It’s time to stop performing and start belonging—to yourself
Draw the Line is a powerful call to reclaim your emotional space, clarity, and sense of self. Rooted in therapeutic insight and emotional ability resources, this book empowers readers—particularly women—to set intentional boundaries in a demanding world.
Setting boundaries is a continuous practice—a bit like brushing your teeth. With time and consistency, one gets better at it. Framed by psychological models, Vedic principles, and real-life case studies, the book redefines boundaries—not as barriers, but as bridges to authenticity and inner peace. With reflection prompts and practical tools, it dispels the myth that boundaries are selfish, revealing them instead as acts of self-worth and emotional resilience.
If you have ever felt emotionally drained, invisible, or overwhelmed by societal expectations, this is your guide to healing, growth, and transformation.
Celebrate friendship in all its forms!
The Sweet Shop Wars by Chatura Rao
Illustrations by Rajiv Eipe
Best Sweets has opened next to Firoza’s dadu’s sweet shop and is taking away all the customers. How can Firoza make her dadu’s shop better than Best?
Shoo, Crow by Kavitha Punniyamurthi
Illustrations by Priya Kuriyan
The crows of Rajipuram are eating up all the corn in the fields. Can Velu and Akif find a way to shoo them away?
The Big Bad Fight by Yamini Vijayan
Illustrations by Kruttika Susarla
Best friends Anna and Kichu are collectors of incredible things. But one day, they have a nasty fight. Will things ever be the same again?
Boy, Bear by Adithi Rao
Illustrations by Aaryama Somayaji
Baba is gone. Now Boy and Bear must get by on the streets of Mumbai. Can friendship save them?
About the Hook Book Series
In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.
Hook Books keep the fun going with:
- Short, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers)
- Bright colour illustrations that pull kids into the story
- Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy!
From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.
‘Rewires how we think of nation-building’
Charles Assisi, technology columnist at Hindustan Times
From factories to farms, battlefields to boardrooms, clinics to classrooms—in the years since Independence, modern technology has swept through all corners of Indian life.
But back in 1947, this seemed impossible. Low literacy, poverty and lack of expertise meant that newly independent India was unable to afford the mighty technologies of World War II that were reshaping the globe. Yet, a determined team of far-sighted policymakers and scientists dared to make the impossible possible.
Today, India is home to leading software companies and a world-renowned space programme. For many Indians, modern technology has become part of daily life.
Uncoded: A Technological History of Independent India is a story of one of the greatest technological transformations in the modern world. Blending a unique narrative with illustrations, trivia, anecdotes and an informative timeline, it explores how a nation used science and technology to rebuild itself and reimagine its destiny against all odds.
USPs
- A one-of-a-kind and first book for teens on the fascinating evolution of technology in India.
- Packed with memes, pop-culture references, and interactive elements that teens love, this isn’t an average history book but a lucid and relatable book for contemporary readers.
- Perfect for aspiring engineers, gamers, app developers and science enthusiasts.
- Get insider stories on how major tech revolutions happened—told through a mix of storytelling, illustrations and cool facts.
- Explores how homegrown innovations are putting India on the global tech map.
- Aligns with STEM and social studies curricula. Perfect for school reading lists and supplementary reading.
- Includes infographics, timelines, and quick explainer sections.
- Part of a history series on Independent India written for young readers, following 2 acclaimed titles: After Midnight: A History of Independent India (2022) and Unearthed: An Environmental History of Independent India (2020).
The Kaveri is eternal; it will never let us down—and we Cholas live by this adage.’
Kundavai is the daughter of the mighty Sundara Chola. She glories in the history of her dynasty and their victories in their perpetual battles for supremacy against the Cheras and Pandyas, and tries to understand the nature of power. She also constantly challenges herself—in ways discouraged by her mother, who wants her to embrace traditional feminine pursuits.
When an assassination puts her family at threat, Kundavai must discover the dark secrets that lie hidden. She is determined to protect the Chola legacy, even if that comes at the expense of sacrificing her own hopes for the future . . .
This dazzling new novel by acclaimed historian Devika Rangachari delves into the little-known story of the woman who was advisor to two of the mightiest monarchs of medieval India.
Anil loves karate, his friends and the solar power project he has been championing in his community. He doesn’t love having to speak up—as his karate sensei says, best fight, no fight. Still, Anil wishes his classmate Mohan would stop picking on him.
Then Anil learns where the city is planning to build a new solar panel factory. More sustainable energy is good news—but this factory will threaten the mangrove forests that have protected the coast for centuries, and spoil the lives of the fisherfolk. Staying quiet isn’t an option anymore . . .
A project in school makes Anil start asking questions about the factory. With help from his friends Yasmin and Reeni, and family and the community, can Anil help the city find a solution that works for everyone? And just how loudly will he have to speak up?
More than four centuries ago in India, a Muslim woman ruled a magnificent empire: Nur Jahan, whose name means ‘light of the world’. Nur led troops into battle atop an elephant, hunted tigers, designed public buildings, and issued coinage and royal decrees in her own name.
In a world dominated by men, her astute handling of court politics and affairs of state propelled her to the position of co-sovereign of the vast Mughal Empire—and made her mighty enemies, who would plot to bring about her downfall.
Tiger Slayer combines the gifts of historian Ruby Lal and artist Molly Crabapple to uncover the vibrant and diverse culture of Mughal India and tell the compelling story of a daring, brilliant woman who achieved unequalled power and fame.
‘Historian Lal demonstrates exemplary historical methodology throughout as she traces the life of Nur Jahan … Crabapple’s full-colour illustrations transform the pages into windows onto Mughal India’s opulent world … a product of Lal’s extensive research for her adult biography, lending additional credibility to an already well-documented narrative that successfully combines scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling. Sets a new standard for works celebrating overlooked historical figures’ –Kirkus
‘Nur would say: Ruby Lal is a fountain of light, Molly Crabapple the prism of the age’ –Irwin Allan Sealy
‘Adulatory, deeply satisfying, well documented, and filled with strikingly gorgeous illustrations, this is a fitting tribute for an empress’ –Kathleen McBroom ― BOOKLIST Advance Review
‘Sometimes when creative souls come together for a project and pour their passion into it, the end result is a product that is utterly perfect. This is one of those rare gems’ –Jaya Bhattacharji Rose, Ace Literary Consulting
‘Celebrated historian Ruby Lal and award-winning illustrator Molly Crabapple put the spotlight on the awe-inspiring true story of empress Nur Jahan, the only woman to ever rule the Mughal Empire. With Tiger Slayer, get on board an immersive journey through Nur Jahan’s world, full of ancient rivers and rose gardens, whispered poems and fearless power plays’ –Farah Khatoon, T2 Goodlife
October 1947
Unwilling to join India or Pakistan, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir wants his kingdom to remain independent. But then a wave of attacks from the northwest frontier, supported by Pakistan, ravages city after city . . .
As friends leave the town in panic, and fear grips every neighbourhood, it is a time of reckoning for Zooni, as for the other people of Baramulla—with whom should their loyalties lay?
A ragtag bunch of youngsters, including Zooni’s brave cousin Maqbool Sherwani, promise to protect Kashmir and its people—but Zooni isn’t sure how they can fight truckloads of tribesmen bearing grenades and guns. Zooni tries to find a safe space—but will it remain safe? And the dark secret she discovers makes the dangerous world even darker . . .
The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.
Something has scared Bapu in the bathroom. Can Diya save him?
About Hook Books
In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.
Hook Books keep the fun going with:
- Small, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers)
- Bright, four-colour illustrations that pull kids into the story
- Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy!
From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.
The most definitive account of how Article 370 was abrogated.
The inside story of how Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the seemingly impossible into a reality.
An eye-opening read on the damage Article 370 inflicted on Jammu and Kashmir.
A book that will interest diverse readers, including students, scholars and historians.
Introduced in October 1949, Article 370 turned out to be a long-standing ‘permanent’ temporary provision till 5 August 2019, when it was abrogated by the Parliament of India. The article has been subjected to intense debate and much discussion over the years. Those who supported it cited Jammu and Kashmir’s unique situation in 1947, while those who opposed it questioned how one nation could have two constitutions, two flags and two sets of rules. The naysayers also questioned its reductive aspects—the denial of basic rights to the poor, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities, and women.
But whichever side one stood on, the conventional belief for sixty-five years since Independence was that Article 370 can never be repealed. But then came 5 August 2019, when the supposedly impossible became a reality.
370: Undoing the Unjust, A New Future for J&K takes the reader through the minute and meticulous planning that ensured seamless execution of the decision. Removing Article 370 not only needed strategic planning and political will but also mammoth logistical preparations. Every single aspect would have to be addressed, or else the region, especially the Kashmir valley, would plunge into chaos.
The book offers a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s thought process, insights into his leadership and, most importantly, his vision for Jammu and Kashmir. By ensuring that Article 370 is repealed, Prime Minister Modi altered the course of history. But, along with that he also fulfilled the decades-old commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Deeply researched, anecdotal and unputdownable, this book fills the gaps on scholarship around an iconic moment of Indian history.
In this compelling memoir, Stitching Stardom, Madhav Agasti takes readers on a journey through his remarkable five-decade-long career as a renowned men’s dress designer. From his humble beginnings in Mumbai with no formal training, Agasti’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and adaptability. Known for his work in Bollywood, where he designed costumes for over 350 films—including the iconic villain Mogambo in Mr India (1987)—and for some of India’s most influential political figures, including Balasaheb Thackeray, Agasti’s life is a testament to the power of following one’s dreams against all odds.
With candid stories about the challenges he faced, the people he met, and the moments that defined his career, Agasti reflects on the personal and professional transformations that shaped his legacy. This book is more than just a chronicle of tailoring—it’s a celebration of resilience, a look into the worlds of fashion, entertainment, and politics, and an inspiring message about staying true to one’s passion through life’s inevitable changes.
A heartfelt tribute to those who have supported him along the way, this memoir offers a window into the life of a man who stitched together not only clothes, but memories and milestones that have defined an era.
