Highlights
Children's author Bijal Vachharajani's latest YA fiction ‘Savi and the Memory Keeper’ is a deeply moving, witty, and a thoughtful story about trees and the climate change. The book was Shortlisted for the AutHer Awards 2023.
The story follows a teenage girl named Savi, who is grieving the loss of her father. Savi is forced to move to Shajarpur with her mother and sister, to live in her father’s old house. As if moving to a new town wasn't enough, at her school's eco-club too she is made fun of since she doesn’t know much about plants or trees. That's when Savi decides to take care of her father’s plant and, in the process, she finds herself bestowed with an unusual power-- to be able to talk to plants! She can foresee scenes from the future, and also see the past-- which changes her life forever.
‘Savi and the Memory Keeper’ is a heart-warming tale which highlights some of pressing issues like global warming, weather change, and deforestation. Vachharajani has weaved these issues together through an engaging and emotional story. It also touches upon themes of the desire to fit in, loss of a parent and how children learn to grieve. Its not just young readers but adults too, who would enjoy reading this heart-warming story.
How critics view the book:
Jairam Ramesh- MP, former Union Minister and author- said about the book, "A story that deals with climate change, personal grief, and the recuperative powers of nature… I came away profoundly moved"
Jerry Pinto said, "A book of magic….when you’ve finished, you’ll want to go out and hug a tree. (just do it)".
