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A Pallava Adventure (Girls of India Series)

A Pallava Adventure (Girls of India Series)

Historical Fiction Set in 7th Century Pallava Kingdom | Themes of Courage, Resilience, Friendship and Family | Ages 9-12

Preetha Leela Chockalingam
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620 CE. Mamallapuram, India.

Twelve-year-old Pallavi’s father works at the royal court of Mamallapuram. Pallavi spends her days in its magnificent library, studying with her best friend Shobavathi and dreaming of becoming a scholar. But life at court is unpredictable.

When her father loses his job and is banished by the king for misconduct, Pallavi is forced to leave her lessons to help her stepmother run a seaside shop. But she cannot turn her back on her education. She secretly scribbles poems in hidden spots to practice writing Tamil. When a jug with a poem etched on it is discovered, it thrills scholars of the kingdom but also alerts its enemies. Suddenly, Pallavi finds herself thrust into a mysterious Chalukya plot to bring down the Pallava empire. To make matters worse, a strange woman arrives and shatters Pallavi’s world with a dark family secret.

Caught amidst spies, secrets, and betrayal, can Pallavi stop the Chalukyas, figure out whom to trust, and forgive her family’s hidden truths?

Imprint: India Puffin

Published: Apr/2026

ISBN: 9780143466970

Length : 296 Pages

MRP : ₹350.00

A Pallava Adventure (Girls of India Series)

Historical Fiction Set in 7th Century Pallava Kingdom | Themes of Courage, Resilience, Friendship and Family | Ages 9-12

Preetha Leela Chockalingam

620 CE. Mamallapuram, India.

Twelve-year-old Pallavi’s father works at the royal court of Mamallapuram. Pallavi spends her days in its magnificent library, studying with her best friend Shobavathi and dreaming of becoming a scholar. But life at court is unpredictable.

When her father loses his job and is banished by the king for misconduct, Pallavi is forced to leave her lessons to help her stepmother run a seaside shop. But she cannot turn her back on her education. She secretly scribbles poems in hidden spots to practice writing Tamil. When a jug with a poem etched on it is discovered, it thrills scholars of the kingdom but also alerts its enemies. Suddenly, Pallavi finds herself thrust into a mysterious Chalukya plot to bring down the Pallava empire. To make matters worse, a strange woman arrives and shatters Pallavi’s world with a dark family secret.

Caught amidst spies, secrets, and betrayal, can Pallavi stop the Chalukyas, figure out whom to trust, and forgive her family’s hidden truths?

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Preetha Leela Chockalingam

Preetha Leela Chockalingam is a writer, assessor and mum, who enjoys mentoring, training and developing.

Preetha loves writing historical fiction set in Kerala for both children and adults. She spends hours researching and collecting evidence of matrilineal, multifaith Kerala, which up until the mid-twentieth century favoured women more than men. She hopes that one day, the whole of India will follow the open-minded Chera’s rule of Kerala, where religious harmony meant that several different faiths lived peacefully in one kingdom. Until then, you can find her living in those times through books, stories and research!

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