[(Whispers in the Classroom Voices on the Field)] [ By (author) Richa Jha ] [May, 2012]

by Richa Jha

School! A splendid institution. It tells you about what’s around you while helping you explore what lies within. It brings you face-to-face with personal triumphs and failures, frictions and forgiveness, rivalry and team-work, lifelong friendships and heart-rending partings. And more. School, in short, is a complete life coach. Whether you are still at school, passed out eons ago, there is something uncannily familiar for everyone in this anthology.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Richa Jha is an Indian author, blogger, publisher and picture book enthusiast. She is an independent creator of picture books in English under her PICKLE YOLK BOOKS imprint. Her website SNUGGLE WITH PICTURE BOOKS (http://snugglewithpicturebooks.com/) is the only online platform in India dedicated to picture books. It contains reviews of mostly Indian (but also international) picture books.

She is the author of six picture books and has edited WHISPERS IN THE CLASSROOM, VOICES ON THE FIELD(Wisdom Tree), a bestselling YA anthology of short stories on school life which entered the Limca Book of Records 2013 for being the first book in India to have a song penned especially for it. Her book 'The Susu Pals' was shortlisted for the Raymond Crossword Award 2014 in the children's category and won a third place in the popular RivoKids Parents and Kids Choice Awards 2015. Her latest releases are 'Thatha at School', 'Vee Loved Garlic' and 'Love Like That'.

Reviews

[Hoppy Agarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology of short stories, few of them are really good.

[Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful anthology of short stories, taking the reader down the memory lane of his school days. All of us have some story to tell, some anecdote to share, memories to revisit from the institution where we end up spending a considerable chunk of our life. There is a story that tells us about a man's surreal experience on the eve of his class reunion many years later in life, making him realise how seemingly small gesture may mean a lot to someone. Then there is the story of an overweight and lonely girl who just wants to be 'normal', while the supposedly 'normal' classmates have every quality that one should not have. In yet another story a girl amazes her classmates and her teachers, and indeed herself, with the beauty of nature's machinations. There is something for everyone in this anthology, and though the writing is deliberately lucid and simple for young adults to enjoy, it is beautiful enough for everyone to read. Highly recommended.