Mitali Perkins's Blog

"Featuring an endearing, resolute protagonist, this expertly plotted story will enthrall readers," said Kirkus Reviews. Releasing October 7, 2025 from Charlesbridge Publishing, THE GOLDEN NECKLACE: A DARJEELING TEA MYSTERY comes with an online glossary and educators' guide. I'll be on the road for a few events discussing the book and you're invited to join me and ask tough questions, as always.

 

"Featuring an endearing, resolute protagonist, this expertly plotted story will enthrall readers," said Kirkus Reviews. Releasing October 7, 2025 from Charlesbridge Publishing, THE GOLDEN NECKLACE: A DARJEELING TEA MYSTERY comes with an online glossary and educators' guide. I'll be on the road for a few events discussing the book and you're invited to join me and ask tough questions, as always.

 

 You're invited! Please come if you're in the San Francisco Bay, Boulder, or Boston areas!

Excited to share the cover for THE GOLDEN NECKLACE: A DARJEELING TEA MYSTERY, my novel for upper elementary readers releasing October 7, 2025 from Charlesbridge. This beauty was designed by illustrator Maithili Joshi, and will be shimmering with gold foil touches in the final book.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Set within a tea plantation in Darjeeling, 7-10-year-old readers are transported across the world to a politically and culturally rich setting, following our brave heroine, Sona.

Sona, a 12-year-old Nepali girl, has struck up a friendship with Tara, the niece of the greedy tea plantation manager who has promised Tara’s hand in marriage in order to get his hands on her inheritance of precious jewelry. Then Tara’s golden necklace goes missing. The search is on for the culprit, and Sona must use all her wits in order to prove it wasn’t her beloved brother, Samiran Daju, who stole it.

I'm excited to share the beautiful book design of JUST MAKING: A GUIDE FOR COMPASSIONATE CREATIVES, coming May 5, 2025 from Broadleaf Books. This nonfiction guide for adults who want to persevere in creativity is available for pre-order now.

 

You're invited, Bay Area friends! On September 23, 2024 at 4 o'clock in the afternoon at Rakestraw Books in Danville, California, I'll be reading aloud my newest picture book, a collaboration with Naveen Selvanathan from Macmillan Books called BETWEEN MY HANDS. Samosas and sweets will be served! Find out more here, and if you can't make the event but want a personalized copy, order one before the event via Rakestraw Books at 925-837-7337 and I'll sign it before they mail it out.

Here I am trying to imitate the hairstyle Naveen gave Maya in the book. Did I succeed?

The reviews coming in for the book are so encouraging!

"Perkins conveys a meaningful message. She seamlessly interweaves multiple storylines in just a few words, telling a layered tale using simple, child-friendly language, aided by Selvanathan’s vibrant, detailed illustrations...Proof that even the smallest hands can wield giant power." —Kirkus

"This charming book will have children holding love in their hands; a must-have for any social-­emotional collection." —School Library Journal

"Selvanathan's illustrations of Maya's multicultural urban home and community have a sturdy solidity and are suffused with a golden warmth projected onto the brightly colored scenes...A beautiful book that readers will relate to and think about." —Booklist

Isn’t she the cutest? I’m delighted to introduce you to Maya and her quest to be useful in a big world. Thanks to Naveen Selvanathan for the incredible artwork and to the team at Macmillan FSG.  BETWEEN MY HANDS is coming 9/17/24 but you may pre-order it now.

My first novel about an eighth-grader, The Sunita Experiment , came out three decades before my newest novel about an eighth-grader, Hope in the Valley.

My publishers over at Macmillan asked me to film a video about my hopes for my new novel, so here it is.

 

My newest literary offering, HOLY NIGHT AND LITTLE STAR, is a picture book for the upcoming Christmas season. Illustrated by the marvelous Khoa Le, the book tells the story of a small star who likes to twinkle quietly above the horizon for newborn lambs. One night, when Maker invites her to join a glorious galactic dance in an event that will change history, Little Star has to muster her courage to accept the invitation.

If you'd like a personalized copy of this book (perfect Christmas present!), I'll be at three bookstores this fall, so feel free to order over the phone and I'll sign when I'm there. Also, if you're anywhere near Franklin, Tennessee, Boulder, Colorado (an event for my novel, HOPE IN THE VALLEY, but copies of the picture book will be on hand), or La Cañada Flintridge, California (a joint event with the brilliant Nikki Grimes, author of LULLABY FOR A KING), please join me in person! It would be a delight to see you.

Thursday, October 5, 2023, 3-5 p.m. | Tennessee reading and signing | Landmark Booksellers | 114 East Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064 | 615-791-6400

Sunday, October 8, 2023, 4 p.m. | Colorado signing and conversation with author Claudia Mills | Boulder Bookstore | 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado | 303-447-2074

Saturday, November 25, 2023, 11 a.m.. | Southern California reading and signing | Flintridge Bookstore | 858 Foothill Blvd. La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 | 818-790-0717

Goodreads is giving away 20 copies of HOPE IN THE VALLEY. Enter here .