One of my picks for #CauseAChatter this quarter is Women’s Empowerment and what better book to recommend than one that celebrates brave and outspoken women. Women who refuse to fit into a mould. Women who are labeled disobedient.
Set in the times of the Bengali renaissance, Chronicles of the Lost Daughters explores the socio-cultural politics of 19th-century Bengal including caste hierarchies, real-life figures, and events. A thought-provoking read that will have you turning the pages.
TJ Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo is much more than a rom-com. It is about beauty standards and social prejudices. About the pressure on teen girls to fit into the specific boxes. About self-worth that isn’t (and shouldn’t) be measured by outward appearance.
Rivals to lovers. Grumpy girl x sunshine boy. Diverse characters. Realistic relationships. Cute banter. . And most important of all, being your unapologetic self. Beauty and the Besharam is an easy summer read that is full of heart.
Historical fiction with a hint of magical realism. This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke is the story of human resilience. Of the youth stepping up to take back what is rightfully theirs.
An illustrative symbol of women empowerment. That is what perfectly defines Aanandi by Jyoti Jha. The story of a remarkable young girl. An inspiring story of a determined woman to be self-reliant.
A gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers featuring a girl with chronic illness. A finishing school that is actually a training ground for lady spies. An assassination plot. A found sisterhood. One For All by Lillie Lainoff is a must-read.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”. That is the underlying theme of The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill. A charming middle grade fairy tale.
A story told in silence. A story without words. Crushing by Sophie Burrows is a stunning debut graphic novel about two lonely souls yearning for human connection.
Merging fiction with non-fiction, Lahore (Book 1 of The Partition Trilogy) by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is a well-researched story of the most tumultuous time in Indian history – the partition.