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The Magic of the Lost Earrings: A New Nooni Adventure by Sudha Murty | A Story of History, Family Bonds and Hidden Treasures | Ages 9+

When a pair of antique earrings lands in Nooni’s hands, her quiet holiday with Ajja and Ajji turns into the adventure of a lifetime. From the sacred ghats of Ujjain to the buzzing streets of Amritsar, the storied lanes of Delhi and all the way to London, Nooni follows a trail shimmering with mystery and history.

Each step brings her face to face with forgotten tales of love and loss, revealing that true treasures aren’t just beautiful—they hold memories worth keeping alive.

Told in India’s favourite storyteller’s inimitable style, The Magic of the Lost Earrings is a heart-warming tale of togetherness, courage and heritage—one that lingers
long after the last page.

A Hoysala Adventure (Girls of India series) | Historical Fiction about the 12th Century Hoysala Kingdom | Books for Kids 9-12

The year is 1185 CE. Devaki tends to her ailing father, Pemma Virappa, lord of Kodagu, who has been tasked with collecting revenue by Hoysala emperor, Veera Ballala II. But the king is unaware of Virappa’s illness.
With the royal thappal post system failing and bandits prowling the forests, Devaki sets out for the capital, Dwarasamudra (modern Halebidu), to deliver the news—despite her parents’ fears.

En route to the capital with pilgrims, at Shravanabelagola, Devaki learns of a deeper crisis: a royal kidnapping and a brewing rebellion. Her journey takes her through ancient Velapuri (Belur) and coastal Barakuru (Barkur).

Will she reach the king in time? Can she help recover his kin and stop the rebels? Join Devaki on her journey through the twelfth century Hoysala kingdom—and step into history as it was.

Ashoka the Fierce

Discover the incredible journey of Ashoka the Fierce, the emperor who transformed from a ruthless warrior into Ashoka the Great, a legendary ruler of peace and compassion.

As a young prince, Ashoka was overlooked as his father’s successor. Determined to prove himself, he became arrogant, impatient, and consumed by anger. When he finally seized the throne, he sought power through conquest, leading his army into brutal battles. But one devastating war changed everything—haunted by the suffering he caused, Ashoka was heartbroken and longed for a new path.
Encouraged by his wife and guided by a wise Buddhist monk, Ashoka embraced kindness, wisdom, and service. He dedicated his life to helping his people, spreading the teachings of peace, and proving that true strength lies in compassion.
With stunning illustrations and a powerful moral lesson, Ashoka the Fierce is a must-read for children, teaching the importance of empathy, self-reflection, and the power of change. Perfect for young readers interested in history, mindfulness, and stories of transformation!

  • Ideal for ages 4+
  • A beautifully illustrated historical tale
  • Teaches the values of kindness, self-awareness, and leadership

Roop and the River Crossing

Roop carries her newest toy—a kaleidoscope—everywhere. The world from her kaleidoscope looks split up . . . and so does her world. Around her, unfamiliar words echo: India. Pakistan. Partition. Home.

Words that sound distant from her reality, until one night changes everything. Roop finds herself at a riverbank, one that she must cross to find her home—her new home.

Award-winning author Samina Mishra tells a poignant tale of a dark chapter in history. Through Roop’s journey, she weaves a story of connections, resilience and finding an anchor in turbulent times.

Songs of Freedom: Tales of the Freedom Movement From All Over India

In some ways, India as a country was forged by the struggle for freedom, when women and men and children across the country engaged in the same struggle in different ways. From Shimla to Tanjore, from Aizawl to Mysore, from the jungles of Chotanagpur to the city streets of Calcutta and Bombay, the books in this series look at how children’s day-to-day lives and dreams were changed and inspired by this national movement.

The boxset contains eight books:

  1. The Train to Tanjore by Devika Rangachari
  2. A Conspiracy in Calcutta by Lesley D. Biswas
  3. That Year at Manikoil by Aditi Krishnakumar
  4. The Chowpatty Cooking Club by Lubaina Bandukwala
  5. The Letter to Lahore by Tanu Shree Singh
  6. Postcard from the Lushai Brigade by Hannah Lalhlanpuii
  7. A Melody in Mysore by Shruthi Rao
  8. Rebellion in Ranchi by Swati Sengupta

Why should you buy this boxset?

  • Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the freedom struggle and focuses on what it was like to grow up during the time.
  • Eight books explore stories set in Calcutta, Tanjore, Sarchi, Ranchi, Mysore, Madras, Bombay and Mizoram.
  • A meticulously researched look at the past, written in a manner accessible to middle-grade readers
  • Showcases young and inspiring children taking part in the independence of India through small acts of rebellion

Amil and the After | A Story of Partition | Companion to the Award-Winning The Night Diary | Ages 9+

A hopeful and heartwarming story about finding joy after tragedy, Amil and the After is a companion to the Newbery Award-winning novel The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani.

At the turn of the new year in 1948, Amil and his family have started over in Bombay and are once again trying to rebuild their lives in independent India.

Both Muslim and Hindu, twelve-year-old Amil is not sure what home means anymore. The memory of the long and difficult journey from his family’s hometown in what is now Pakistan lives with him. And despite having an apartment in Bombay to live in and a school to attend, life still feels lonely and uncertain.

At Nisha’s suggestion, Amil begins to tell his story via drawings meant for their mother, who died when he was just a baby. Through Amil, readers witness the unwavering and resilient spirit of a young boy trying to make sense of a chaotic world and to find hope for himself, his family and a newly reborn nation.

The Misadventures of a Diamond Thief

Sahabzada Hawa Singh Rafu Chakkar (Rafu), a descendant of the legendary Time-Travelling, Thieving Djinns, wants to abandon the family tradition of stealing jewels to pursue his true passion—cooking. However, when the king of djinns tasks him with a mission to steal the Shah-i-Noor diamond in the newly built city of Haiderabad, Rafu reluctantly accepts. His secret agenda? The diamond is his ticket to his dream.

With only two weeks to get the coveted gem, Rafu finds himself entangled in a web of cunning courtiers, mysterious thieves and a most annoying horse, all while the tantalizing aroma of pulavs and kebabs constantly distracts him. Racing against the clock, Rafu’s adventure unfurls as he strives to turn his dream into reality. How far will he go?

Magic in Marble: Building the Taj with Attaullah and Saving the Taj with Aradya (Ulta-Pulta series, INTACH)

SIDE A
Magic in Marble: Building the Taj with Attaullah

Attaullah has to leave his playmates and the beautiful trees of Lahore behind as he makes the tiring journey to Akbarabad on a camel cart. His abbu, a master architect, has been summoned there to help build the most extraordinary monument ever-the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum will immortalize the memory of Jahan Panah Shah Jahan’s beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. And Attaullah wants to be a part of history as it’s being created. But how?

Travelling across two timelines in history, this is an ulta-pulta book about two children whose paths collide in a mysteriously magical way.

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SIDE B
Magic in Marble: Saving the Taj with Aradya

Aradya has read everything she could find on the greatest monument ever built-the Taj Mahal. So, when her papa, a conservationist, invites her to join him on his quick work trip to Agra, she feels like she’s the luckiest girl in the whole, wide world. Her papa’s team is working on a project that will help preserve the Taj’s beauty and ensure its survival for future generations. And Aradya wants to help. But how?

Travelling across two timelines in history, this is an ulta-pulta book about two children whose paths collide in a mysteriously magical way.

Postcard from the Lushai Brigade (Songs of Freedom Series)

Aizawl, 1942

The world that the young boy at the heart of this story is growing up in is filled with magic and the simple joys of life with his brother Kima. Even the British presence in the Lushai Hills, so resented by some, does not affect him, except as a source of interesting and different things and people.

But as the Japanese prepare to invade their land, Kima joins up with the British Indian Army, and the days of simple joy are over . . .

The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.

The Letter to Lahore (Songs of Freedom Series)

Sarchi, 1921

When Dak Chacha comes to visit, Luxmi feels only joy and excitement. But this time, there is something dark underfoot-Chacha is worried and there are policemen coming to search their house.

Luxmi learns that both Dak Chacha and her mother are involved-in their own small ways-in the struggle for liberation from the unjust laws and practices that the British regime forces on all of them. This makes her determined to be part of it too. Even if that means undertaking a risky mission which no one else is able to do . . .

The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.

The series complements school textbooks about the independence movement. As the stories are told from a child’s point of view, these stories bring the facts of the independence movement to vivid life in settings all over the country—and inspire each reader to engage with the idea of India.

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