Welcome Readers!

Our 2026 Online Reading Challenge is … KNOW YOUR HISTORY! Each month we will be reading about a different observance month and highlighting a main title about that month.

For August, we are learning about South Asian Heritage Month. We are celebrating the diverse cultures of people from the South Asian countries of Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. We are reading books by Indian and South Asian authors.

Here’s a quick summary from the publisher:

Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him—he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it’s a rumor that just won’t die.

It turns out that being known as a “self-made” widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It’s even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry.

Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her “expertise,” making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal.

And not all of them are asking nicely.

With Geeta’s dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she’s built—but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village.

Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff’s The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won’t soon forget. – Ballantine Books

Looking for some other books that are written by Indian and South Asian authors? Try any of the following:

• Amal unbound / Aisha Saeed.
• Between the mountain and the sky : a mother’s story of love, loss, healing, and hope / Maggie Doyne with Shannon Lee Miller.
• The breadwinner : a graphic novel / based on the original book by Deborah Ellis ; adapted from the feature film directed by Nora Twomey, produced by Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions.
• Crossing the finish line / story by Thushanthi Ponweera ; art by Maithili Joshi.
• Milloo’s mind : the story of Maryam Faruqi, trailblazer for women’s education / written by Reem Faruqi ; illustrated by Hoda Hadadi.
• The seven moons of Maali Almeida : a novel / Shehan Karunatilaka.
• Yasmeen Lari, green architect : the true story of Pakistan’s first woman architect / written by Marzieh Abbas ; illustrated by Hoda Hadadi.

As always, check each of our locations for displays with lots more titles to choose from!