Trouble in the Tea Gardens: A Middle-grade Mystery Set in Darjeeling | Ages 10+

by Mitali Perkins

A tale of mountains and tea gardens, of a brave girl and a yellow dog—and a thief who is clever . . .

Set in a tea plantation in Darjeeling, this is the story of Sona, a twelve-year-old Nepali girl. Life is challenging as she has to master English quickly to get a scholarship and fulfil her dream of studying in a good school. Meanwhile, there is constantly the challenge of finding enough drinking water and worrying about her brother finding a job to support the family.

But things get extra difficult when her friend Tara's gold goes missing. Sona must use all her wits in order to prove it wasn’t her beloved brother, Samiran Daju, who stole it.

‘A page-turner that’s richly threaded with social conflict.’ –Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, India, Mystery Thriller, Childrens, Juvenile, Friendship

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Mitali Perkins has written many books for young readers as well as a couple for adults, including You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for the National Book Award) Rickshaw Girl (a NYPL best 100 Book for children in the past 100 years, film adaptation at rickshawgirlmovie.com), Bamboo People (an ALA Top 10 YA novel), and Forward Me Back to You, which won the South Asia Book Award for Younger Readers. Her newest novel, Hope in the Valley, received five starred reviews and was selected as a Best Book for Young Readers by Kirkus and Book Page. She currently writes and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area: mitaliperkins.com.

Reviews

[Vrinda's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

☕✨🌿 A charming mystery and beautiful slice-of-life story set in the tea plantations of Darjeeling, India. Reading this story took me back to my childhood days and my love for reading mystery books! The themes touched upon in this book were culturally relevant, and thoughtfully presented. It was refreshing to read a story rooted in my homeland.

"It's a shame that English is so revered in a country that fought so hard to be independent from the British. India is beautiful because of our many cultures and languages."

🌿 Culturally, the book brought out an emphasis on languages and how it can connect people. It also infused native words making it more authentic. India is a culturally and linguistically diverse nation. Here, through Sona's background and experiences, we see the influence of Nepali, Bengali, Hindi & English.

🌿 The story follows young Sona, as she tries to uncover the mystery of who stole the gold jewelry of her friend Tara. The story also brought out the challenges and struggles faced by the tea plantation workers in their day to day lives. It highlighted poor management by the current land owner and the lack of proper distribution of basic resources.

🌿The bond between Sona and her brother Samiran Daju was very sweet. Her family and the strong sense of community were portrayed wonderfully. Kaki was such a strong and bold figure. And the English teacher was lovely - the kind that leaves an impact on a student's life!

The mystery itself was well done, and the journey of Sona seeking the truth was engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and will definitely be checking out more titles by the author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary e-arc of this story. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate how Perkins consistently uses her voice to draw attention to cultural challenges faced by others. This mystery whisks us away to a tea plantation in Asia with the plight of underpaid workers and the many difficulties they face, including food and water scarcity. It’s a beautiful story about loyalty, truth, justice, dreams, and hope for better days.

[Deepa Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Julia Pika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and easy to read story. I really like the culture being expanded on in the story, instead of being an afterthought. The protagonist and other townsfolk were interesting, it was overall a very sweet and optimistic story.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new story by Mitali Perkins features a strong 12-year-old Nepali girl, Sona, who, despite her poverty, is also strong, brave, and sympathetic to her Bengali friend Tara, who is locked up by her uncle, the local greedy tea plantation manager. He hopes to marry her off to get her inheritance of golden jewelry. Sona often climbs a tree to help rescue Tara's parrot, but the story unfolds when Tara no longer appears. Courageous Sona seeks answers even in the middle of some nights when it's not safe to be out. One added worry is that her brother, Samiran Daju, has been accused of being a thief earlier. Sona worries that he could be accused again. The story holds just enough anxious moments for young readers to hold their breath as they turn pages faster, hoping for Sona's safety and the mystery to be resolved. They'll also enjoy new looks at a different culture, including languages, and a few illustrations by Maithili Joshi add to the story's illumination.
Thanks to Charlesbridge for my copy!

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle grade mystery set in India that includes strong cultural references that make this story unique! Sona is a strong, resilient character who believes in exposing the truth as she seeks the solution to the mystery!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sona, a Nepali girl, lives in the mountains near Darjeeling, India. Her father has passed away, and her mother picks tea for the greedy owner of a plantation, Banerji, to support Sona and her troublesome older brother, Samiran. Samiran has taken out loans to set up a food stand, since he is a good cook, but got into trouble. No one will buy from him, and he's finding it hard to get work to repay the loan. Sona is studying for exams so that she can further her education at the Darjeeling International School on a scholarship. Sona occasionally lurks outside the windows of Banerji's house to hear his son being tutored by Sir, and has made friends with Banerji's orphaned Bengali niece, Tara. Tara is older, but enjoys Sona's company. She confides in Sona that her Uncle is arranging a marriage for her, and using the gold jewelry her parents left her as her dowery. While Sona feels that arranged marriages can be good, she wants her friend to be able to make her own choices. When the gold goes missing, Sona works behind the scenes to try to find it for her friend. Her life is hard enough, since she must go every day to a broken pipe to get water, and Banerji is giving the workers a hard time. Getting involved with the local police, and having to sneak around town looking for clues is a tremendous challenge. When the head tea picker, Kaki, is accused of stealing, Sona knows that she must find a way to clear her name.
Strengths: I'm an enormous fan of Perkins' work, since it often sheds light on the conditions of everyday life in other countries. (Tiger Boy , Bamboo People, and Rickshaw Girl.) My students often complain about "having" to go to school, and don't seem to understand how fortunate they are. Seeing Sona work so hard on her studies in order to have the opportunity to get more education is something that is helpful for my students to see, as is her hard work at getting water and caring for her family. The class differences between Sona and Tara are shown, but it's good to see that they are still friends. The mystery is rather light, so the book is a quick read. There's a very satisfying ending, with Banerji getting his comeupance and a lot of improvements being made to the community that will benefit Sona and her family.
Weaknesses: It would be helpful to have some more information about the different ethnic groups and why they are in India. We have a small population of Nepali students at my school, but many of my students won't understand why Sona and her family are in India, since they don't keep up with the US news, much less what is going on in other countries.
What I really think: This is a good choice for Readers who enjoyed Saeed's Amal Unbound or Butterworth's Running on the Roof of the World, and had some similarities to Menon's A Mystery at Lili Villa. Upper elementary students, as well as middle school students who want an interesting, shorter book, will enjoy this slice-of-life mystery.

[Kiranmayi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sona, a twelve-year-old Nepali girl lived with her mother and her elder brother Samiran Daju in Darjeeling; her brother struggled to run his small eatery or find a new job as his love affair with a neighbor’s daughter ended with him being branded wrongly as a thief. Sona’s mother worked as a tea plucker at a local tea estate which gave her family free accommodation of their tiny house.

Sona is preparing to clear an English exam which will help her get a scholarship; though fluent in Nepalese, Bangla and a bit of Hindi, Sona struggled to self-prepare for this English exam. The extreme shortage of water in her locality also meant Sona spent considerable part of her day waiting in long queues, fetching water from a local spring and using it sparingly for all daily needs. If Sona failed to clear the English test, she had to join her mother’s profession, which motivated her to work extra hard for the exam.

Tara di shifted to Sona’s neighborhood to stay with her uncle after Tara lost both her parents during Covid pandemic. Tara’s uncle is referred as goonda by the local people as he worked as a supervisor at the tea estate and behaved rudely with everyone. When Tara’s ancestral gold is stolen from her house, fingers are pointed at Sona’s neighbor Kaki and Sona’s brother Samiran Daju. Will Sona be able to find the real culprit and clear names of Kaki and her brother forms the rest of the story.

The story traces the life of a young girl in a small town who had multiple challenges but still showed resilience, presence of mind, integrity and honesty when situation arises. The story perfectly depicts life in a small town — how people help and support each other as a community, how personal relationships and trust are more valued than money.

Sona’s search for the lost gold is also well designed by the author — it is not just blind search for something valuable, as Sona uses her wit to handle each search in a different manner, while being brave. The story also highlights the class difference — when gold or anything valuable is missing, how the families from lower financial backgrounds are easily blamed, overlooking the greedy individuals from richer families; locals struggled for daily water but tourists at hotels had enough water to waste or swim in.

The story also showcases Sona’s dilemmas between friendship and family and how she takes sensible decisions at a young age. The backdrop of Darjeeling is not just atmospheric but also highlights the local problems. With themes of community, friendship, family and resilience, Trouble in the Tea Gardens is a good read for young kids.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sona’s family, originally from Nepal, lives near a Darjeeling tea plantation in India where her mother works. Sona is a good student, and hopes to pass the English exam so that she can win a place at the Darjeeling International School. But her family is poor and can’t afford a tutor. And Sona worries about her mother, who works long hours at the plantation. A bright spot in her life is her friendship with Tara, who is the niece of a Bengali manager at the plantation. He would not like Tara fraternizing with Sona if he knew about it. Tara confides in Sona that her uncle is going to marry her off to an older man, using her own gold jewelry as a dowry. She is bereft about the cruelty of being used in such a business transaction. When all of the gold jewelry goes missing, Sona is determined to figure out who the thief is.

The rich setting is integral to this mystery. There are many details about Nepali cultural mores and expectations and the social structure of Indian society. Sona hopes to help her family out of poverty by going to the International School and earning money as a teacher. Tara hopes to use her jewelry to buy the abandoned plantation and to start a cooperative. Both girls are have challenges, and the mystery of the stolen jewelry throws a wrench into their plans for self improvement. Readers will enjoy the cultural immersion as well as the excitement as Sona methodically but surreptitiously investigates all of the possible suspects and their motives. She is an intrepid investigator, using her smarts and patience to solve the mystery. Although the theft doesn’t happen until halfway through the book, tension ramps up beforehand as the little family of Sona and her mother and brother try to survive. Kids will learn about the extreme divisions of labor and business in India, about the plight of foreign workers and about arranged marriage. Occasional black and white artwork helps to bring the story to life. This short (114 pages) book has double-spaced print, making it accessible to younger readers.

[Deotima Sarkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in the Tea Gardens
Mitali Perkins places her story amidst the steep, mist-wrapped slopes of Darjeeling, yet it is through the interior landscape-a young girl learning to hold her ground-that *Trouble in the Tea Gardens* deeply mines its rich terrain. Sona, twelve years old, Nepali by heritage, fiercely observant by nature, lives a life stitched together by hardship and small hopes: a mother who plucks tea for long hours; a brother struggling beneath gossip and debt; a scholarship whose future depends on an English exam that feels just out of reach.

A beautiful, improbable friendship forged in the unspoken spaces of a plantation hierarchy between Sona and Tara-love it. Tara's uncle is trying to raise a dowry for her marriage using the gold jewelry she has inherited. When that gold goes missing, the accusation falls swiftly on those with the least protection: Sona's brother and Kaki, a respected head tea picker. It's painfully believable injustice, and Perkins doesn't dilute its sharpness.

The mystery unravels, not with flourishes of drama, but through Sona's quiet, reflective bravery: slipping out at night, piecing together fragments of whispers, following bits of clues, and uncovering truths that adults would wish to remain hidden. Along the way, this novel provides an intimate portrait of village life in the mountains, drawing out a truth from such a beautiful, majestic place that we love to visit: water shortages, class divides, the multilingual hum of Nepali, Bengali, Hindi, and English, and the quiet dignity of people doing their best with too little.

Perkins's writing remains accessible for young readers, yet layered enough to reveal how power operates in small communities: who is heard, who is blamed, who is safe enough to speak. And Sona-who often feels younger than twelve in her innocence-grows convincingly into her own resolve.

Trouble in the Tea Gardens is a gentle mystery shaped by resilience, community, and the stubborn belief that truth, however small, is worth fighting for.

[Enakshi J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trouble in the Tea Gardens is a quietly powerful middle-grade novel that blends mystery with social realism, set against the misty slopes of Darjeeling’s tea plantations. At its heart is Sena, a twelve-year-old Nepali girl whose everyday struggles—learning English, fetching water, worrying about her brother’s future—are rendered with warmth and credibility. Perkins writes Sena not as a symbolic child-hero, but as a thoughtful, observant girl negotiating a world stacked with small injustices.

The central plot—the disappearance of a neighbour’s gold and the suspicion that falls on Sena’s brother, Samiran Daju—unfolds steadily, allowing tension to grow organically. What elevates the story is how the mystery is never isolated from its setting. Issues of class, language, migration, and power dynamics within plantation life are woven seamlessly into the narrative. Adults mistrust easily, rumours travel fast, and truth becomes complicated when survival is at stake.

Perkins’ writing style is simple but precise. The prose is accessible for younger readers yet layered enough to invite reflection. Dialogues feel natural, and sensory details—the chill of the hills, the crowded water queues, the watchful eyes of neighbours—anchor the story firmly in place. Sena’s courage lies not in grand gestures but in persistence, observation, and moral clarity, making her a compelling protagonist.

The pacing occasionally slows, particularly in the investigative stretches, and some secondary characters could have been developed further. However, these minor lapses are outweighed by the book’s emotional honesty and thematic depth.

Overall, Trouble in the Tea Gardens is more than a mystery—it’s a thoughtful exploration of belonging, justice, and growing up in a world where being heard is not guaranteed. It invites young readers to look beyond blame and ask harder questions about fairness, courage, and community.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some gold jewelry goes missing and Sona decides to solve the mystery. The gold is the dowry that is left to her best friend, Tara, when her parents died, and has been in the family for ages. Her uncle planned to use it to get her married off to an old geezer, but Tara doesn’t want to marry him, or anyone else.

There are many suspects, and the Sona goes through the logic of who might have stolen it, and questions them.

This is an interesting sort of mystery, set in the background of a tea plantation in Darjeeling. The reader has the same clues that Sona does, as we go through each possible suspect.
The nice thing about this mystery is that while there is a deadline, and bad things could happen, and while the story holds these bad things over our heads, as the story progresses, the story resolves without any of the really bad things happening to Sona, although there are some scares.

This sort of mystery is perfect for beginning readers, because while they can be scared along with Sona, they won’t get too turned off to not want to read the story. I know when I was beginning to read, and it is true even today, if I feel there is going to be a bad outcome before the good finale, I will stop reading it.


So, good quick read. And the reader gets to learn about tea plantations, and the hard life therein.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 7th of October 2025.

[Varsha Seshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 atars
When I started reading Trouble in the Tea Gardens by Mitali Perkins, I was struck by how similar several elements were to Tiger Boy. An intelligent small-town child capable of winning a scholarship to get a better education, a teacher with the child’s best interests at heart, a power-hungry, avaricious person in authority … I wondered if I was going to enjoy another story that followed the same lines.

But soon enough, I realised that the similarities end there. The mystery in Trouble in the Tea Gardens is gripping, and I love how everything ties up as the story goes on. A pacy read, I was soon thoroughly invested in the characters, eager to know how the story would play out.

Set in Darjeeling, Trouble in the Tea Gardens is a slim book weaves together a range of serious themes with subtlety and nuance. The protagonist Sona is the daughter of a Nepali tea plantation worker. Through her eyes, we see the complex structure of a society comprising Tibetans, Nepalis and Bengalis. Even within the Banerji family, which supposedly has the power, it is only the patriarch who truly wields authority. His niece Tara is as much at his mercy as Sona’s family.

Through blossoming friendships, a desire to cross boundaries and the struggle to do the right thing, Sona has our heart. In her quest for truth, she remains fiercely loyal, sensitive and brave, making us root for her until the very end of this satisfying middle-grade mystery.

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sona is a 12 year old Nepali girl whose widowed mother works on a Darjeeling tea plantation while her brother seeks work, hoping to clear his name after a false accusation. Life is hard for the family, so Sona is studying hard to pass an English exam that will allow her to continue her schooling with a prestigious scholarship. Tara, the niece of the miserly plantation manager, is about to be entered into an arranged marriage with her valuable inheritance being offered by her uncle. When the jewelry goes missing, the uncle makes false accusations, and Sona knows she must find the truth to protect everyone.

Perkins’ mystery is cozy and wholesome, and will be lapped up by readers who like stories with no ambiguities and happy resolutions. If I still taught 5th graders, I would add this to my classroom library as I think it would best be enjoyed by 4th and 5th grade girls.

[Jill Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle Grade Fiction. Contemporary/Mystery. India. Sona, 12, and her older brother live with their mother on a tea plantation. Their mother is a tea plucker. She works long hours. Sona collects water, if it is flowing, twice a day. She is also preparing for an English exam. She enjoys visiting her friend, Tara, 18, who is the plantation manager’s niece. Tara’s uncle is trying to arrange her marriage to an older man. She has inherited gold necklaces, bracelets, and rings. One day the jewels go missing and the uncle is mad. Who took the jewelry? I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the story and the difficult life of tea plantation workers. I found the story confusing at times. It would have been helpful to have a glossary for words. Also a basic map of India. Rate 3.5. Recommend grades 4-7.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery story is set in Darjeeling where the famous tea is harvested. The protagonist is 12 yr. old Sona, whose mother works on a tea plantation while Sona attends school and studies English. When a collection of gold jewelry goes missing, Sona tries to find the thief, solve the mystery, and clear her older brother from suspicion.
The text is quite simple, chapters are short, and the story moves along well. The book would have benefited from a glossary--there are so many foreign words in Tibetan, Nepalese, and Bangla with unfamiliar letter combinations that readers may become discouraged trying to pronounce and understand from context. A map of the setting would also be helpful.
Fountas and Pinnell reading level: U

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sona, a 12 year old girl from the working class of Darjeeling, has befriended an older girl, Tara, who happens to be the niece of the manager of the tea plantation. Sona sneaks up to Tara’s room to chat and also listen in on the teacher’s lessons in the next room. One day, Tara’s jewelry goes missing and the last person to see it was Sona, but she can’t tell them because she will get into trouble for being in the manager’s house.
This very quick read will draw in readers who appreciate descriptive, rich writing, and they will stick around for the mystery as it unfolds. My one critique is that Sona comes across as much younger than 12. 3.5 stars

[Our_readingjourney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sona is a 12 yr old Nepali girl who is working hard in order to get a scholarship to fulfill her dream of studying in a good school inspite of her family esp her brother's struggles.
But when her friend Tara's gold goes missing Sona must use all her wits to prove that it wasn't her brother who stole it.
.
Ms Ks thoughts - I really liked it. the mystery was good and I wanted to know the culprit. I also enjoyed the pictures in the book and came to know more about the local people and their region. Sona was a very determined girl and she never gave up esp to find the truth and worked hard in school. I loved reading her the most.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm amazed at how much is packed into this short book -- tea picking culture, the lives of Nepalese and Tibetans in Darjeeling, so many languages and a huge amount of kindness. I enjoyed the loving relationship that Sona has with her brother and mother. Delighted by how much Samiran Daju enjoys cooking. There's a tidy mystery and some excellent messaging about women's rights to their property. Good characters living a hard life and dreaming of better things. The short page count and large lettering made me think that this would be a book for beginning readers, but the story and vocabulary are quite sophisticated.

[Jenni Enzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very hard to find middle-grade mysteries that are gentle for readers who don't like or aren't ready for a lot of violence (or for high-achieving readers who are still quite young). This book fits the bill with a family centric mystery about stolen jewelry, beautiful friendships, a loyal dog, and a rich cultural setting. I learned so much about the cultivation of Darjeeling tea and life near a plantation. I particularly found the mix of different cultures and social statuses fascinating.

This would be a lovely addition to a morning basket or geography unit about India.
If you'd like to read my full review, it's on my blog: https://bit.ly/4rlGi1g

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in the Tea Gardens is such a heartfelt and engaging story. It takes you straight to the beautiful tea gardens of Darjeeling where twelve year old Sona is trying her best to balance school exams family worries and her own hopes for the future.

Sona wants to win a scholarship and works hard for it, but when a valuable piece of gold goes missing in her community everything becomes complicated. No one blames her brother but Sona quietly begins to wonder if he might be involved. This tiny fear grows inside her and the story beautifully shows how confusing it can be when you love someone yet feel unsure about their choices.

The book captures life in a tea garden town so well. You see friendships kindness hard realities and the strong bond between family members. Sona feels real and relatable because she is brave but also scared at times just like any kid would be.

The mystery keeps things exciting, but the real magic is how the story talks about trust honesty and understanding the people we love.

A warm thoughtful and easy to read middle grade mystery that young readers will enjoy.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple mystery story for younger elementary school readers that gives a window for American children on life on a Darjeeling Tea Plantation. I enjoyed the tea background. The story was certainly enlightening in its portrayal of the poor conditions for the workers and had an empowering message for girls and women. The mystery was rather conveniently solved but featured the kindness and thoughtfulness of the main character and the community she created around her. The sprinkling of other languages added flavor but a glossary would have been useful.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the electronic review copy of this book. This is a well-written middle grade mystery with relatable characters and interesting, rich setting (Darjeeling tea plantation). It is a quick read with wide appeal. Readers will learn about Nepali culture, customs, and ways of work and life. This book is suitable for upper elementary and middle school readers who would like a shorter book to read.

[Stevie Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! My only gripe is that the ending all came together without a hitch and I wanted a little more struggle or fear just to make the ending all the more satisfying.

rep: Nepali MC, Bengali side characters

tw: theft, arranged marriage, imprisonment

[Stven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming story for younger readers in which kindness pays dividends and obstacles fall by the wayside more easily than in real life. It still turns out to be about the frustration of oppression by money and by tradition.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story!

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting is intriguing and I learned more about the various cultures and norms in India in this short book.The book will appeal to those who want a short and good read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that the illustrations looked like Meena. Also I want to go to Darjeeling now.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many reasons I love this middle-grade novel:
- It's deeply anchored in its Indian setting; there are no non-Asian characters.
- It does not feel exotic; Sona is relatable to young preteen girls even if their life circumstances are very different.
- Perkins does a great job of introducing difficult subjects like arranged marriages and unfair labor practices in an age-appropriate way. At the same time, this is a book I can recommend to teen readers who aren't confident in English, and they will have deeper understandings of many of the issues mentioned. They won't feel this is too young for them.
- The mystery is not too easily solved. At one point, I did guess who the thief was but I was never sure (and actually had another suspect higher on my list.)
- The story is hopeful and fun.
- The book is longer than a chapter book but short enough to not be off-putting for less able readers.

I'm always looking for good books for the global libraries I work with and this fits the bill. It looks like it will be the start of a series. I certainly hope so!

Review based on a digital ARC received through NetGalley.

[Amy S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A can't-put-it-down mystery set near Darjeeling, India, the book also makes a wonderful travelogue, and is tied together with themes of otherness, honor and family. Sona, a twelve-year-old Nepali girl, wants to go to school. She has already earned a scholarship, but needs to pass the English exam and English is hard. She pushes herself to get to the well early so that she can move around the village and listen to other people's English classes. When the necklace goes missing, Sona realizes she's seen everyone involved. Sona and the whole village need to know what happened, but what will the truth cost?
Reviewed from ARC distributed by Charlesbridge.