Audiobooks by Supriya Kelkar

The Cobra's Song

"From the author of American as Paneer Pie comes an "absorbing" (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade adventure steeped in Indian folklore following a girl who learns how to find her voice and face her fears, perfect for fans of Aru Shah and Amina's Song. Ten-year-old Geetanjali doesn't mind singing, but she knows she'll never be as good as her mother, Aai, or grandmother, Aaji, famous classical singers from India whose celebrity has followed the family all the way to their small town of Deadwood, Michigan, where Geetanjali lives with her aai and her father, Baba. After freezing on stage during a concert performance, Geetanjali adds "fear of singing" to her list of fears, a list that seems to be multiplying daily. Aai tries to stress the importance of using one's voice and continuing to sing; Geetanjali hopes that when her aaji comes to visit this summer, she'll be able to help her. But when they pick Aaji up at the airport, she's not alone. Lata, an auntie Geetanjali has never met before is with Aaji and their neighbor, Heena Auntie, who is acting strange and mean, and not like the warm auntie she normally is. Lata Auntie has heard all about Geetanjali's family, growing up in India. She knows Aai and Aaji are the only ones who can sing raag Naagshakti. Aai plays it off, but Geetanjali thinks back to the raag in the binder that started with an N that had been torn out. She has never heard of Raag Naagshakti, which sounds like it is about the power of cobras. Geetanjali is determined not to let her imagination get the best of her and add aunties to her list of fears, but she can't help but wonder about the connection between the missing raag, Heena Auntie's cold behavior, and their interesting summer visitor."

Supriya Kelkar (Author), Reena Dutt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Strong As Fire, Fierce As Flame

"India, 1857 Meera’s future has been planned for her for as long as she can remember. As a child, her parents married her to a boy from a neighboring village. On the eve of her thirteenth birthday, she will leave her family to live with her husband. But that night, Indian soldiers mutiny against their British commanders and destroy the ammunition depot, burning down parts of Delhi. Riots follow, and Meera’s husband is killed. Then Meera’s father insists that she follow the dictates of their fringe religious sect: she must end her life by throwing herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. Risking everything, Meera runs away, escaping into the chaos of the rebellion. But her newfound freedom is short-lived, as she is forced to become a servant in the house of a British East India Company captain. Through her work, she gains confidence, new friends, new skills—and sometimes her life even feels peaceful. But one day, Meera stumbles upon the captain’s secret stock of ammunition, destined to be used by the British to continue controlling India’s citizens. Will Meera do her part to take down the British colonists and alert the rebellion of the stockpile? Or will she stay safe and let others make decisions for her? It comes down to this: how much fire must a girl face to finally write her own destiny?"

Supriya Kelkar (Author), Sneha Mathan (Narrator)

Audiobook

That Thing about Bollywood

"Bollywood takes over in this "effervescent" (Booklist) and magical middle grade novel about an Indian American girl whose world turns upside down when she involuntarily starts bursting into glamorous song-and-dance routines during everyday life. You know how in Bollywood when people are in love, they sing and dance from the mountaintops? Eleven-year-old Sonali wonders if they do the same when they're breaking up. The truth is, Sonali's parents don't get along, and it looks like they might be separating. Sonali's little brother, Ronak, is not taking the news well, constantly crying. Sonali would never do that. It's embarrassing to let out so many feelings, to show the world how not okay you are. But then something strange happens, something magical, maybe. When Sonali gets upset during a field trip, she can't bury her feelings like usual—instead, she suddenly bursts into a Bollywood song-and-dance routine about why she's upset! The next morning, much to her dismay, Sonali's reality has shifted. Things seem brighter, almost too bright. Her parents have had Bollywood makeovers. Her friends are also breaking out into song and dance. And somehow, everyone is acting as if this is totally normal. Sonali knows something has gone wrong, and she suspects it has something to do with her own mismanaged emotions. Can she figure it out before it's too late?"

Supriya Kelkar (Author), Soneela Nankani (Narrator)

Audiobook

American as Paneer Pie

"As the only Indian American kid in her small town, Lekha Divekar feels like she has two versions of herself: Home Lekha, who loves watching Bollywood movies and eating Indian food, and School Lekha, who pins her hair over her bindi birthmark and avoids confrontation at all costs, especially when someone teases her for being Indian. When a girl Lekha’s age moves in across the street, Lekha is excited to hear that her name is Avantika and she’s Desi, too! Finally, there will be someone else around who gets it. But as soon as Avantika speaks, Lekha realizes she has an accent. She’s new to this country, and not at all like Lekha. To Lekha’s surprise, Avantika does not feel the same way as Lekha about having two separate lives or about the bullying at school. Avantika doesn’t take the bullying quietly. And she proudly displays her culture no matter where she is: at home or at school. When a racist incident rocks Lekha’s community, she realizes she must make a choice: continue to remain silent or find her voice before it’s too late."

Supriya Kelkar (Author), Priya Ayyar (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ahimsa

"In 1942, when Mahatma Gandhi asks Indians to give one family member to the freedom movement, ten-year-old Anjali is devastated to think of her father risking his life for the freedom struggle. But it turns out he isn't the one joining. Anjali's mother is. And with this change comes many more adjustments designed to improve their country and use 'ahimsa'—non-violent resistance—to stand up to the British government. First the family must trade in their fine foreign-made clothes for homespun cotton, so Anjali has to give up her prettiest belongings. Then her mother decides to reach out to the Dalit community, the 'untouchables' of society. Anjali is forced to get over her past prejudices as her family becomes increasingly involved in the movement. When Anjali's mother is jailed, Anjali must step out of her comfort zone to take over her mother's work, ensuring that her little part of the independence movement is completed. Inspired by her great-grandmother's experience working with Gandhi, New Visions Award winner Supriya Kelkar shines a light on the Indian freedom movement in this poignant debut."

Supriya Kelkar (Author), Zehra Jane Naqvi (Narrator)

Audiobook