2026 A Novel Idea Youth Edition:
\nHope in the Valley is a middle-grade novel explor ing grief\, friendship\, family\, and growing up in a community facing a h ousing crisis.
\nTwelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul doesn' t like change. She's not ready to start middle school and leave the comfor ts of childhood behind. Most of all\, Pandita doesn't want to feel like sh e's leaving her mother\, who died a few years ago\, behind. After a fallin g out with her best friend\, Pandita is planning to spend most of her summ er break reading and writing in her favorite secret space: the abandoned b ut majestic mansion across the street. But then the unthinkable happens. T he town announces that the old home will be bulldozed in favor of new&mdas h\;maybe affordable&mdash\;housing. With her family on opposing sides of t he issue\, Pandita must find her voice&mdash\;and the strength to move on& mdash\;in order to give her community hope.
\nAbout the Auth or:
\nMitali Perkins has written many books for young reade rs\, all of which explore crossing different kinds of borders. Her goal is to make readers laugh or cry\, preferably both\, as long as their hearts are widening. She lives and writes in the East Bay.
\nLearn more abo ut A Novel Idea \; \;
\nQuestions? Contact Sheila Grier \; sheilag@deschuteslibrary. org \;
\n\n\nhttps://dpl.libnet.info/event/157079 75 URL;VALUE=URI:https://dpl.libnet.info/event/15707975 ATTACH:https://static.libnet.info/images/events/dpl/Book_Discussion_Hope_L iz_.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR