ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Kavi is 10 years old but has lived a lifetime. Her father died shortly after coming home from war, her mother remarried quickly, and Kavi is left alone to manage her grief and confusion. The story is set in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the civil war, which serves as a backdrop to this riveting novel in verse. Kavi's only source of stability is her education, and when she wins a scholarship to an elite school in the city, she has the chance to reinvent herself in her new environment ly, she chooses a problematic way of doing so. Ponweera employs spare but descriptive verse that perfectly captures the inner turmoil of a young girl wading her way through the complexities of family, friendship, identity, and emotions. Rich details of life in a middle school in Colombo add texture and nuance. Readers will find her story engaging and the resolution quite satisfying.

Horn Book (Thu Sep 07 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

At ten years old, Kavi has already experienced her share of trauma and heartbreak. Her father spent a decade at the front lines in the Sri Lankan civil war and returned to their rural home an amputee, only to die of a sudden heart attack. Kavi's mother remarries and becomes pregnant, leaving a still-grieving Kavi certain her mother no longer loves her. When she earns a scholarship to a prestigious school in the capital city, Colombo, Kavi jumps at the opportunity but soon feels ashamed of her poor, rural roots in a school full of wealthy city kids. The novel, set in the late 1990s, is a superb study of the Sri Lankan class system and the lengths to which someone might go to fit in. Convinced she will have to change to make friends with the rich "cool" girls who have fancy new clothes, cars, and servants, Kavi pretends to be wealthy and creates a web of lies she soon gets caught in, ultimately revealing what really matters. A moving coming-of-age story written in verse about understanding and embracing who you truly are. The war acts as a highly charged political backdrop to Kavi's struggles to accept her family. Back matter provides context on the Sri Lankan civil war; in an author's note, Ponweera reflects on her own experiences growing up during the war. Julie Hakim Azzam

Kirkus Reviews

One Sinhalese girl's story set during the late 1990s amid the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war.Ten-year-old Kavi isn't happy, and she hasn't been happy for some time. Her father came home from years of fighting but only because he lost his leg. Then, shortly after Thaththa died, her mother remarried. Kavi's left with no father and a distracted mother who can't understand that no one can replace Thaththa. Her one solace is school; in fact, Kavi does so well academically that she wins a scholarship to attend school in the big city of Colombo. She isn't sure she wants to go live with her maternal aunt who works as a maid in a rich family's house, but it might be better than staying at home. The city is completely different from Kavi's village, and even as she struggles to fit in, she finds unexpected friendships and explores new experiences. But ultimately, Kavi's future will depend on the consequences of one mistake and whether she can remain true to herself. Told in accessible, economical verse, this novel explores Kavi's day-to-day struggles against a backdrop of civil war and social inequality. Though her problems at times seem insurmountable, this is ultimately a reassuring story of friendship, family, and finding solutions.A serious and relatable tale of everyday life intersecting with and diverging from the realities of war. (historical notes, glossary) (Verse historical fiction. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Exploring friendship, family, and grief against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war, Ponweera’s debut, a stirring novel in verse, traces a 10-year-old’s desire to fit in. In May 1997, Kavi lives in a village in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District with her mother, Amma, who works in the paddy fields, and her step-father, Siripala, whom she worries will replace her late father’s role in their family. Kavi tries to be a “good Buddhist girl” and a “good Sinhalese girl,” and dreams of achieving academic success so she and Amma can leave for the city. But when Kavi scores highest in her district, now-pregnant Amma cannot accompany her to Colombo for further schooling. Living with her aunt, who works as a housemaid, Kavi dreams of being like her “happy, fearless, popular” peers, and begins telling elaborate lies to fit in. The lies help her find acceptance from her peers, but they come at a cost—to Kavi’s grades, her values, and her sense of self. Amid a historical setting informed by classism, colorism, and colonization, short reflective phrases and vivid cultural details bring out the nuanced story’s emotional depth and show the devastating impact of war on Kavi and her loved ones. Back matter offers historical context. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jacqui Lipton, Raven Quill Literary. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 5 Up —Set in 1998, this novel-in-verse details an eventful year in the life of a 10-year-old Sri Lankan girl. Kavi's father returned from the long-running civil war, maimed and unable to provide for his family. He dies of a sudden heart attack, and Kavi is shocked when her widowed mother (Amma) remarries. Kavi resents her stepfather, Siripala, and feels displaced when she learns that Amma is pregnant. Kavi wins a coveted scholarship to study at a better school in the capital city, Colombo, but her triumph feels bittersweet. In Colombo, Kavi stays with her unmarried aunt, Mala Nanda, who works as a maid for a wealthy family. Kavi grows close to their daughter, Sasha, and chauffeur, Ranjith. At school, she lies about her background to win acceptance with the most popular girls in her class. This backfires when her new friends ask her to help them cheat on an exam, and she risks losing her scholarship. Kavi's perspective is na&9;ve yet thoughtful as she sorts through new situations and challenges. In Colombo, terrorist attacks leave innocent victims dead and wounded; Kavi struggles to understand the senseless random violence. As she adjusts to city life, she misses Amma but finds solace in her core values as a Sinhalese-Buddhist. VERDICT This engaging, character-driven tale will appeal to readers who enjoy novels-in-verse, and fans of Padma Venkatraman, Rajani LaRocca, and Nizrana Farook's books.—Marilyn Taniguchi