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Varsha Seshan

Strangus Derangus

March 7, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Strangus Derangus & Other Adventures of Little Shambu is another book that I enjoyed hot off the press. It’s a collection of short stories, perfect for my book club because we […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: book club, books for ages seven and eight, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading, Reena I Puri, Strangus Derangus and Other Adventures of Little Shambu

The Curious Case of the Sweet and Spicy Sweetshop

March 6, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Ghosts, suspense, smart children and the most delicious-sounding foods come together in The Curious Case of the Sweet and Spicy Sweetshop by Nandini Nayar. Vishnudas Mithaiwala owns The Sweet and Spicy Sweetshop, […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages nine and ten, Nandini Nayar, online reading programme, reading, The Curious Case of the Sweet and Spicy Sweetshop

By Royal Appointment

March 5, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Although I did read several books by Jeffrey Archer when I was in college, I never grew to be a fan the way so many of my friends were. Yet, […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, By Royal Appointment, Jeffrey Archer, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading

Bat and the End of Everything

March 4, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Exactly a year ago, I posted about A Boy Called Bat, which we read at the April 2023 edition of my book club. We loved the book, and the rest of […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: Bat and the End of Everything, book club, bookish activities, books for ages nine and ten, Elana K Arnold, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading

Dhara’s Revolution

March 3, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

It’s always a joy to read my books with my book clubs! I’ve read The Prophecy of Rasphora and Dragonflies, Jigsaws and Seashells, in addition to my story in Flipped: Mystery Stories […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Dharas Revolution, online reading programme, reading, varsha seshan

The Misadventures of a Diamond Thief

March 2, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

When historical fiction and fantasy come together, we’re in for a treat! Rafu is a TTTD–a Time-Travelling, Thieving Djinn. Or at least, that’s what he’s supposed to be. The problem […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages nine and ten, Lubaina Bandukwala, online reading programme, reading, review, The Misadventures of a Diamond Thief

When Jiya Met Urmila

March 1, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I read Shabnam Minwalla’s When Jiya Met Urmila at least two years ago. I can’t believe I didn’t review it on my blog! I think I was probably waiting to use […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading, review, Shabnam Minwalla, When Jiya Met Urmila

Uncontrollable – The Story Behind the Story

February 16, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I love to read about how a book that I’m reading came into being. What made the writer write this particular book? What are some of those little stories the […]

Filed Under: Books, Writing Tagged With: fantasy, Middle Grade, novel in verse, Uncontrollable

Twitch

February 12, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Often, I read books like Twitch with a very clear agenda in mind–to decide whether to read it with my book club. One chapter in, and I was sure I […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books for ages nine and ten, books for tweens, M G Leonard, Middle Grade, reading, review, Twitch

The Chhau Champ

February 5, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Books about dance are close to my heart, especially books that challenge the status quo in some way. I remember reading Kali Wants to Dance and particularly enjoying it because […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for ages seven and eight, Chapter Book, hOle books, reading, review, The Chhau Champ, Vibha Batra

Journey to the River Sea

February 4, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I read Journey to the River Sea years ago, probably over a decade ago. I loved it so much that it featured on my list of all-time favourite books for […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books for tweens, Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea, Middle Grade, reading, review, Young Adult

When Fairyland Lost Its Magic

February 3, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

We need more illustrated middle-grade books! I read When Fairyland Lots Its Magic on my way to Kolkata for the Junior Kolkata Literary Meet, and there was so much to […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: Bijal Vachharajani, Middle Grade, reading, review, When Fairyland Lost Its Magic

The Henna Start-Up

February 2, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

A determined protagonist, a family that’s willing to change, and characters that evolve through the story–what’s not to like? Abir Maqsood of The Henna Start-Up by Andaleeb Wajid is an […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Andaleeb Wajid, books for tweens, reading, review, The Henna Start-Up, Young Adult

My Year in Writing: 2023

January 15, 2024 by Varsha Seshan 2 Comments

The year 2023 was remarkably kind to me as an author. It was a year full of lit fests, school visits, and, most importantly, new stories! Uncontrollable What can I […]

Filed Under: Books, Writing Tagged With: Chapter Book, Dance Nani Dance, Dharas Revolution, fantasy, Making a Clone, Middle Grade, Nail Tree, novel in verse, picture books, short story, Uncontrollable

My Favourite Late Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books from 2023

January 12, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

As usual, I begin my list of favourite young adult books wishing I had read more YA last year. Yes, I loved these books, but once more, I hope to […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books for tweens, Gordon Korman, Heartstopper, Middle Grade, reading, review, Schooled, The District Cup, Young Adult, Zen

My Favourite Middle-Grade Books from 2023

January 11, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

It’s only when I began writing this post that I noticed that most (six out of seven) of my favourite middle-grade reads from 2023 have blue covers! How odd! I […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: An Alien in the Jam Factory, Because of Winn-Dixie, books for ages nine and ten, books for tweens, Dungeon Tales, Hour of the Bees, Kolam Kanna, Middle Grade, Munni Monster, reading, review, The Giver

My Favourite Chapter Books from 2023

January 10, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I read dozens of chapter books each year thanks to my book clubs. Here’s a round-up of my favourites from last year. Interestingly, in 2022, there were only three chapter […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Amelia Bedelia Goes Wild, books for ages seven and eight, By Royal Appointment, Chapter Books, Gobi Goes Viral, Gupshup Goes to Prison, Ottoline and the Yellow Cat, reading, review, Sad Animal Facts, Strangus Derangus and Other Adventures of Little Shambu, Talon the Falcon, The Canary Caper, Trunk Call for Ajju

My Favourite Picture Books and Early Chapter Books from 2023

January 9, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

It’s only as I was looking back at all the wonderful books I read in 2023 that I realised that five of my favourite picture books and early chapter books […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for ages five and six, Boy Bear, Chapter Books, Cyrus the Whyrus, Passepartout Is That You?, Picture Book, reading, review, The Big Bad Fight, The Grand Chapati Contest, What Feelings Do When No Ones Looking

Gobi Goes Viral

January 8, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Gobi Goes Viral by Vibha Batra is funny, heart-warming, and altogether believable. We’ve read and loved Kolam Kanna and Pinkoo Shergill at my book club, and I’m happy to introduce yet another […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Gobi Goes Viral, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading, Vibha Batra

The Very Glum Life of Tootoolu Toop

January 7, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

We’ve read The Very Glum Life of Tootoolu Toop before and I can’t wait to read it again! I know it’s longer than the books I usually choose, plus every batch […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: bookish activities, books for ages nine and ten, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading, reading workshop, Stuti Agarwal, The Very Glum Life of Tootoolu Toop

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