Padma Venkatraman

Books by This Author

Born Behind Bars

Illustration of two children escaping into a river

Kabir has been in jail since the day he was born, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. 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 unfortunately turns out to be a fraud, and intends to sell Kabir. So Kabir 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.

Climbing the Stairs

Though it's unusual for a girl in colonial India, 15-year-old Vidya's father supports her dream of attending college. When her father — an advocate of nonviolence — is severely injured in a protest against British rule, Vidya not only loses her best advocate, but she's forced to live with her very traditional grandfather. Vidya's quest for independence mirrors that of her country.