By Mitali Perkins
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023. Fiction. 291 pages.
Pandita Paul lives in the Silicone Valley with her father and two older twin sisters. The school year has ended and she is looking forward to spending the summer reading and writing her poetry. She loves to sit and write in her favorite place, the Ashar Jaiga, or place of hope which is on the porch of an old rundown farmhouse next to her home. This farmhouse has become a sanctuary for Pandita and it is filled with memories of time she spent there with her mother who died unexpectedly.
When Pandita learns that plans are in place to sell and tear down the old farm house and orchard she is devastated and knows she has to stop this from happening. In an effort to save her precious sanctuary, she joins up with the local historical preservation society to protest the sale of this historic piece of property. Pandita will do everything she can to preserve the orchard in order to hold onto the memories of her mother. But sometimes life doesn't always turn out how you want and this summer Pandita will have to reach down and find the courage to face the challenges in front of her.
A beautiful story about friendship, grief, loss, personal discovery, and moving forward with life after the loss of a parent. An inspiring story that will motivate readers to find a way to share their voice with the world in their own distinct way.
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