Thushanthi Ponweera – författare

Caught between two worlds—a poverty-stricken village and a fancy big-city school—a young Sri Lankan girl must decide who she really is and where she really belongs.1998, Colombo. The Sri Lankan Civil War is raging, but everyday life must go on. At Kavi’s school, her friends talk about the weekly Top 40, the Backstreet Boys, Shahrukh Khan, Leo & Kate… and who died—or didn’t—in the latest bombing. But Kavi is afraid of something even scarier than war. She fears that if her friends discover her secret—that she is not who she is pretending to be—they’ll stop talking to her.I want to be friends with these / happy, / fearless, / girls / who look like they / belong.So I could also be / happy, / fearless, / and maybe even / belong.Kavi’s scholarship to her elite new school was supposed to be everything she ever wanted, but as she tries to find some semblance of normalcy in a country on fire, nothing is going according to plan. In an effort to fit in with her wealthy, glittering, and self-assured new classmates, Kavi begins telling lies, trading her old life—where she’s a poor girl whose mother has chosen a new husband over her daughter—for a new one, where she’s rich, loved, and wanted. But how long can you pretend to be someone else?This dazzling novel-in-verse comes from an astonishing new talent who lived through the civil war herself. Perfect for fans of Jamine Warga, Supriya Kelkar, and Rajani LaRocca, I Am Kavi centers a powerful South Asian voice, and stars an unforgettable heroine each and every one of us can relate to. "KAVI'S COURAGE AND VOICE ARE NOT TO BE MISSED."—Reem Faruqi, award-winning author of Call Me Adnan, Unsettled, and Golden Girl"I LOVED IT!"—Nizrana Farook, award-winning author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant"POWERFULLY WRITTEN."—Lyn Miller-Lachmann, author of Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner Torch"LUSH AND EVOCATIVE... A STUNNING DEBUT."—Kate Albus, award-winning author of A Place to Hang the MoonA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection An Indies Introduce SelectionAn Indies Next PickA Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearA School Library Journal Middle Grade Magic SelectionA Children's Book Council Hot off the Presses Selection

An inspiring nonfiction picture book about the courage and perseverance of 1964 Sri Lankan Olympian Ranatunge Karunananda, and the ways in which we define success. Sri Lankan soldier Ranatunge Karunananda is the first runner to ever represent his country in the 10,000-meter race in the Olympic Games. Despite the lack of support and resources, Karu stands on the track in Japan, determined to represent Sri Lanka and his family well. As the race begins and the other runners lap Karu time and again, he presses on despite objections, winning not the race but the hearts of the 70,000-person crowd, and inspiring people across the world to stay steadfast in the race for their dreams.

A stunning, lyrical picture book exploration of the nuances of friendship as two best friends experience jealousy for the first time when one of them receives a beautiful gift of rainbow bangles from her mom.Selvi’s best friend in the whole world is Divya. She and Divya are alike in so many ways: they love biking to school; they love to play dress up; and they both miss their ammas, who work overseas and only come home once a year. It’s hard not having their moms home all the time, but it’s okay because they have each other. But when Divya’s amma returns home early and gifts Divya with a beautiful set of rainbow bangles, Selvi starts to feel jealous of her friend. Why is Divya’s amma home and not hers? Does Divya even need Selvi anymore now that she has her mom back? As their friendship is tested, Selvi and Divya learn the real treasure they have to cherish is each other.