About this item
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 Home. When Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents' divorce, they leave everything Geetha loves behind - her family, her friends, her dog, and all that's familiar. As if that's 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 US - or 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.
About the Author
Award winning American author, Padma Venkatraman, has worked as chief scientist on oceanographic ships, spent time under the sea, directed a school, and lived in 5 countries. Her 3 novels, A TIME TO DANCE, ISLAND'S END and CLIMBING THE STAIRS, were released to multiple starred reviews (12) , received numerous honors (> 50 best book e.g. ALA, IRA Notable; Booklist, Kirkus, NYPL, Yalsa BBYA; IBBY outstanding; and > 10 state lists) , and won several national and international awards. She gives keynote addresses, speaks on TV and radio, serves on panels, conducts workshops, has been chief guest at international author festivals and visits schools all over the world. Padma Venkatraman's most recent novel, A TIME TO DANCE, was released in May 2014 to starred reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, VOYA, SLJ, and BCCB and rave reviews online and in newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, Newsday, The Providence Journal and The Denver Post. A TIME TO DANCE accumulated numerous awards and honors, such as: ALA Notable, ALA/YALSA BBYA, Booklist Editor's Choice Best Books, Booklist Top 10 art bk, CCBC ChoicesCrystal Kite Finalist, CSML Best Books, Eliot Rosewater (IN) masterlist, IBBY Outstanding bk yod, IRA Notable (NBGS) , Julia Ward Howe Boston Authors Club honor bk, Kirkus Best Books, Mighty Girl Top 10 Character Driven Books, New York Public Library Top 25, New York City Reads (#NYC365) , Nutmeg Award (CT) master list, Rebecca Caudill (IL) master list, Red dot award (Singapore) , Sanoc/Saba hn, Sequoyah (OK) master list etc. Padma Venkatraman's second novel, ISLAND's END, was released to four starred reviews (Booklist, Kirkus, SLJ and VOYA) , won the international South Asia Book Award and the national Paterson Prize, was a finalist for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Crystal Kite (NE-SCBWI) and the Boston Authors Club Julia Ward Howe award, and received several other honors, including an ALA/Amelia Bloomer selection, American Library Association (ALA) / Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) , Booklist Editor's Choice/Best Book, Kirkus Best Book, and a Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) choice. Padma's debut, CLIMBING THE STAIRS, was released to three starred reviews (Booklist, PW and VOYA) , won the Boston Authors Club Julia Ward Howe award and the ASTAL Rhode Island Book of the year award; was shortlisted for RARI (Reading Across Rhode Island) , the Cybil award and state awards in NJ, ME, SC and UT; and was also honored with an American Library Association (ALA) / Amelia Bloomer List citation, ALA/Young Adult Library Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) , Booklist Editor's Choice/Best Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education Best Book, Capitol Choice, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) choice, Children's Literature Network (CLN) Top 20, CBC/NCSS (Nat
