Hope in the Valley

In this moving novel by Perkins (The Story of Us), 13-year-old aspiring poet Pandita Paul struggles to navigate grief and change in her rapidly gentrifying Silicon Valley neighborhood. Since the death of Pandu's mother years ago, the apricot orchard across the street--which the two called Ashar Jaiga, or place of hope---has recently been a sanctuary for Pandu, until it's threatened when the mansion property on which it sits is sold for redevelopment into purportedly affordable rental units. When demolition begins, Pandu loses access to this refuge and worries that, once the orchard is gone, her memories of Ma will go with it. In her search for a solution, Pandu cultivates an alliance with the town librarian and members of the local historical preservation society, who are adamant about preventing the property's bulldozing. But this allyship puts Pandu at odds with her older sister Shar, an affordable housing activist who supports the development. Though the novel is set in the 1980s, issues surrounding housing inequity and financial precarity deeply resonate with present-day challenges. Employing Pandu's lilting voice and quiet bravery, Perkins crafts an introspective novel about moving on from loss and finding the courage to fight for what one believes in. Pandu and her family are Indian American. Ages 8-12. (July)

The story is set in the summer of 1980 in Silicon Valley, California, before the tech boom. It is a place on the cusp, much like the story's protagonist, who finds herself compelled by memories of her past; the complex and fascinating history she uncovers; and possibilities for the future of her town, her family, and herself.

Perkins is an expert at weaving together a multitude of plotlines in a seamlessly thought-provoking, entertaining way. She addresses grief, fear of change, xenophobia, segregation and the power of friendships while reckoning with history and the legacies of injustice. Despite this boatload of serious subjects, the prose feels organic, portraying authentic dynamics in this extended Bengali family...Many books advocate for listening carefully to people of opposing views while following one's own beliefs, but few do it better than Perkins' exceptional Hope in the Valley. —Bookpage, starred review