Race to the Floating Islands

by Payal Doshi

Dragon Girls meets Love Puppies in this new chapter book series starring a group of friends who protect animals with magical gemstones!A little sparkle goes a long way! Friendship is power. No one knows that more than the Gems, a magical community of kids who get their powers from sparkling gemstones. Imara is an Air Gem who helps care for animals who fly. When a young bird needs Imara's help to reunite with its family, she jumps at the chance to prove herself. But can she do enough to earn her pink moonstone?

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Payal Doshi has an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The New School, New York. Having lived in India, the UK, and US, she noticed a lack of Indian protagonists in global children’s fiction and one day wrote the opening paragraph to what would become Rea and the Blood of the Nectar, her debut middle grade novel. The novel is the recipient of the IPPY Gold Award. Her short story, A Confluence of Fates, can be found in the YA Anthology, My Big, Fat, Desi Wedding published by Page Street in February 2024. When she isn’t writing stories that champion brown joy and celebrate her South Asian heritage, you can find her nose deep in a book with a cup of coffee or daydreaming of fantasy realms to send her characters into. For more information, visit her website, www.payaldoshiauthor.com, or follow her on Instagram @payaldoshiauthor and on Twitter @payaldwrites.