{"product_id":"divining-the-leaves-isbn-9780063255265","title":"Divining the Leaves","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Filled with beautiful and dangerous magic, this book swirls around you like irresistible perfume.\" —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom critically acclaimed author Shveta Thakrar comes a beautifully imagined contemporary fantasy about two teens, one a believer of magic who yearns to belong, the other a skeptic searching for an escape, who find themselves embroiled in a twisty world of court intrigue when they venture into a forest ruled by yakshas, mysterious woodland spirits drawn from Hindu and Buddhist folklore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant-loving Ridhi Kapadia and popular Nilesh Batra were friends once.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, seventeen and alone, Ridhi blends natural perfumes, wears flower crowns, and wanders her local woods, listening for the leafy whispers of her beloved trees. Pleading for the yakshas to admit her into their enchanted forest kingdom, where she knows she truly belongs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter learning his parents’ perfect marriage is a sham and getting suspended from school, a heartsick Nilesh lands at Ridhi’s doorstep—the last thing either of them wants. So when a pretty yakshini offers him the distraction of magic, the same magic he mocked Ridhi for believing in, he jumps at it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFurious, Ridhi strikes a bargain with a noblewoman of the yaksha court. In exchange for helping restore her reputation, Lady Sulochana will turn Ridhi into the yakshini she yearns to be—and teach her to divine the trees’ murmurs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when Nilesh ends up trapped in the yakshas’ realm, Ridhi realizes the leaves might be telling a disturbing story about the forest her heart is rooted in—one that, even if the two of them band together, threatens to shred the future like so many thorns.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePortal Fantasy:\u003c\/b\u003e Ridhi has spent her life searching for a door to the magical realm of yakshas. Nilesh just stumbled into it. Now, neither of them can find the way back.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCourt Intrigue:\u003c\/b\u003e A bargain with a beautiful yaksha noblewoman seems like a dream come true for Ridhi, but in a world of ancient feuds and shifting loyalties, every promise has a price.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBased on South Asian Mythology:\u003c\/b\u003e Venture into a world of yakshas, apsaras, and the legendary wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha, drawn from the rich tapestry of Hindu and Buddhist folklore.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDual POV:\u003c\/b\u003e Told from the perspectives of Ridhi, the believer who wants in, and Nilesh, the skeptic who wants out, as their paths collide in a world neither was prepared for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e\"A coming of age story blends seamlessly with Indian mythology in this beautifully written novel. Shveta Thakrar is skilled at conjuring tastes and aromas with her words, bringing the dual worlds of the story to vivid life.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJuliet Marillier, author of the Blackthorn \u0026amp; Grim series\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Thakrar’s writing is rich and detailed without being dragged under by its own weight, depicting her story like a fine tapestry... This is a complex, deeper dive than usual, but Thakrar leavens her satisfying story with humor and populates it with realistic and appealing characters.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Shveta Thakrar’s \u003cem\u003eDivining the Leaves\u003c\/em\u003e is an escape into a lush, magical world as beautiful as it is dangerous. Suffused with Hindu-inspired folklore and Thakrar’s sumptuous prose, I adored this book.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMara Rutherford, author of The Poison Season\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Shveta Thakrar expertly fuses glorious folklore with modern-day teenage pain in this coming-of-age story. Filled with beautiful and dangerous magic, this book swirls around you like irresistible perfume!\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Thakrar’s Hindu- and Buddhist-inspired story with a primarily Indian cast is overflowing with lush, sensual imagery... [an] undeniably beautiful fantasy.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This heavily atmospheric story will transport readers into the Night Market and tickle their senses... [a] magical dream that will transport fans of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince and Sarah J. Maas.\"  - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A stunning tale of self-acceptance, family, and liminal spaces.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJacqueline Koyanagi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A luminous debut. \u003cem\u003eStar Daughter’s \u003c\/em\u003esparkling coming-of-age tale of transformation and love is among the best kinds of fantasy: one that reminds us to reach for the stars while keeping our feet firmly on the ground.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFran Wilde, Nebula Award-winning author of The Bone Universe series and Riverland\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A dreamy, diasporic, diverse fantasy. A story about stars, yes—and about family, friends, falling in love, and finding your voice, your place. \u003cem\u003ePlaces. \u003c\/em\u003eA shimmering debut.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTanuja Desai Hidier, author of Born Confused and sequel Bombay Blues\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eStar Daughter\u003c\/em\u003e is a love letter to every desi girl wanting to believe in her own magic.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTanaz Bhathena, author of A Girl Like That and Hunted by the Sky\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A wondrous delight, Shveta Thakrar’s debut is a feast for the senses.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCindy Pon, author of Want and Serpentine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Thakrar has crafted a charming book that feels like discovering an enchanted garden. Indian folklore and legends are expertly woven into the modern troubles of her two lovingly-rendered protagonists. This is a story to cuddle up with and follow along as Ridhi and Nilesh venture through a lush and verdant world to find a place where they truly belong.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunya Mara, author of The Darkening\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A gorgeously written tale of magic and family, of finding and fighting for your place, \u003cem\u003eStar Daughter\u003c\/em\u003e has a heart that shines as brilliantly as its celestial court.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eS. A. Chakraborty, author of the bestselling Daevabad Trilogy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Shveta Thakrar’s writing shines as bright as any star.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLaura Sebastian, New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Princess series\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Luminously beautiful, with a mythic heart.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Absolutely magical. Thakrar weaves her words so tightly around you that you are completely immersed in her world, a victim of its lyrical starsong.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEllen Oh, author of the Prophecy series and editor of A Thousand Beginnings and Endings\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Radiant. Readers will be enchanted by Sheetal and the starry court.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“The Dream Runners\u003c\/em\u003e is a novel greater than the sum of its (already vast and sparkling) parts—an emotionally resonant and supremely satisfying read.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCamille DeAngelis, Alex Award–winning author of Bones \u0026amp; All\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eStar Daughter\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Take a journey to the heavenly courts in this luscious, shimmering fantasy, so dripping with beauty and imagination you’ll want to eat it with a spoon.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"My favorite tales are the ones that sneakily draw you out of one world and slip you into the next. This is one of those. I emerged from \u003cem\u003eStar Daughter\u003c\/em\u003e dusted with constellations and wonder. Thakrar's imagination is a feast for the senses.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRoshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen and The Gilded Wolves\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Absolutely magical and captivatingly lyrical.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shveta Thakrar's prose is as beautiful as starlight.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHolly Black, New York Times bestselling author\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An enchanting story about love, family, finding your voice, and searching for home. Thakrar’s sparkling command of language weaves magic on every page. This book is a joy, and will speak to anyone who yearns to belong.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eClaire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn and Kingsbane\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A magical debut full of wonder, wit, myths, and adventure. Reading Thakrar's words is like swimming through the most beautiful imagination—every page is a delight.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNatasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A lush fantasy.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Multifaceted characters, a splash of romance, and complex, intriguing worldbuilding deliver an engaging fantasy read.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Nothing short of dazzling.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Full of wonder and enchantment. Thakrar has crafted an excellent story about the power of the younger generations to carve their own path amidst the traditions and expectations of their elders.”  - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shveta Thakrar spirits you away to a richly imagined dream of a fantasy!” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eXiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Utterly unique, \u003cem\u003eThe Dream Runners\u003c\/em\u003e uses magnificent world-building to explore how much of our own stories we can change.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44890808090853,"sku":"NP9780063255265","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780063255265.jpg?v=1730234143","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/divining-the-leaves-isbn-9780063255265","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}