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Sita Brahmachari Books

when shadows fall

When Shadows Fall

Chapter book
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A human rights ambassador for Amnesty International, Sita Brachmachari is renowned for placing children’s rights, refugee rights and environmental rights at the forefront of her stories and When Shadows Fall encapsulates those struggles in a story that is at times distressing, but equally uplifting.

Voiced from the perspective of three friends, Brachmachari deftly weaves an account of how quickly someone’s life can unravel following the loss of a loved one, but also how help can come from the strength of a stranger, who has learned to not only survive the atrocities of war but also felt the isolation of rebuilding a life in a country where, as a refugee, they have not always been made to feel welcome.

A mature story that celebrates the joys of the innocence of childhood friendships, how dramatically one person’s life and mental health can deteriorate when that friendship fractures, how seeing those events from the other person’s perspective can help us to heal and rebuild what we might think was lost forever and how we can learn to love a new path in life.

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jasmine skies

Jasmine Skies

Chapter book

Mira Levenson is bursting with excitement as she flies to India to stay with her aunt and cousin for the first time. As soon as she lands Mira is hurled into the sweltering heat and a place full of new sights, sounds, and deeply buried family secrets . . . From the moment Mira meets Janu she feels an instant connection. He becomes her guide, showing her both the beauty and the chaos of Kolkata. Nothing is as she imagined it – and suddenly home feels a long way away.

Before Mira leaves India she is determined to uncover the truth about her family, whatever it takes, and she must also make a decision that will break someone’s heart.

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super readable rollercoaster phoenix brothers

Super-Readable Rollercoaster: Phoenix Brothers

Chapter book

This thought-provoking narrative tells the story of ‘Phoenix Brothers’ Amir and Mo, who have recently arrived in England after a perilous journey fleeing from their home country, Iraq.

Amir has lost his home, his family and now his voice; Mo is alone in the world and has experienced unspeakable horrors on his journey. As they rise from the ashes and build a new life in the UK, they discover their talents and find friends who will stand with them even when others stand in their way.

Told through the eyes of Amir, the book subtly and sensitively explores themes of displacement, prejudice, language barriers and the impact of trauma. Amir’s recollections as he prepares for the George Orwell speech competition reveal the challenges and horrors faced by many vulnerable refugee children in their quest for safety and liberty.

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where the river runs gold

Where the River Runs Gold

Chapter book

In a time when the bees have long gone and artificial pollination prevails, two children must risk everything to expose the truth. The freedom of a nation and the future of the natural world depend on it …

A powerful and timely story of hope, love, friendship and the importance of protecting our natural world. Shifa’s life changes completely when she finds out the dark secret about where she comes from. At the same time, her hometown is falling apart and drying up. She and her brother are taken away by a powerful group that controls everything and uses children to help keep their world running. But Shifa does not give up. As she tries to get back home, she faces big dangers—but also makes new friends, learns who she really is, and finds the courage to stand up and protect our world.

Once I started reading, I could not put this book down. I have read many of Sita Brahmachari’s novels, and this is my favourite by far. It is beautifully written and very relevant to current conversations around climate change. This book will appeal to children and adults and is ideally suited to mature KS2 and early KS3. My daughter was as hooked as I was, and the story provided lots of opportunities for some quite thought-provoking discussions.

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When Secrets Set Sail

Chapter book

Sita Brahmachari is in brilliant form as she weaves loss, past secrets and the need for trust through an anxious quest for securing a safe haven for all. A great, life-affirming story.

When Secrets Set Sail is the story of Usha and Imtiyaz, to young girls who find themselves forced together when Usha’s family adopts Imtiyaz. They are forced to make a new family at the time when Usha’s grandmother has just died and Imtiyaz’s foster mother is leaving to start a new life. Also, the house where they live, that also serves as a refugee centre, is under threat of being closed down.

The girls must learn to trust each other and become true sisters in order to save their home and the spirits of Usha’s grandmother and the legacy of the family. With the help of some ghosts from the past, family history and new friends, can the girls work together to make everything ok?

This book is a fascinating look at the beliefs about spirits who look after you and guide you when they are needed. The story also emphasises the importance of both local and family history and what it means to build new relationships well. I haven’t read a book that has stuck with me the way this one did, in a long time. Have the tissues at the ready when reading this one!

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Swallow's Kiss

Swallow’s Kiss

&
Chapter book

Swallow’s Kiss is a story about the power of community, friendship and the curiosity of children to learn and inspire each other. There are a lot of beautiful birds in the story and I think each wing carries a message of kindness and empathy. These emotions and values fly through the pages of this story set in an unnamed city. It focuses on seven year old Blessing and her family as she discovers a bag of lost paper birds with wishes written in different languages on their wings. Blessing’s mother arrived in the city as a refugee from the Congo and every night she sings her daughter a beautiful Lingala lullaby but the paper birds bring songs and wishes in many languages. Blessing embarks on a quest to discover what is written on the wings of these paper birds and the refugee people who made them.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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