PADMA VENKATRAMAN

Como cualquier adolescente, la quinceañera Vidya vive una vida apacible con unos padres y un hermano que la quieren y que luchan para que sea feliz. A la inquieta Vidya le gusta imaginar cómo será su vida cuando sea mayor. Su gran sueño es poder ir a la universidad. Pero esta escrito que el destino de Vidya no sea facil. Una tragedia golpea su vida, y Vidya tiene que trasladarse a vivir con la familia de su padre, donde es dificil sentirse en casa. Sus tios no admiten que las chicas tengan los mismos derechos que los chicos, y empiezan a hacerle la vida imposible. Por suerte, cuando las cosas no pueden empeorar mas, Vidya conoce a Raman, un chico que la escucha y la comprende, y que pronto se convierte en su aliado. Raman la acompañara hasta lo que hay mas alla de la escalera prohibida: un magico mundo de palabras en el que quiza sus sueños puedan cumplirse. La escalera prohibida es la universal historia de una chica extraordinaria que lucha por sus sueños y su libertad en un pais y un momento tan fascinantes como complejos, la India de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Una emocionante novela juvenil que te llevara al corazon de India y al descubrimiento del mundo de las palabras como camino hacia la superacion.

From the award-winning author of The Bridge Home comes a gripping novel about a boy whos released into the world after spending his whole life in jail with his mothera remarkable celebration of the aching will to survive. Borrowing elements of fable, its told with a recurring sense of awe by a boy whom the world, for most of his life, has existed only in stories.New York Times Book ReviewA KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF THE CENTURYKabir has been in jail since the day he was born, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didnt commit. Hes never met his dad, so the only family hes got are their cellmates, and the only place he feels the least bit free is in the classroom, where his kind teacher regales him with stories of the wonders of the outside world. Then one day, a new warden arrives, and announces Kabir is too old to stay. He gets handed over to a long-lost "uncle" who turns out to be a fraud and intends to sell Kabir. So Kabir does the only thing he canhe runs away as fast as his legs will take him. How does a boy with nowhere to go and no connections make his way? Fortunately, he befriends Rani, another street kid, and she takes him under her wing. But plotting their next move is hardand fraught with dangerin a world that cares little for homeless, low caste children. This is not the world Kabir dreamed ofbut hes discovered hes not the type to give up. Kabir is ready to show the world that heand his motherdeserve a place in it.

From the acclaimed author of Climbing the Stairs comes a fascinating story set on a remote island untouched by time. Uido is ecstatic about becoming her tribes spiritual leader, but her new position brings her older brothers jealousy and her best friends mistrust. And looming above these troubles are the recent visits of strangers from the mainland who have little regard for nature or the spirits, and tempt the tribe members with gifts, making them curious about modern life. When Uidos little brother falls deathly ill, she must cross the ocean and seek their help. Having now seen so many new things, will Uido have the strength to believe in herself and the old ways? And will her people trust her to lead them to safety when a catastrophic tsunami threatens? Uido must overcome everyones doubts, including her own, if she is to keep her people safe and preserve the spirituality that has defined them. Drawing on firsthand experience from her travels to the Andaman Islands, Padma Venkatraman was inspired to write this story after meeting natives who survived the 2004 tsunami and have been able to preserve their unique way of life. Uidos transformation from a young girl to tribal leader will touch both your heart and mind.

An uplifting novel in verse about an immigrant girl adjusting to life in the US through her love of nature, music, and poetry, by the award-winning author of The Bridge HomeWhen Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents divorce, they leave everything Geetha loves behindher family, her friends, her dog, and all thats familiar. As if thats not hard enough, Geetha is bullied at her new school for her clothes, her food, and her English (who knew so many English words could be spelled or pronounced differently in the USor just be altogether different!). She finds some solace in playing her flute and writing poetry, and even more when she meets Miguel, a kid with whom she has a lot in common, and the two of them help rescue an injured harp seal stranded on the beach. But Geetha can feel her anger building over lots of thingscareless people who pollute the sea and hurt animals, and her mom for making her move. Shes never been so sad and angry. She can see a lot of her fears mirrored in the injured seal when she visits it at the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center, and this broadens her understanding of survival skills. And when she and Miguel start a beach-clean-up venture, shes surprised to find how many kind kids are out there. Geetha is torn as the time comes to let the seal go, knowing shell miss him, but wanting the best for him. Shes learning to live with mixed feelings and accept that while there will always be rough waters, there are plenty of safe harbors too.

Making friends with faraway relatives youve never met can be a little daunting at first, but this family finds a unique way to connect.Its a joyous occasion when you get to visit family in another country after a long time apart. But sometimes it takes a while to connect. Thats what happens to the little girl in this bookwhen she first sees her faraway family, they feel like strangers. To make matters worse, the power goes out at bedtime, and that means no more night-light. Then a flashlight beam appearsits her grandmother, who invites her into a lively game of shadow play. And soon the two of them are having a grand adventure, and the girls faraway family starts feeling more like friends.Award-winning author Padma Venkatramans picture book debut shows the joy of connecting through imaginative play, and Nicole Wongs evocative illustrations bring the story to brilliant life.

Padma Venkatramans inspiring story of a young girls struggle to regain her passion and find a new peace is told lyrically through verse that captures the beauty and mystery of India and the ancient bharatanatyam dance form. This is a stunning novel about spiritual awakening, the power of art, and above all, the courage and resilience of the human spirit. Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes danceso when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl whos grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. But Veda refuses to let her disability rob her of her dreams, and she starts all over again, taking beginner classes with the youngest dancers. Then Veda meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit. As their relationship deepens, Veda reconnects with the world around her, and begins to discover who she is and what dance truly means to her.

During World War II and the last days of British occupation in India, fifteen-year-old Vidya dreams of attending college. But when her forward-thinking father is beaten senseless by the British police, she is forced to live with her grandfathers large traditional family, where the women live apart from the men and are meant to be married off as soon as possible.Vidyas only refuge becomes her grandfathers upstairs library, which is forbidden to women. There she meets Raman, a young man also living in the house who relishes her intellectual curiosity. But when Vidyas brother makes a choice the family cannot condone, and when Raman seems to want more than friendship, Vidkya must question all she has believed in.Padma Venkatramans debut novel poignantly shows a girl struggling to find her place in a mixedup world. Climbing the Stairs is a powerful story about love and loss set against a fascinating historical backdrop.Read Padma Venkatramans posts on the Penguin Blog.

"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning the final page."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestselling Amal UnboundFour determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatramans stirring middle-grade debut.Life is harsh in Chennais teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the citys trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.