Such Great Heights

by Rajani LaRocca

Siya Kumar is done with liars.

Part of the reason Siya joins her school’s mock trial team is to honor the memory of her mother, a lawyer who was killed in a car accident when Siya was just ten years old. Her mom always told her that the truth is like a flame that burns away lies.

When Raj Raghavan, varsity soccer star and mock trial co-captain, seems interested in Siya, it feels too good to be true. Everything is golden until an overnight team bonding session, when Siya accidentally gets locked in a room with another guy until dawn. Even though Siya swears nothing happened, she doesn’t feel like Raj believes her.

At the same time, the details of the mock trial case are suspiciously similar to the circumstances of her mom’s death—which leads Siya to wonder if it was really just a car accident that took her mother’s life.

From award-winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a contemporary retelling of the Ramayana that asks whether seeking the truth is always right thing to do. Sometimes, is the past better left behind?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young people, including Red, White, and Whole, which won a 2022 Newbery Honor, the Walter Dean Myers Award, Golden Kite Award, and New England Book Award. Her other books include: Midsummer’s Mayhem (2019), Seven Golden Rings (2020), Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers (2021), Much Ado About Baseball (2021), Where Three Oceans Meet (2021), My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris (2021), The Secret Code Inside You (2021), I'll Go and Come Back (2022), and more. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. To connect with Rajani and learn more about her and her books visit her at www.RajaniLaRocca.com and on Twitter and Instagram @rajanilarocca.

Reviews

[Florence Migga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this story included bits of the Ramayana in it. I got the opportunity to learn the traditional story and then got to see it applied in Siya’s life. I think this will be great for teens to think about and maybe apply to their own life stories. This was a well-done coming-of-age story that is unique and packed a lot of deep themes into a fun to read story. All the characters were well done, and I only have one specific question that never got answered. Someone find me when you read it so you can tell me! Maybe I missed it?! 🤣

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of eARC from Edelweiss

Rajani LaRocca has written fantasy and NIV for middle grade readers (Sona and the Golden Beasts, Mirror Mirror and Red White & Whole) and with Chris Baron has also written for those in early elementary school. Now, she brings her talents to grades 9-12 with a high school drama that loosely aligns with the Indian tale of Prince Rama and his love Sita with themes of truth, perseverance through adversity and staying true to who you are.

Siya was on her high school’s mock trial team as a researcher during her freshman year, but this year she is determined to earn an attorney slot and be only the second sophomore to do it. Competition is stiff and several juniors and seniors stand between her and a position that will get her that much closer to her long held goal of becoming a lawyer as determined to serve others in their quest for justice as her mother was until her untimely death 6 years ago. Readers will be immersed into not only the intense preparation and competition of being on a mock trial team but the drama between team members as well as the mystery of the similarities between the trial specifics and Siya’s mother’s fatal car accident on an icy road when she was in the 4th grade. Siya’s quest for truth and her quickly developing romance with one of team captains coincide with the themes of love and truth in the legend of Rama and Sita and provide asides between chapters centered on the contemporary romance and mock trial season. Also key in the story arc are the relationships between Siya and her older sister and father.

So much to love about LaRocca’s first YA novel! As in her middle grade works, the depth of the main characters’ emotions is heartfelt and realistic and with several different scenarios and personalities represented, most readers will easily find connections to their own lives. The romance between Siya and team captain Raj is at times sweet, at others passionate, and at still others, conflicted and don’t all those things ring true to high school?

*Target age: grades 8-12
*Profanity: only 3 instances with 1 being an F-bomb
*Sexual content: only kissing with one instance when a button on Siya’s shirt is undone but is quickly redone
*Representation: Siya and Raj are Indian American and their food and celebrations are incorporated into the novel seamlessly; mock trial team co-captain Tessa is identified as dancing with her girlfriend at a teammate’s party and in another scene introduces her girlfriend to the team.
*Alcohol: Teammate Lorenzo hosts a party at his home while his parents are away and alcohol is consumed by many of the high school students present.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Such Great Heights was an underwhelming read for me. While the novel explores important themes of justice, doing what is right, and coming of age, I never felt fully invested in the story or its characters.
The protagonist, Siya, is still grieving the loss of her mother, who died in a tragic accident during a record freeze. Inspired by her mother's career as a lawyer, Siya hopes to follow in her footsteps and is determined to earn a larger role on her school's mock trial team. When Rajani, the head counsel, takes an interest in her, a relationship begins to develop alongside the mock trial storyline.
One of my biggest issues with the book was that I kept expecting there to be a larger mystery or deeper conflict to uncover. Several plot points felt like they were building toward something significant, but the story ultimately remains a straightforward work of realistic fiction. Readers looking for a quiet, character-focused coming-of-age story may appreciate that approach more than I did.
Unfortunately, I never felt like I got to know the characters particularly well, which made it difficult to connect with their struggles and victories. The storyline itself also felt somewhat thin, leaving me wanting more depth and development.
I listened to the audiobook and generally liked the narrator's voice, although at times the delivery felt a bit robotic.
Overall, Such Great Heights has positive messages about integrity, perseverance, and finding your own path, but the story didn't have the emotional impact or depth I was hoping for. It may appeal to readers who enjoy realistic fiction and school-centered stories, but it wasn't a standout read for me.

⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Such Great Heights was an underwhelming read for me. While the novel explores important themes of justice, doing what is right, and coming of age, I never felt fully invested in the story or its characters.
The protagonist, Siya, is still grieving the loss of her mother, who died in a tragic accident during a record freeze. Inspired by her mother's career as a lawyer, Siya hopes to follow in her footsteps and is determined to earn a larger role on her school's mock trial team. When Rajani, the head counsel, takes an interest in her, a relationship begins to develop alongside the mock trial storyline.
One of my biggest issues with the book was that I kept expecting there to be a larger mystery or deeper conflict to uncover. Several plot points felt like they were building toward something significant, but the story ultimately remains a straightforward work of realistic fiction. Readers looking for a quiet, character-focused coming-of-age story may appreciate that approach more than I did.
Unfortunately, I never felt like I got to know the characters particularly well, which made it difficult to connect with their struggles and victories. The storyline itself also felt somewhat thin, leaving me wanting more depth and development.
I listened to the audiobook and generally liked the narrator's voice, although at times the delivery felt a bit robotic.
Overall, Such Great Heights has positive messages about integrity, perseverance, and finding your own path, but the story didn't have the emotional impact or depth I was hoping for. It may appeal to readers who enjoy realistic fiction and school-centered stories, but it wasn't a standout read for me.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Siya lives on the East Coast with her father, a software engineer. Her older sister, Asha, is in college, and her mother was killed in a car accident when she was in fourth grade. Her best friends are Max and Grace, who stood by her after her mother’s death. Now in high school, Siya wants to win a position as an attorney on the Mock Trial team after previously serving as a researcher. Also on the team is Raj, whom she thinks is attractive. She does make the team as an alternate, but when another member drops out, she gets her wish and is the fourth attorney. The case proves to be a difficult one, since it bears more thana passing resemblance to her own mother’s death. There were no questions about her mother’s single car accident on a snowy night, but the Mock Trial case paints the woman who died as having personal and professional troubles as a lawyer, and the insurance doesn’t want to pay because the death is treated as a suicide. In trial competitions, Siya sometimes has to argue that the insurance company should NOT have to pay out. This leads her and Raj to try to find out if the case really was meant to reflect her mother’s reality, and leads to some family secrets being revealed. Raj, whose mother is a state senator, is hard to date because of the public scrutiny he is under; at one point, unflattering pictures of the two are published, and someone even locks Siya and another team member under the stage in order to get compromising pictures. Along with the story, we see a parallel look at the traditional Indian tale of Rama and his wife Sita, as well as transcripts of Mock Trial testimony. Siya has a lot of family issues to unpack as the Mock Trial team heads to the state semifinals.
Strengths: Other than Holms’ Sunny takes the Case, I can’t think of any other books with Mock trial teams, so this was interesting. The plot is developed well, and the layers of history are unveiled in an interesting way. The parallels to the story of Rama and Sita will appeal to those who like legends. The best part about this was the romance between Siya and Raj, and I loved how they were able to be on the team together and respect each other. There aren’t a lot of twists to the mystery, but it is revealed slowly and realistically.
Weaknesses: While the legal case aspects of this were interesting, this book might appeal more to high school readers who have more knowledge about Mock Trial. There is a tiny bit more mature content; one f-word, some alcohol consumption at a party (neither Siya nor Raj drink), and some light petting. Personally, I felt that Siya should have left well enough alone, and knowing the family history, her father should have encouraged her NOT to participate in the case. Some secrets are better left buried.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like young adult books with family problems and legal issues, like Myers’ classic Monster, Haddix’s Full Ride or Morgenroth’s Jude.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such Great Heights is an upcoming YA novel dealing with grief, healing, and uncovering the truth. The book follows Siya, a sophomore in high school who is passionate about justice and who wants to be a lawyer on her school’s mock trial team. Despite her excitement about joining the team, Siya is quickly disturbed by the details of the case file they are handed, which mimics details eerily similar to the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. While Siya is struggling to keep a professional distance between herself and the case, she also develops a romance with the captain of her mock trial team, Raj Raghavan, and the two quickly form a deep bond. Mirroring the story of Sita and Rama in the Hindu epic The Ramayana, Siya’s story explores the depths of a daughter’s love for a deceased mother, combined with her desires to honor her memory and seek justice for those around her. The main characters are Indian-American, and the supporting cast are either identified as being of South Asian descent or white.  

I really enjoyed this book, and felt that the author did an excellent job portraying grief and healing from Siya’s perspective. LaRocca represents mental illness accurately, especially in showing how certain conditions can be hereditary. The treatment of Siya’s sister Asha’s depression by her family was very refreshing, and it was so important to show how supportive and encouraging they were of her receiving treatment. The presence of Siya’s mother, Lalita, haunts the narrative in a very Twin Peaks-like way, and LaRocca successfully shows how much impact her mother had on not only her family, but on the community around her as well. I found the use of her death as the basis for a mock trial case compelling, not just as a catalyst for Siya’s investigation, but also as a critique of how true crime often sidelines the victim’s family, reducing real tragedies to loosely fictionalized entertainment. The supporting cast of characters, from Siya’s family to her friends on the trial team, was a great addition to the story. The book also does a great job of incorporating mock trials into the story, and illustrating their actions for readers who may not be familiar with their format. The melding of  Sita and Rama’s story with The Ramayana was intriguing, and I appreciated the insertion of sections from the original text between chapters to make the parallels clearer to readers. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I enjoy this author's books so much, and when I started this one, I realized that I had previously associated LaRocca's writing with MG (and sometimes even younger). This novel definitely skews YA, and I enjoyed this unexpected turn (based on my previous experience, not unclear marketing) and the final product very much.

Siya is navigating many typical elements of high school, but like all of us, it's complicated. There's definitely more happening under the surface with this character. A huge factor in Siya's development is the loss of her mother. Siya has lived with this pain for years, but new questions arise as her mock trial team begins working on a case that has some suspicious similarities in circumstances. The connections make Siya wonder if she's been told only the truth and all of it. Much of the book focuses on this motif of dealing with loss, exploring unanswered questions, and coming to terms with the humanity of our parents.

Siya's remaining family members offer their own layers, including her complicated father and her older sister, who has been away at college but makes multiple guest appearances here. Siya becomes increasingly interested in what these two might be hiding from her, too.

A central focal point of this novel is the romantic subplot, and for me, this was the least arresting area of Siya's development (though it's still done well and compelling - just for me not as engaging as her friendships and family ties). It's interesting to watch her navigate this relationship in general and with various uncertainties in mind (keeping this vague on purpose). Any experienced reader will expect folks who seem so perfect to be covering big flaws, but watching a younger character root that out is particularly gratifying.

LaRocca integrates some tough themes and motifs and manages to offer readers a combination of insights into tough experiences, empathy for those going through them, and hope that relationships can be repaired and grace can be offered. I really enjoyed these characters and their journey, and I will add this book to the long list from this author that I already recommend to students.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, and I think my teen students in grades 8-10 will enjoy and relate to it as well. The mc, Siya, is thoughtful and hardworking, yet realistic, and she reminded me of some of my students. Some students will (sadly) be able to relate to the grief she feels over the loss of her mother, which is portrayed sensitively. Other students would deeply connect to the pressures of mock trial, and others would be drawn to the romance plot.

I was intrigued by the mystery - was the mock trial case inspired by Siya’s mom’s death?! - but I wanted a bit more of a juicer ending. Another question was left unanswered (no spoilers), which felt true-to-life, but I also wanted a resolution to that question instead of a realistic conclusion. In terms of genres, “Such Great Heights” could conceivably be shelved under romance, mystery and realistic fiction…in my school, it would get the most attention under romance. The romance itself is fairly chaste - while there are on-the-page kisses, other activities are merely implied, to a close reader.

Overall - I 100% recommend this story and I look forward to purchasing it for my school library once it is released this summer. Thank you to Rajani LaRocca for generously gifting me this copy at the MSLA conference! It will go into a student’s hands next!

[S. N. Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ALC of this book from NetGalley. These thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
This YA novel follows Siya, a girl who wants nothing more than to make the mock trial team at her school, in memory of her mother, a lawyer who died in a car accident when she was little. But when she makes the team, things take an uncomfortable turn when the mock case they'll be arguing this year, has too many parallels to her mother's death.
I loved how Siya's character both learns and grows throughout the story. I also loved that the tale of Ramayana had similarities to what Siya was going through! It was interesting to learn more about some of the stories that are part of Hinduism.
No language, no spice, kissing only.

[Lua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siya knows what she wants: to excel at mock trial, in part to honor the memory of her lawyer mother, who passed away when Siya was little. But her team’s case bears an eerie resemblance to the circumstances of her mother’s death, and with her relationship to one of her mock trial teammates complicating matters, she begins to question what she thought were some big truths in her life.

I really enjoyed this book. Siya is both likable and realistic, and while the dramatic events of the storyline sometimes push the bounds of credulity, it’s an excellent exploration of what can happen when what we believe to be true is turned on its head, and that sometimes going through difficulties and disillusionment is necessary to see the truth and begin to approach the world as it really is.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such Great Heights
by Rajani LaRocca
A book about coming of age. The story shows how a young Indian American girl deals with the loss of her mother. The ideals of her future. And the grief of her widowed father. With many strong role models this book is needed in the increasingly diverse school environment. It shows Indian culture and its adaptations to American society. How accepting your past is the only way to continue your future.

[Karianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest qualm with this book is how much of the plot is given away by the synopsis and it blows some things out of proportion. That aside, this is a powerful story about a girl learning about her family, her culture, and herself. Very well done. Touches on many important topics about integrity and friendship. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Siya’s story kept me hooked with friendship and family issues related to her school’s mock trial team. There were lots of turns and twists that I didn’t expect!

[Ella :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from ARC read for youth advisory board.

This contemporary read offers an enthralling story about love, loss, and the bitter truth. Expertly weaved together with the story of the Ramayana, “Such Great Heights” promises to leave you on the edge of your seat with a mock-trial mystery, too closely aligned with the main characters past, unraveling.

Thank you Mermaid books!