. Rakesh Pankaj)

Ages 9–13Indian author

Childhood stories from rural Punjab in 1946–49, told through young Veer: a dying plant brought home, a stray dog, a dozing teacher, an open-air film, and the fear that spreads through the village during Partition. Translated from Punjabi into Hindi.

Naturalist Ruddy

by Rohan Chakravarty

Ages 9–14Indian author

A ruddy mongoose turns nature detective in the forests of central India, solving 'crime scenes' that turn out to be the strange, true behaviour of lesser-known animals, insects and plants. A witty comic that mixes natural history with whodunnit, from the creator of Green Humour.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹321 ↗

'Carri-on', Ruddy!

by Rohan Chakravarty

Ages 9–14Indian author

Naturalist Ruddy, Kanha Tiger Reserve's resident mongoose detective, is back. Claw marks on trees, cannibal bees, lichens that threaten lizards: Ruddy travels across India to crack nature's oddest cases. The sequel to Naturalist Ruddy.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹304 ↗

The Great Indian Nature Trail with Uncle Bikky

by Rohan Chakravarty & Bijal Vachharajani

Ages 7–12Indian author📱 eBook only in India

Ornithologist Uncle Bikky, his wildlife-photographer niece Chunmun and their dog Duggu travel from deserts and wetlands to rock formations and forests, meeting India's bugs, birds, mammals and reptiles. WWF-India's comics, collected with jokes, trivia and activities.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹427 ↗

The Great Indian Nature Trail with Chunmun

by Rohan Chakravarty & Bijal Vachharajani

Ages 10–14Indian author

Eighteen-year-old Chunmun, a keen birdwatcher like her ornithologist uncle, wins an explorer's grant and sets off across India to photograph and write about the creatures she finds. Comics by Rohan Chakravarty with nature essays by Bijal Vachharajani.

Bird Business

by Rohan Chakravarty

Ages 8–14Indian author

Illustrated, funny glimpses into the daily lives of about 100 Indian birds: how they hunt, court, feed, fly and raise their young. Residents, migrants, endemics and endangered species, drawn with Green Humour's mix of art, science and jokes.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹553 ↗

Petu Pumpkin: Freedom Fighter

by Arundhati Venkatesh

Ages 9–12Indian author

When games periods are cancelled and their playground is threatened by land grabbers, Petu and his friends take inspiration from India's freedom fighters and protest. Along the way they face misleading media, credit-stealing politicians and scary security guards. A funny, timely story about standing up for what's fair, illustrated by Shilpa Ranade.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹175 ↗

Ramanujan: From Zero to Infinity

by Arundhati Venkatesh

Ages 10–13Indian author

Young Srinivasa Ramanujan only wants to do maths at school in Kumbakonam, but this year there's no maths teacher. Instead, a string of odd substitutes has the boys lifting iron ingots, measuring milk and frying fish, and Ramanujan's team is drawn into a maths challenge he simply has to win. A funny story about the great mathematician as a boy, with puzzles to solve. Great Minds at Work series.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹175 ↗

Raman and Chandrasekhar: Lighting Up the Stars

by Arundhati Venkatesh

Ages 10–13Indian author

Young Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar hates school, and his holidays are ruined when his uncle, the famous scientist C.V. Raman, comes to stay. Raman Chithappa pulls the eight children of the house into a string of physics experiments that disrupt everything. A funny introduction to two Nobel Prize-winning Indian scientists. Great Minds at Work series.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹218 ↗

A Forest Calls

by Shalini Srinivasan

Ages 10–14Indian author

Raksha moves to Basavakere, beside a forest that is waking up. When her friend Pol is kidnapped, she and Savitha brave magical creatures and a vengeful monarch to bring him home.

Heads-up: Mild peril

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹335 ↗

Earth Tales: Folklore about India's Nature, Wildlife and Environment

by The Centre for Contemporary Folklore

Ages 8–14Indian author

A big illustrated collection of folk tales from every Indian state and union territory, many from tribal communities, where mountains, forests and animals are characters too. Each tale comes with its regional story and folk-art illustrations.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹968 ↗

Lightning Kid: 64 Winning Lessons from the Boy Who Became Five-Time World Chess Champion

by Viswanathan Anand

Ages 10–16Indian author

Vishy Anand tells his story, from a chess-mad boy in Chennai to India's first Grandmaster and five-time World Champion, with 64 short lessons on staying calm, losing well and bouncing back.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹255 ↗

The Book Ghosts

by Varsha Seshan

Ages 9–12Indian author

Five friends who secretly slip 'banned' books into their school library take on a bigger mission when a smear campaign threatens their town's free mobile library.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹220 ↗

The War Elephants of Trigarta

by Sarita Mandanna

Ages 9–13Indian author

In 326 BCE, Mili, daughter of the general in charge of war elephants, befriends a rare white elephant called Nathu who obeys only her. Together they are swept into the battle on the Vitasta river.

Heads-up: War & battle violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹250 ↗

The White Lotus

by Aditi Krishnakumar

Ages 13–17Indian author

In 1901 Tamil Nadu, fourteen-year-old Aru is widowed before her married life begins. Working as companion to the landlord's grandmother, she gains an education, an unlikely ally and a dangerous mystery to solve.

Heads-up: Crime & murder

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹209 ↗

Women in Blue: Sixteen Warriors, One World Cup Dream

by Suprita Das

Ages 9–14Indian author

Illustrated profiles of sixteen cricketers, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, who rose from small towns to win the 2025 Women's World Cup for India.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹299 ↗

Down by the Mangroves

by Praba Ram & Sheela Preuitt

Ages 10–13Indian author

Moyna's backyard is the Sundarbans, full of herons, kingfishers and tigers. When her father is suddenly gone, friends, neighbours and family help her learn that sorrow and joy can share space.

Heads-up: Death & grief

It Takes a Tribe: True Stories of 25 Tribal Heroes Who Changed India

by Ramendra Kumar

Ages 9–14Indian author

Twenty-five true stories of tribal freedom fighters, forest guardians, athletes and leaders, from Birsa Munda and Rani Gaidinliu to Mary Kom and Poorna Malavath.

An Awakening in Awadh

by Vibha Batra

Ages 10–14Indian author

Lucknow, 1942. Qaisar's brother is leaving, his Abba thinks the British are good for India, and he is banned from playing Queen Victoria in the family play. As the Quit India movement grows, Qaisar finds himself in a role he never expected.

I Am Archa: The Legend of Unniarcha, India's Warrior Girl

by Ranjeeta Raam

Ages 10–14Indian author

Unniarcha is the fiery daughter of a Kalaripayattu master, in a world where only boys can be warriors. When a bitter cousin challenges her sick father to a duel, she must step up. A verse-novel retelling of Kerala's warrior-girl legend.

Laugh With Me

Ages 8–12Indian author

Ruskin Bond shares funny moments from his own life: swimming mishaps, train adventures, courtroom drama, mistaken identities and school days.

Sising: The Amazing Adventures of a Lab Mouse

by Rothindranath Goswami (tr. Partha Pratim Goswami)

Ages 9–14Indian author

Sising is a lab mouse with a clever chip that helps him think and learn. But he wants more than lessons: he dreams of mountains, oceans and far horizons. A funny, big-hearted adventure, translated from Assamese.

Travelling Treasures 2.0: 75 Incredible Tales of Things India Gave to the World

by Mala Kumar

Ages 8–12Indian author

From pepper and chess to pyjamas, shampoo and kathak, 75 short tales of everyday things and ideas that travelled from India to the rest of the world.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹589 ↗

Unplugged (Gordon Korman)

by Gordon Korman

Ages 9–13

Jett, the son of a tech billionaire, is sent to a wellness retreat with no phones or screens, and stumbles into a mystery.

Wonder

by R.J. Palacio

Ages 10–12

Auggie Pullman, born with a facial difference, starts school for the first time at age ten. Told from multiple perspectives, it is one of the most important books about empathy ever written for young people.

Heads-up: Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹292 ↗

Front Desk

by Kelly Yang

Ages 10–12

Ten-year-old Mia Tang manages a motel front desk while her Chinese immigrant parents work and she secretly helps hide undocumented guests. Inspiring, funny, and deeply felt.

Heads-up: Racism & discrimination, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹790 ↗

Ghost

by Jason Reynolds

Ages 10–12

Castle 'Ghost' Cranshaw is fast — faster than anyone — but it's the thing he's running from that might destroy him. A Track series novel that crackles with energy.

Heads-up: Violence, Abuse

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹331 ↗

Esperanza Rising

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Ages 10–12

Thirteen-year-old Esperanza leaves her privileged life in Mexico for the California farmworker camps during the Great Depression. A powerful, beautiful novel about loss, hope, and dignity.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹729 ↗

Inside Out & Back Again

by Thanhha Lai

Ages 10–12

A verse novel told through a year of haiku, following ten-year-old Hà as her family flees Vietnam as refugees and arrives in Alabama. Raw and luminous. Newbery Honor.

Heads-up: War & battle violence, Death & grief, Racism & discrimination

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹379 ↗

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

by Meg Medina

Ages 10–12

Merci navigates a full scholarship at a private school, her first crush, and a grandfather with dementia — all while being the only scholarship kid in her friend group. Newbery Medal winner.

Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance, Serious illness

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹459 ↗

The One and Only Ivan

by Katherine Applegate

Ages 10–12

Ivan, a gorilla in a shopping mall, has lived there so long he no longer thinks about freedom — until a baby elephant arrives. Based on a true story. Newbery Medal winner.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Animal cruelty

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹701 ↗

A Long Walk to Water

by Linda Sue Park

Ages 10–12

Based on the true story of Salva Dut — a Sudanese Lost Boy who walked hundreds of miles to survive — alongside Nya, a girl who walks eight hours a day to fetch water. Unforgettable.

Heads-up: War & battle violence, Violence, Death & grief

Holes

by Louis Sachar

Ages 10–12

Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake — a dry lake bed where boys dig holes all day. A wildly original, funny, and profound novel about fate, justice, and friendship. Newbery Medal winner.

Heads-up: Racism & discrimination, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹499 ↗

Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth

by Judd Winick

Ages 8–12

A robot boy crashes to Earth and befriends D.J. and Gina, who must help him battle the alien robots following him. A riotously fun, action-packed graphic novel series for all readers.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹624 ↗

Amal Unbound

by Aisha Saeed

Ages 10–13

Amal dreams of becoming a teacher in rural Pakistan until one confrontation with a powerful landlord upends her family's future. A quietly gripping story about courage and speaking up.

Heads-up: Exploitation & child labour

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹453 ↗

The Inheritance Games

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Ages 13–15

Avery is shocked to inherit billions from a stranger — if she can survive living in his family's mansion and solve the puzzles he left behind. Unputdownable.

Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹328 ↗

The Trumpet of the Swan

by E.B. White

Ages 8–12

Louis is a trumpeter swan born without a voice. He learns to play a brass trumpet to speak for himself and win the love of his life. A tender and funny E.B. White classic.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹229 ↗

I Am Malala: Young Readers Edition

by Malala Yousafzai & Patricia McCormick

Ages 10–13

Malala's full story — the Taliban's ban on girls' education in Pakistan, the attack that nearly killed her, and the worldwide movement she ignited. Adapted for young readers.

Heads-up: Violence, Terrorism & militancy

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹699 ↗

Esperanza (Norma / Scholastic edition)

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Ages 10–12

Esperanza Ortega's privileged Mexican childhood is destroyed overnight — she must reinvent herself as a farmworker in Depression-era California. Widely taught across Latin America.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Violence

El principito / The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Ages 8–12

The pilot who crashes in the Sahara meets a small prince who has visited many planets. One of the most translated books in history — a meditation on love, loneliness, and what matters.

Heads-up: Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹414 ↗

100 Things to Know About Science

by Various / Usborne

Ages 8–12

One hundred fascinating science facts — from quantum physics to the human brain to deep ocean creatures — packed into one beautifully illustrated book. Perfect for children who want to know everything.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,454 ↗

The Breadwinner

by Deborah Ellis

Ages 10–13

In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, eleven-year-old Parvana disguises herself as a boy to earn money after her father is arrested. One of the most important children's books of the 21st century — suspenseful and deeply humane.

Heads-up: War & battle violence, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹681 ↗

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

by Grace Lin

Ages 8–12

Young Minli leaves her poor village to find the Old Man of the Moon and change her family's fortune. A magical quest woven from Chinese folk tales — full of dragons, legends, and wonder. Newbery Honor.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹662 ↗

The Way Things Work Now

by David Macaulay

Ages 8–12✈️ Import only (pricey)

David Macaulay's classic illustrated guide to how machines and technology work, updated with touchscreens, smartphones, and other modern tech.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹2,838 ↗

Timelines of Everything

by DK

Ages 9–12

More than 120 illustrated timelines tracing world history from the Big Bang to the modern day, covering dinosaurs, Vikings, robots, and more.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹728 ↗

We Were Liars

by E. Lockhart

Ages 13–17

A privileged teenager spends every summer with her cousins on her family's private island — until a tragic accident the summer she turned fifteen leaves her memory in fragments. A twisty, devastating novel.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Teen crushes & romance, Alcohol & drugs

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹333 ↗

House of Salt and Sorrows

by Erin A. Craig

Ages 13–17

Twelve sisters, a haunted mansion, and a string of mysterious deaths — a gothic reimagining of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses.'

Heads-up: Scary / horror, Death & grief, Violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹562 ↗

Cinder

by Marissa Meyer

Ages 12–16

A gifted mechanic — and secret cyborg — in futuristic New Beijing gets caught up in a deadly plague and a devastatingly handsome prince, in this Cinderella retelling with a sci-fi twist.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹349 ↗

To Kill a Kingdom

by Alexandra Christo

Ages 13–17

A siren princess who collects the hearts of princes falls for the prince-hunting pirate meant to kill her, in a dark twist on The Little Mermaid.

Heads-up: Violence, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹359 ↗

Renegades

by Marissa Meyer

Ages 12–16

In a city of superheroes, a girl secretly working with villains to bring the heroes down falls for one of their most powerful members.

Heads-up: Violence, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹458 ↗

Daughter of the Pirate King

by Tricia Levenseller

Ages 12–16

A pirate captain's daughter lets herself get captured by enemy sailors as part of a plan to find a legendary hidden map.

Heads-up: Violence, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹799 ↗

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

Ages 12–16

In a divided future Chicago, Tris must choose which faction to devote her life to — and hide a dangerous secret that marks her as Divergent.

Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief, Teen crushes & romance

Truthwitch

by Susan Dennard

Ages 13–17

Two best friends — one who can sense truth from lies, one who can control water — flee treacherous forces in a magical world at war.

Heads-up: Violence, War & battle violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹345 ↗

Anna Dressed in Blood

by Kendare Blake

Ages 14–17

A ghost hunter who inherited the family trade meets a murderous ghost he can't bring himself to kill.

Heads-up: Scary / horror, Violence, Crime & murder, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹556 ↗

The Rithmatist

by Brandon Sanderson

Ages 12–16

In a world where certain people can bring chalk drawings to life for defense against deadly creatures, a boy without magical ability is determined to learn the craft anyway.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹398 ↗

Victories Greater Than Death

by Charlie Jane Anders

Ages 13–17

A teenage girl who is secretly the human clone of a famous alien hero is swept into an intergalactic war when her alien crewmates arrive to find her.

Heads-up: Violence, War & battle violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹599 ↗

Divine Rivals

by Rebecca Ross

Ages 13–17

Two rival teenage journalists competing for the same job begin secretly writing letters to each other through a magical connection — never realizing they're falling for the enemy.

Heads-up: War & battle violence, Death & grief, Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹324 ↗

Tweet Cute

by Emma Lord

Ages 13–17

Rival fast-food chain heirs wage a viral Twitter war online — never guessing they're secretly anonymous online friends offline.

Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹496 ↗

Sadie

by Courtney Summers

Ages 14–17

A girl sets out to find and kill the man she believes murdered her younger sister, her journey tracked by a true-crime podcast trying to find her before it's too late.

Heads-up: Abuse, Violence, Crime & murder, Alcohol & drugs

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹393 ↗

Akata Witch

by Nnedi Okorafor

Ages 12–16

An American-born albino Nigerian girl discovers she has latent magical powers and must master them alongside a group of fellow misfits in this inventive fantasy.

Heads-up: Violence, Crime & murder, Scary / horror

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹817 ↗

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition)

by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

Ages 10–14

The true story of a Malawian teenager who built a windmill from scrap to save his family's farm during a famine, becoming a self-taught engineer.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹448 ↗

Chike and the River

by Chinua Achebe

Ages 9–12

A boy leaves his village for the bustling city of Onitsha on the River Niger in this classic adventure novella from one of Africa's greatest writers.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹868 ↗

The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Pérez

Ages 9–12

When Malú starts a new school, she channels her love of punk rock and her Mexican American heritage into a zine and a band, defying everyone's expectations of who she should be.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹487 ↗

Rez Dogs

by Joseph Bruchac

Ages 10–14

Stranded with her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation during the pandemic, Malian finds comfort in the stray dogs and the stories her grandparents tell, in this quiet verse novel.

Heads-up: Racism & discrimination

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹983 ↗

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

Ages 9–12

Ten-year-old Annemarie helps hide her Jewish best friend Ellen from the Nazis in occupied Denmark, risking everything for family and courage. Newbery Medal winner.

Heads-up: Holocaust & genocide, War & battle violence, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹266 ↗

The War That Saved My Life

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ages 9–12

Evacuated from London during WWII, Ada — who has never been allowed outside because of her clubfoot — discovers freedom, horses, and what it feels like to be loved. Newbery Honor.

Heads-up: Child abuse & neglect, War & battle violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹396 ↗

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

by John Boyne

Ages 11–14

Bruno, the son of a Nazi commandant, befriends a boy named Shmuel who lives on the other side of a fence — not realizing what that fence really means. A devastating modern classic.

Heads-up: Holocaust & genocide, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹297 ↗

Letters from Rifka

by Karen Hesse

Ages 9–12

Twelve-year-old Rifka writes letters to her cousin as her Jewish family flees Russia in 1919, facing typhus, separation and the long journey to America. Based on a true family story.

Heads-up: Racism & discrimination, Serious illness

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹423 ↗

Wolf Hollow

by Lauren Wolk

Ages 10–13

In WWII-era rural Pennsylvania, Annabelle must decide whether to stay silent or stand up for a troubled war veteran being falsely blamed by a cruel new classmate.

Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹378 ↗

Refugee

by Alan Gratz

Ages 10–14

Three refugee children — fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938, Castro's Cuba in 1994, and present-day Syria — take dangerous journeys that turn out to be connected across time. Gripping and urgent.

Heads-up: War & battle violence, Holocaust & genocide, Violence, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹332 ↗

Journey to Jo'burg

by Beverley Naidoo

Ages 9–12

Under apartheid South Africa, Naledi and her little brother walk and hitch their way to Johannesburg to find their mother when their baby sister falls gravely ill.

Heads-up: Racism & discrimination

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹218 ↗

Once

by Morris Gleitzman

Ages 10–13

Felix escapes the Polish orphanage where he's been hidden and sets off across Nazi-occupied Poland to find his parents, believing — against all evidence — that they're still alive.

Heads-up: Holocaust & genocide, Violence, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹749 ↗

Good Night, Mr. Tom

by Michelle Magorian

Ages 10–13

Evacuated from London during WWII, abused young Willie is taken in by the gruff, grieving Tom Oakley — and the unlikely pair slowly heal each other. A beloved British classic, Carnegie Medal winner.

Heads-up: Child abuse & neglect, War & battle violence, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹214 ↗

Welcome to Dead House

by R.L. Stine

Ages 8–12

The Benson family's new house comes with strange neighbours who only come out at night — and a secret that turns out to be much creepier than anyone expected. Goosebumps #1.

Heads-up: Scary / horror

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

Ages 8–12

Behind a locked door in Coraline's new home is another world with an Other Mother who wants to sew buttons over her eyes and never let her leave. Eerie, brilliant, and unforgettable.

Heads-up: Scary / horror

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹314 ↗

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Ages 9–13

Raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is murdered, Nobody Owens grows up learning to fade, haunt, and survive — while the man who killed his family is still hunting him. Newbery and Carnegie Medal winner.

Heads-up: Scary / horror, Violence, Crime & murder

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹314 ↗

Small Spaces

by Katherine Arden

Ages 9–12

After finding a mysterious book about a decades-old tragedy, Ollie is drawn into a scarecrow-haunted cornfield where the rule is simple: avoid the small spaces, or else.

Heads-up: Scary / horror, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹394 ↗

The Last Kids on Earth

by Max Brallier

Ages 8–12

Jack Sullivan builds a fortified treehouse and battles zombies and monsters in a post-apocalyptic town — somehow managing to make the end of the world hilarious. Illustrated, laugh-out-loud spooky fun.

Heads-up: Scary / horror

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹299 ↗

City of Ghosts

by Victoria Schwab

Ages 8–12

After a near-drowning leaves her able to see ghosts, Cassidy moves to famously haunted Edinburgh, where she and her ghost best friend Jacob must face something much older and darker.

Heads-up: Scary / horror

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹873 ↗

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

by Alvin Schwartz

Ages 8–12

A classic collection of spine-chilling short scary stories and urban legends, drawn from American folklore — quick, punchy tales perfect for reading aloud at sleepovers.

Heads-up: Scary / horror

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹396 ↗

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen

Ages 10–13

After the small plane he's flying in crashes in the Canadian wilderness, thirteen-year-old Brian must survive alone with nothing but a hatchet and his own resourcefulness. A modern survival classic.

Heads-up: Death & grief, Parental affair

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹299 ↗

My Side of the Mountain

by Jean Craighead George

Ages 9–12

Tired of city life, Sam Gribley runs away to the Catskill Mountains and teaches himself to live off the land — making a home in a hollowed-out tree with a trained falcon at his side.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹427 ↗

Island of the Blue Dolphins

by Scott O'Dell

Ages 9–12

Left behind when her people evacuate their Pacific island, Karana survives alone for years — befriending wild animals and building a life from what the island provides. Based on a true story. Newbery Medal winner.

Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹256 ↗

The Sign of the Beaver

by Elizabeth George Speare

Ages 9–12✈️ Import only (pricey)

Left alone in the Maine wilderness in 1768 while his father goes for the rest of the family, young Matt must learn to survive — with crucial help from a Penobscot boy his own age. Newbery Honor.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹843 ↗

The Cay

by Theodore Taylor

Ages 10–13

Torpedoed during WWII, young Phillip is shipwrecked on a tiny Caribbean island with an elderly sailor named Timothy — who teaches him to survive after Phillip is blinded in the blast.

Heads-up: War & battle violence, Racism & discrimination, Death & grief

Peak

by Roland Smith

Ages 10–14

Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello sets out to become the youngest person ever to summit Mount Everest — and finds the mountain far more dangerous, and the climb far more meaningful, than he expected.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹399 ↗

Kensuke's Kingdom

by Michael Morpurgo

Ages 8–12

Washed up alone on a remote Pacific island after falling overboard, Michael slowly discovers he's not alone — a mysterious old Japanese man named Kensuke has been living there since WWII.

Heads-up: War & battle violence

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,277 ↗

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

by Rachel Renée Russell

Ages 8–12

Middle-schooler Nikki Maxwell pours her hopes, crushes and social disasters into her diary in this hugely popular, hilariously illustrated series about surviving middle school.

Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹956 ↗

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

by Stephan Pastis

Ages 8–12

Self-styled detective genius Timmy Failure runs his own agency with a 1,500-pound polar bear as his business partner — utterly convinced he's brilliant, and utterly wrong. Deadpan hilarious.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹269 ↗

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

by Anne Frank

Ages 11–15

The real wartime diary of a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis in a secret annex in Amsterdam — funny, hopeful, and devastating, and one of the most important books of the twentieth century.

Heads-up: Holocaust & genocide, War & battle violence, Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹129 ↗

Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums

by Trenton Lee Stewart

Ages 8–12

A tie-in puzzle book from the world of The Mysterious Benedict Society, packed with logic puzzles, riddles and brain teasers for young codebreakers.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹2,850 ↗

Murdle Jr.: Curious Crimes for Curious Minds

by G. T. Karber

Ages 8–12

Kid-friendly logic-deduction mysteries in the hit Murdle style — readers gather clues and use logic grids to solve each silly, low-stakes 'crime.'

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,169 ↗

The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls

by Valorie Schaefer

Ages 8–12

The bestselling illustrated guide to growing up for girls, from hair and skin care to first periods, updated with input from a paediatrician.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹912 ↗

The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls

by Cara Natterson

Ages 10–14✈️ Import only (pricey)

The follow-up for older girls: periods in detail, bras, body changes and emotions, by a paediatrician.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,234 ↗

Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!)

by Sonya Renee Taylor

Ages 8–12✈️ Import only (pricey)

A body-positive puberty guide for girls that pairs the facts about changes with lessons on self-love and body acceptance.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,092 ↗

Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys

by Cara Natterson

Ages 8–12✈️ Import only (pricey)

A paediatrician's straightforward guide for boys to the changes of puberty, hygiene and feelings.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,089 ↗

Welcome to Your Period

by Yumi Stynes & Dr Melissa Kang

Ages 9–13

A funny, frank and reassuring guide to first periods, pads, cramps and feelings, with real questions from young people.

Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹650 ↗

Booked (Graphic Novel)

by Kwame Alexander & Dawud Anyabwile

Ages 10–13

Twelve-year-old Nick loves football more than anything, but a divorce, a crush and a bully get in the way — the Newbery winner's verse novel as a graphic novel.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹599 ↗

Rebound

by Kwame Alexander & Dawud Anyabwile

Ages 10–13

The prequel to The Crossover: after his father dies, Charlie finds his way back through basketball, family and friendship, told in verse.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹892 ↗

Patina

by Jason Reynolds

Ages 10–13

Patty runs track to outrun her worries about family — but learns she can't win alone. Book two of the Track series after Ghost.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹691 ↗

Football School Season 1: Where Football Explains the World

by Alex Bellos & Ben Lyttleton

Ages 8–12

A funny, fact-packed 'school' where every lesson — maths, science, history, geography — is taught through football.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹271 ↗

The Kicks: Saving the Team

by Alex Morgan

Ages 8–12

New in town, Devin joins a struggling school football team and helps turn them into real teammates. Book one of the series by the US World Cup winner.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹399 ↗

You Are a Champion

by Marcus Rashford & Carl Anka

Ages 9–13

The England footballer shares what he learned on and off the pitch about confidence, resilience, teamwork and finding your voice.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹423 ↗

Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppable Athletes

by Rebel Girls (foreword by Ibtihaj Muhammad)

Ages 7–12

Twenty-five true stories of women athletes from around the world, from Serena Williams to Simone Biles, each with a full-page portrait.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹952 ↗

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

by J.K. Rowling

Ages 8–12

On his eleventh birthday, Harry learns he's a wizard and heads to Hogwarts, where friendship, courage and a hidden mystery await. Book one of the series that turned a generation into readers.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹359 ↗

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

Ages 9–13

Twelve-year-old Percy discovers he's the son of a Greek god and sets off on a quest to find Zeus's stolen lightning bolt. Funny and fast, with a hero who has ADHD and dyslexia.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹340 ↗

The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Stewart

Ages 9–13

Four gifted children pass a series of strange tests and are sent undercover to a mysterious school to stop a sinister plot — a puzzle-filled celebration of teamwork and different kinds of smart.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,731 ↗

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin

Ages 10–14

Sixteen heirs to an eccentric millionaire's fortune are paired up to solve the puzzle of his death. Newbery Medal winner and a classic whodunit.

Heads-up: Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹470 ↗

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

by Lemony Snicket

Ages 8–12

The three Baudelaire orphans outwit the dastardly Count Olaf in this darkly funny, word-loving first book of the series.

Heads-up: Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹945 ↗

Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock

by Carolyn Keene

Ages 8–12

The very first Nancy Drew case: the plucky teen sleuth hunts for a missing will. The series that inspired generations of girl detectives.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹418 ↗

The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure

by Franklin W. Dixon

Ages 8–12

Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy's first case: tracking a jewel thief and the treasure hidden in a mansion's tower.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹174 ↗

Murder Most Unladylike

by Robin Stevens

Ages 10–14

At a 1930s English boarding school, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong — a Hong Kong-born student — set up a secret detective society and find a real murder to solve.

Heads-up: Crime & murder

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹334 ↗

The London Eye Mystery

by Siobhan Dowd

Ages 9–13

Ted, whose brain works differently, and his sister Kat investigate when their cousin vanishes from a sealed London Eye pod — a warm, clever puzzle.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹296 ↗

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

by Chris Grabenstein

Ages 8–12

Twelve kids are locked overnight in the world's most amazing library and must solve its clues and riddles to find a way out.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹265 ↗

Chasing Vermeer

by Blue Balliett

Ages 9–12

Two Chicago sixth-graders use patterns, puzzles and pentominoes to track down a stolen Vermeer painting.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹771 ↗

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by E.L. Konigsburg

Ages 9–12

Claudia and her brother run away to live in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art — and get caught up in the mystery of an angel statue. Newbery Medal winner.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹723 ↗

Artemis Fowl

by Eoin Colfer

Ages 10–14

A twelve-year-old criminal genius kidnaps a fairy to steal her people's gold — and meets his match in Captain Holly Short.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹326 ↗

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones (Graphic Novel)

by Rick Riordan

Ages 9–13

Siblings Amy and Dan race around the world following clues to their family's secret — the graphic novel of the first 39 Clues book.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹424 ↗

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess

by Nancy Springer

Ages 10–14

Sherlock Holmes's clever younger sister sets out to find her missing mother — and solves a kidnapping along the way.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹798 ↗

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis

Ages 8–12

Four siblings step through a wardrobe into Narnia, a land frozen in winter by the White Witch.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹356 ↗

The Hobbit

by J.R.R. Tolkien

Ages 10–14

Home-loving Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest with thirteen dwarves and a wizard to win back treasure from a dragon.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹359 ↗

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

by Jessica Townsend

Ages 9–13

Cursed Morrigan Crow escapes to the magical city of Nevermoor and must pass four trials to join its most prestigious society.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹475 ↗

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

by Kelly Barnhill

Ages 10–13

A girl accidentally fed moonlight as a baby grows up with dangerous magic. Newbery Medal winner about love, family and courage.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹293 ↗

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy

by Tui T. Sutherland

Ages 8–12

Five young dragons raised in secret to fulfil a prophecy escape to find their own destinies. Book one of the hugely popular dragon series.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹300 ↗

Agatha Oddly: The Secret Key

by Lena Jones

Ages 9–12

Thirteen-year-old Agatha, who dreams of being a detective like Hercule Poirot, uncovers a real conspiracy under London.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹251 ↗

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World

by Rachel Ignotofsky

Ages 9–13

Illustrated profiles of fifty women scientists, from Hypatia and Marie Curie to Janaki Ammal and Katherine Johnson.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹599 ↗

Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition

by Margot Lee Shetterly

Ages 9–13

The true story of the Black women mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped put astronauts into space.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹830 ↗

The Story of My Life

by Helen Keller

Ages 10–14

Helen Keller's own account of growing up deaf and blind, and of the teacher, Anne Sullivan, who opened the world of language to her.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹95 ↗

Rosa Parks: My Story

by Rosa Parks & Jim Haskins

Ages 11–15

Rosa Parks tells the full story of her life, the Montgomery bus boycott and the civil rights movement, in her own words.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹334 ↗

All the Blues in the Sky

by Renée Watson

Ages 10–14📱 eBook only in India

Told in poetry and prose, a girl learns to carry her grief after the death of her best friend. A gentle, honest book about loss and healing.

Heads-up: Death & grief

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹419 ↗

Evie and Maryam's Family Tree

by Janeen Hayat

Ages 9–12

A school project reveals that two very different girls had great-grandmothers in 1920s Delhi, and the story moves between present-day England and pre-independence India. A warm look at friendship, family roots and prejudice.

Floating Words

by Shamim Azad & Rumana Yasmin, eds. (illus. Rifat Taher)

Ages 7–12✈️ Import only (pricey)

A collection of children's poems by Bengali writers exploring a deep cultural and personal connection with water.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹929 ↗

My Name Is Samim

by Fidan Meikle

Ages 10–14✈️ Import only (pricey)

Thirteen-year-old Samim, a gifted chess player from Afghanistan, must tell the story of his perilous journey to the UK to be allowed to stay, while starting school and making new friends.

Buy on Amazon.in · ₹1,236 ↗

Winged Tales

by Vladislav Krapivin (tr. Jan Yevtushenko)

Ages 8–12📱 eBook only in India

Two magical stories from Russia: fifth-grader Alyoshka flies off to the city of Vetrogorsk to find a model clipper ship for his friend Masha, and a ten-year-old and his best friend soar over their town on a flying carpet. Warm tales of kindness, courage and friendship.

Buy on the publisher ↗

Economics for Beginners

by Andy Prentice & Lara Bryan (illus. Federico Mariani)

Ages 10–16✈️ Import only (pricey)

An illustrated, infographic-style guide to how markets, businesses, governments and money work, and why economics affects everyday choices.

Managing Your Money

by Holly Bathie & Jane Bingham (illus. Nancy Leschnikoff)

Ages 11–15

A practical guide for older kids on budgeting, saving, bank accounts, borrowing and making smart money choices.

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli

by Karina Yan Glaser

Ages 9–13

In 731 Chang'An, Han Yu sells steamed buns and is rumoured to summon tigers. In 1931 New York Chinatown, Luli dreams on her family's restaurant roof. When hard times strike, both children venture out, and their stories meet.

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze

by Derrick Barnes

Ages 11–14

An accomplished Black boy wants to be seen simply as a person, not a stereotype. A powerful, nuanced novel about race, prejudice and being fully human.

Heads-up: Racism & discrimination