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Such Great Heights
“Captivating. Themes of honesty and integrity permeate an intelligently wrought narrative filled with unforeseen twists.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
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 the right thing to do. Sometimes, is the past better left behind?
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 the right thing to do. Sometimes, is the past better left behind?
Audible Audio
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Rajani LaRocca
37 books583 followersRajani 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 22, 2026
3.5 Stars (rounded up)
One Liner: A pretty decent YA read
Siya Kumar joins her school’s mock trial team to honor her mother’s memory. She was a lawyer killed in a car accident, and no one seems to tell Siya the truth.
Varsity soccer star and mock trial co-captain Raj Raghavan’s interest in Siya looks too good to be true, and soon, they become a couple. But it’s not all rosy and colorful for the couple. Siya also realizes that the mock trial case is eerily similar to the case her mother was fighting when she died. Was her death really an accident?
The story comes in Siya’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
I’ve read the author’s middle-grade book and liked the premise for this (her first young adult work). By the way, the blurb reveals too much. One event doesn’t even happen in the first half!
The cover is terrific! I wish she had a tiny stone bindi. It would have enhanced the shades even more.
Despite the clues, I didn’t realize that the book takes some of its inspiration from Ramayana, but in a different way. It also blends multiple elements: family drama, teenage friendships, young love, Indian American families, being in the spotlight, and secrets.
The FMC’s mother died in an accident six years ago, when the girl was just ten years old. However, the mother’s presence is a huge part of the book.
I’m not fully familiar with how US schools work, but the idea of mock trials and kids practicing mock cases and learning to argue convincingly for both sides appealed to me (rather amusing that the political sides are anything but this).
The pacing is on the slower side, but the story doesn’t drag. There’s something or the other going on. The FMC is pretty good, but has enough flaws to act like someone her age. That said, I love that she wants her father to be happy.
Not sure we have an MMC because Raj, for all the ticks on the checklist, doesn’t really make an impact. I also couldn’t vibe with what was probably supposed to be their cute love story. I felt nothing, tbh. It just wasn’t rooted enough to feel tangible. Maybe if his character was established a little more before the love track took off, it might have helped.
The book also provides a summary of the Ramayana as interludes that go in parallel with the FMC’s personal life. An interesting concept and pretty well executed. A note to readers who don’t know the itihasa: This is a very broad and simplified summary. Towards the end, I was drafting a long paragraph in my mind about Sita, but it became unnecessary as the author said what made me happy. Still, I’ll add my bit here.
Sita is not a meek victim as many people like to declare. She is literally a goddess. Her strength is in her choice to be a true life-partner, to be a single parent, and to return inside the belly of the earth (which was where she came from) after exposing the hypocritical thought process in society. Unfortunately, people prefer to show her patience as the example of a perfect woman rather than the mirror she held that made them uncomfortable.
Quite a bit of drama takes place in the last quarter, and some of it was what I was rather hoping wouldn’t happen. It did bring more complexity and realism to relationships, though. I did guess who was plotting against the FMC. I just wish they got some comeuppance for it.
Still, I liked the ending. It leaves a hopeful note, but the FMC has grown and proved it, which is the core of what the story wants to show. But was the key question answered? I don’t think so.
To summarize, Such Great Heights has good potential and would work better for many readers, especially the older YA age group. I hope the author writes a sequel set a decade later or so. It would make a solid adult romance.
Thank you, NetGalley and Quill Tree Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SuchGreatHeights
*
Oh, by the way, I hope the ‘work wife’ and ‘work husband’ nonsense has really not entered high schools too. It is bad enough to see in the office culture. Thankfully, it is not a global trend yet (and I hope it never becomes).
One Liner: A pretty decent YA read
Siya Kumar joins her school’s mock trial team to honor her mother’s memory. She was a lawyer killed in a car accident, and no one seems to tell Siya the truth.
Varsity soccer star and mock trial co-captain Raj Raghavan’s interest in Siya looks too good to be true, and soon, they become a couple. But it’s not all rosy and colorful for the couple. Siya also realizes that the mock trial case is eerily similar to the case her mother was fighting when she died. Was her death really an accident?
The story comes in Siya’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
I’ve read the author’s middle-grade book and liked the premise for this (her first young adult work). By the way, the blurb reveals too much. One event doesn’t even happen in the first half!
The cover is terrific! I wish she had a tiny stone bindi. It would have enhanced the shades even more.
Despite the clues, I didn’t realize that the book takes some of its inspiration from Ramayana, but in a different way. It also blends multiple elements: family drama, teenage friendships, young love, Indian American families, being in the spotlight, and secrets.
The FMC’s mother died in an accident six years ago, when the girl was just ten years old. However, the mother’s presence is a huge part of the book.
I’m not fully familiar with how US schools work, but the idea of mock trials and kids practicing mock cases and learning to argue convincingly for both sides appealed to me (rather amusing that the political sides are anything but this).
The pacing is on the slower side, but the story doesn’t drag. There’s something or the other going on. The FMC is pretty good, but has enough flaws to act like someone her age. That said, I love that she wants her father to be happy.
Not sure we have an MMC because Raj, for all the ticks on the checklist, doesn’t really make an impact. I also couldn’t vibe with what was probably supposed to be their cute love story. I felt nothing, tbh. It just wasn’t rooted enough to feel tangible. Maybe if his character was established a little more before the love track took off, it might have helped.
The book also provides a summary of the Ramayana as interludes that go in parallel with the FMC’s personal life. An interesting concept and pretty well executed. A note to readers who don’t know the itihasa: This is a very broad and simplified summary. Towards the end, I was drafting a long paragraph in my mind about Sita, but it became unnecessary as the author said what made me happy. Still, I’ll add my bit here.
Sita is not a meek victim as many people like to declare. She is literally a goddess. Her strength is in her choice to be a true life-partner, to be a single parent, and to return inside the belly of the earth (which was where she came from) after exposing the hypocritical thought process in society. Unfortunately, people prefer to show her patience as the example of a perfect woman rather than the mirror she held that made them uncomfortable.
Quite a bit of drama takes place in the last quarter, and some of it was what I was rather hoping wouldn’t happen. It did bring more complexity and realism to relationships, though. I did guess who was plotting against the FMC. I just wish they got some comeuppance for it.
Still, I liked the ending. It leaves a hopeful note, but the FMC has grown and proved it, which is the core of what the story wants to show. But was the key question answered? I don’t think so.
To summarize, Such Great Heights has good potential and would work better for many readers, especially the older YA age group. I hope the author writes a sequel set a decade later or so. It would make a solid adult romance.
Thank you, NetGalley and Quill Tree Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SuchGreatHeights
*
Oh, by the way, I hope the ‘work wife’ and ‘work husband’ nonsense has really not entered high schools too. It is bad enough to see in the office culture. Thankfully, it is not a global trend yet (and I hope it never becomes).
August 16, 2026
I enjoyed this book until the end. I don’t necessarily agree with the choice Siya made. I don’t want to give too many spoilers but I think she should have chosen differently. I get that sticking to your morals is important but so is supporting a team that’s depending on you. As a teacher, I don’t do whole class punishment because it’s not fair to the students who didn’t misbehave. Siya punished her entire team for one person’s actions. Up until then, I loved this book, especially how we get to see their Indian culture. I teach in a very diverse area with many families from India as well as the rest of South Asia and the Middle East so I’m always looking for books that include their cultures because I want them to feel represented in my library. The ending makes me sad but I’ll still add it to my classroom library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for the arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for the arc.
September 19, 2026
Loved this so much!!
May 22, 2026
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?! 🤣
October 2, 2026
3.5 rounded up. This was a realistic young adult read. And while I didn’t love the fmc, I did like the character growth.
September 20, 2026
What I liked: representation of Indian culture, a little mystery to keep the plot moving, strong female MC. What I didn’t like: slow moving at times, the love interest really annoyed me, so self-important, but I guess HS girls fall for that IRL…
July 6, 2026
⭐⭐☆☆☆ (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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
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.
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.
September 2, 2026
I learned a ton about the Southeast Asian culture and the world of mock trial. The FMC (10th grader) and her friends and teammates were realistic and fun. I did not like the love interest—he creeped me out. Intertwining the Ramayana story as well was really effective. Great for 8th grade (13/14) and up.
January 19, 2026
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, his love, Sita, and 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 those in 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.
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, his love, Sita, and 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 those in 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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
August 14, 2026
Such Great Heights was a decent YA (perhaps more middle grade) entry. Rajani LaRocca’s writing style made Siya’s story compelling enough for my perception of the novel to change a bit. That is, originally, I felt ambivalent about Siya— I wanted to love her, but honestly, felt little emotion. Siya’s personality skewed a bit stereotypical and her internal conflict regarding her mother did nothing to sway me. In my opinion, Siya’s dearth of interests outside of mock trial increased my skepticism of her character and hampered her relatability. However, as the plot neared its end and she grappled with the twists in both her academic pursuits and her home life, I warmed to her more.
Perhaps my indifference is/was due to the fact that it seemed as though LaRocca wanted Such Great Heights to have more of an impact than it did. For example, while Sita’s and Rama’s tale was interesting and I enjoyed the interstitial breaks in the plot, I couldn’t see the threads of connection until the novel’s end. Moreover, upon reflection, I never truly felt as though Siya needed to learn who she was; her sense of identity seemed intact and known throughout the novel. As an aside, I also didn’t understand the choice in title— was it a reference to the success the mock trial team would have, or how much Siya was supposed to grow as a person?
Despite my opinion of Such Great Heights, I am sure it will appeal to many young readers, especially those who are of South Asian descent. As someone who shares this heritage, I know my pre-teen self would have appreciated reading a novel like this one and would have felt empowered by Siya’s final choices. In the end, maybe that’s what matters most— that the readers of Such Great Heights feel seen.
Thank you very much to Quill Tree Books, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2026
Excellent!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A retelling of the story called Ramayana which is the tale of Sita and Rama. Rama was a prince. Sita, his wife was kidnapped after living in exile away from Rama's brother. They used a monkey king to help defeat the kidnappers and their celebration is around the holiday of Diwali.
While I don't know much more than that and there are sections intertwined in LaRocca's book about this, a few connections including the celebration of Diwali are present as well as a romance between Siya and Raj that comes together as their Mock Trial team has their case for the school year and Siya is given a seat on the team- picked over several of Raj's inner circle. But what throws off Siya is that the case mirrors her mother's story-- a lawyer who died in a one-car accident on an icy road. The case is that it was determined to be suspected suicide (for the money) and the insurance didn't pay out because of that. Siya starts asking questions about her mom and the "real" story even though the cases are just "cases" and not necessarily based on true stories. What Siya gets for truth by the end of the book is more than what she bargained for which is a parallel story to her romance with Raj including questioning his intentions and ethics at several key points in the story.
It's unique in that there is a lot that focuses on how Mock Trial is run from how the cases are given, how they're prepared and graded for each school, and how the school team works together-- a lot of work goes into it. This is the foreground of Siya's high school life that becomes almost obsessive in some ways when she asks harder questions about her mother's law career. A lot of moving parts but not necessarily overwhelming and secrets that get uncovered by the end. Sustained my interest throughout- evenly paced.
While I don't know much more than that and there are sections intertwined in LaRocca's book about this, a few connections including the celebration of Diwali are present as well as a romance between Siya and Raj that comes together as their Mock Trial team has their case for the school year and Siya is given a seat on the team- picked over several of Raj's inner circle. But what throws off Siya is that the case mirrors her mother's story-- a lawyer who died in a one-car accident on an icy road. The case is that it was determined to be suspected suicide (for the money) and the insurance didn't pay out because of that. Siya starts asking questions about her mom and the "real" story even though the cases are just "cases" and not necessarily based on true stories. What Siya gets for truth by the end of the book is more than what she bargained for which is a parallel story to her romance with Raj including questioning his intentions and ethics at several key points in the story.
It's unique in that there is a lot that focuses on how Mock Trial is run from how the cases are given, how they're prepared and graded for each school, and how the school team works together-- a lot of work goes into it. This is the foreground of Siya's high school life that becomes almost obsessive in some ways when she asks harder questions about her mother's law career. A lot of moving parts but not necessarily overwhelming and secrets that get uncovered by the end. Sustained my interest throughout- evenly paced.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
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!
August 31, 2026
Read because I went to SLJ TeenLive!Conference and the author pitched her book in one of the sessions. Also recognized the author's name from some middle-grade books and picture books, so was curious to see her YA work. Felt kind of meh about this work - there were some things that were well done and some things that didn't work for me.
Would maybe recommend for younger half of YA (13-15) who enjoy stories about South Asian culture/myths, familial grief, finding out the truth, romance (the romance was bleh), and finding your identity as a 10th-grader. I do feel like this book can be for younger half of YA because the author could have made things more heavy, sinister, graphic, and darker, but didn't, which I appreciate.
Yays: The mock trial element of the book was well done - easy to follow, great concept, and supports the author's intent in exploring the nature of truth and truth-telling. I also really enjoyed the use of the story of Rama/Sita and the parallels of Sita's story to the South Asian myth of Sita. I like how Sita is driven by the desire for truth and for justice for others, that she has a passion for being a lawyer and helping others just like her deceased mom. I enjoyed learning more about Sita and her mom as Sita remembers her and pieces together things from the mock trial case. I like how Sita wants the happiness of all her family members - her dad and Asha, her older sister. I appreciated the exploration of family relationship and their complexity - how Sita acknowledges there are thing she may not have known about her mom, how her dad tells her he had an affair but that he was trying to work things out with her mom and her mom was coming home to talk with him before she died, and how Asha found out and was wrestling through it. I like how Sita made very realistic decisions based on her character - she calls lawyers involved with coming up with her mock trial case and pretends to be her journalist best friend Grace interviewing them for a school paper when she's really trying to find out if any of the lawyers knew her dead mom and wrote the case about her mom. I was like GIRL you could put your WHOLE TEAM in jeopardy with that move AND ALSO you're LYING when you're so passionate about THE TRUTH!! She also chooses to ignore her friends Grace/Max when she thinks they're dating. She quits the mock trial team when they advance to state finals because she feels their win was not rightly earned. She's not perfect and she makes some questionable/debatable decisions. I enjoyed that aspect of Sita's character. I loved the references to South Asian culture - the food and the clothes and brief mentions of different celebrations like Diwali! I had to Google the food mentions because they are not described in the book, but I liked that about the work (it didn't take me out of the book and felt very natural). Also a weird thing to be yay about, but I feel like the book captured well how relationships between genders can be in high school - the author leaves Sita's relationship with Max (one of the best friend trio) and Raven (hot bad boy type who comes from a single-parent family) a bit open/ambiguous intentionally - Sita doesn't show signs of crushing on them, but there are potential hints they think Sita is interesting, so that made some of the interactions different. I was thankful this book only had kissing in it and nothing more and felt relatively clean in description (or maybe I just got bored and skipped through it, but I feel like it wasn't too graphic compared to some other works for the same age).
Nays: I didn't feel very much for the characters; most of the characters felt under-developed. I was just eh about Grace and Max and Asha and Raven and the other random mock trial people. I thought Lorenzo (boyfriend Raj's bestie) was gonna be a problem and that it was going to get messy, but I'm relieved it didn't and it kept this book on the younger YA side in not being creepy. Raj did not have a personality and I didn't like the way he acted (he just kissed her a lot, made sure they were positioned for some good publicity for his senator mom, and while he did apologize for the mistakes he made and made them right, he was all "I need you" and "I love you" to Sita, and I was like eeeeh this is not really the message I want to give teens about romance, thanks, it's a little too desperate and insta-love based on physically attraction for meeee). He's "hot" and "Mr. Perfect" and leaders of the mock trial + soccer team, but like...there was not very much to him in terms of feelings/substance. His family - his high doctorate dad plus his senator mom and the big party they threw at their house lol - really threw me out of the book because it didn't feel realistic or like it would happen to Sita, but idk. Basically I had no interest in this romance and did not feel like it was...romantic. I feel like a lot of plot-lines or things that were important to Sita did not resolve well either and did not have the impact that was intended. Asha's depression, for example, is not as fleshed out as it could be when the two sisters talk to each other about their father's previous affair, especially after Sita spends a lot of thoughts in the book thinking about how she didn't look out for Asha when her sister got depressed over her besties hooking up behind her back. The mock trial team lock-in at school happens over halfway into the book and I thought the locked-in-a-room scene was going to be bigger and at the beginning instead, but it was very anti-climactic and not super important to the plot at all, despite being mentioned in the book blurb ??? The whole we-have-a-traitor-in-our-midst for whoever keeps taking the private photos of Raj/Sita kissing seems like it would be a big part of the plot, and then Tessa just confesses to it at the end of the book and Sita is just fine with it???? There are no repercussions about it ?????? The social media usage in this book feels unrealistic with not including all the hate Sita would have gotten online, but it does keep the work more positive by not including it, so...idk. I also did wish that each chapter had started with a small blurb about Rama/Sita consistently throughout the work instead of just starting halfway through the book - it would have made the parallels to the story that much stronger. I understand it's because Sita's paper on Rama/Sita doesn't start until part-way through the work, but I felt like it could have been introduced earlier. I would have appreciated the book consistently having Sita grow in her identity - it felt a bit rushed at the end of the work, so the conclusion about her "And I know who I am" didn't hit me very hard.
Cursing. Underage drinking at a party. Lots of kissing but no sex and no sex implied, no graphic descriptions - pretty clean, which I appreciated. One instance of Raj unhooking Sita's blouse but he immediately hooks it back. One instance of Sita locked in a room with Raven and she changes into his hoodie, but it doesn't get weird. Lesbian representation (Tessa and Heather). Covers different family dynamics - single parent, dead parent, affair, absent parent, loving but famous parents, etc. Includes a scene of panicking when Sita realizes the mock trial case is similar to her mom's death. Showcases grief over a parent death.
Would maybe recommend for younger half of YA (13-15) who enjoy stories about South Asian culture/myths, familial grief, finding out the truth, romance (the romance was bleh), and finding your identity as a 10th-grader. I do feel like this book can be for younger half of YA because the author could have made things more heavy, sinister, graphic, and darker, but didn't, which I appreciate.
Yays: The mock trial element of the book was well done - easy to follow, great concept, and supports the author's intent in exploring the nature of truth and truth-telling. I also really enjoyed the use of the story of Rama/Sita and the parallels of Sita's story to the South Asian myth of Sita. I like how Sita is driven by the desire for truth and for justice for others, that she has a passion for being a lawyer and helping others just like her deceased mom. I enjoyed learning more about Sita and her mom as Sita remembers her and pieces together things from the mock trial case. I like how Sita wants the happiness of all her family members - her dad and Asha, her older sister. I appreciated the exploration of family relationship and their complexity - how Sita acknowledges there are thing she may not have known about her mom, how her dad tells her he had an affair but that he was trying to work things out with her mom and her mom was coming home to talk with him before she died, and how Asha found out and was wrestling through it. I like how Sita made very realistic decisions based on her character - she calls lawyers involved with coming up with her mock trial case and pretends to be her journalist best friend Grace interviewing them for a school paper when she's really trying to find out if any of the lawyers knew her dead mom and wrote the case about her mom. I was like GIRL you could put your WHOLE TEAM in jeopardy with that move AND ALSO you're LYING when you're so passionate about THE TRUTH!! She also chooses to ignore her friends Grace/Max when she thinks they're dating. She quits the mock trial team when they advance to state finals because she feels their win was not rightly earned. She's not perfect and she makes some questionable/debatable decisions. I enjoyed that aspect of Sita's character. I loved the references to South Asian culture - the food and the clothes and brief mentions of different celebrations like Diwali! I had to Google the food mentions because they are not described in the book, but I liked that about the work (it didn't take me out of the book and felt very natural). Also a weird thing to be yay about, but I feel like the book captured well how relationships between genders can be in high school - the author leaves Sita's relationship with Max (one of the best friend trio) and Raven (hot bad boy type who comes from a single-parent family) a bit open/ambiguous intentionally - Sita doesn't show signs of crushing on them, but there are potential hints they think Sita is interesting, so that made some of the interactions different. I was thankful this book only had kissing in it and nothing more and felt relatively clean in description (or maybe I just got bored and skipped through it, but I feel like it wasn't too graphic compared to some other works for the same age).
Nays: I didn't feel very much for the characters; most of the characters felt under-developed. I was just eh about Grace and Max and Asha and Raven and the other random mock trial people. I thought Lorenzo (boyfriend Raj's bestie) was gonna be a problem and that it was going to get messy, but I'm relieved it didn't and it kept this book on the younger YA side in not being creepy. Raj did not have a personality and I didn't like the way he acted (he just kissed her a lot, made sure they were positioned for some good publicity for his senator mom, and while he did apologize for the mistakes he made and made them right, he was all "I need you" and "I love you" to Sita, and I was like eeeeh this is not really the message I want to give teens about romance, thanks, it's a little too desperate and insta-love based on physically attraction for meeee). He's "hot" and "Mr. Perfect" and leaders of the mock trial + soccer team, but like...there was not very much to him in terms of feelings/substance. His family - his high doctorate dad plus his senator mom and the big party they threw at their house lol - really threw me out of the book because it didn't feel realistic or like it would happen to Sita, but idk. Basically I had no interest in this romance and did not feel like it was...romantic. I feel like a lot of plot-lines or things that were important to Sita did not resolve well either and did not have the impact that was intended. Asha's depression, for example, is not as fleshed out as it could be when the two sisters talk to each other about their father's previous affair, especially after Sita spends a lot of thoughts in the book thinking about how she didn't look out for Asha when her sister got depressed over her besties hooking up behind her back. The mock trial team lock-in at school happens over halfway into the book and I thought the locked-in-a-room scene was going to be bigger and at the beginning instead, but it was very anti-climactic and not super important to the plot at all, despite being mentioned in the book blurb ??? The whole we-have-a-traitor-in-our-midst for whoever keeps taking the private photos of Raj/Sita kissing seems like it would be a big part of the plot, and then Tessa just confesses to it at the end of the book and Sita is just fine with it???? There are no repercussions about it ?????? The social media usage in this book feels unrealistic with not including all the hate Sita would have gotten online, but it does keep the work more positive by not including it, so...idk. I also did wish that each chapter had started with a small blurb about Rama/Sita consistently throughout the work instead of just starting halfway through the book - it would have made the parallels to the story that much stronger. I understand it's because Sita's paper on Rama/Sita doesn't start until part-way through the work, but I felt like it could have been introduced earlier. I would have appreciated the book consistently having Sita grow in her identity - it felt a bit rushed at the end of the work, so the conclusion about her "And I know who I am" didn't hit me very hard.
Cursing. Underage drinking at a party. Lots of kissing but no sex and no sex implied, no graphic descriptions - pretty clean, which I appreciated. One instance of Raj unhooking Sita's blouse but he immediately hooks it back. One instance of Sita locked in a room with Raven and she changes into his hoodie, but it doesn't get weird. Lesbian representation (Tessa and Heather). Covers different family dynamics - single parent, dead parent, affair, absent parent, loving but famous parents, etc. Includes a scene of panicking when Sita realizes the mock trial case is similar to her mom's death. Showcases grief over a parent death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
This week I finished Such Great Heights by Rajani LaRocca which is a high school retelling of the Ramayana, one of Hinduism's greatest epics. Before this class, I was already a big fan of ancient story retelling, but between this book and The Labors of Hercules Beal, I am all the more firm in my belief that it is needed for young adults. There is a reason these stories resonate with people for this long, and the moral dilemmas they pose are all the more relevant to young adults. The discussion of truth in the Ramayana, and the tagline of the book "does the truth really matter if no one believes you?" is way more relevant than I realized, especially for young women. LaRocca flips back and forth between Siya's story and a retelling of the Ramayana from Sita's perspective, and at first I was a little annoyed that Siya's story detoured so far from the actual plot of the story, at least for the first half. LaRocca remedied this in the last half of the book, but I found that I actually appreciated that it wasn't a one for one retelling, as LaRocca continually asked "why is Sita's story important" through an essay Siya had to write for school. Not every student's story is going to be like the myths that they are reading about, but there is a way in which they can connect them to their own life. At the end of the book it felt more like a regular young woman finding comfort in the story of Sita, rather than a retelling of Sita's story.
September 22, 2026
Thank you so much to Harper360ya for sending me a proof of this book!!
3.5 ⭐
This is a story about self-discovery, grief, human mistakes and forgiveness. The pacing of this book was brilliant! I read it all in one go, I was pulled in from the start and invested all the way to the end! We follow Siya, a sophomore who is part of the mock trial team. When the mock case is scarily close to how her mother died it takes her on a journey of learning more about her family. Alongside Siya’s story we are told Sita’s story from the Ramayana which reflects Siya’s journey. Siya experiences love with holden boy Raj, but learns her own boundaries in what she’s willing to tolerate in the pursuit of justice. This story is extremely self-reflective and I think is a wonderful ya book of self-discovery and understanding. I felt the plot around the mock trial case being similar to Siya’s mums wasn’t quite wrapped up a strongly as it could have been however I don’t feel it was the point of the story. The ending is left very open ended, Siya being hopeful for her future and was is to offer.
I felt like there was something missing from the story but I can’t quite pinpoint what it is, however I felt this book had great emotional impact and I would recommend!
3.5 ⭐
This is a story about self-discovery, grief, human mistakes and forgiveness. The pacing of this book was brilliant! I read it all in one go, I was pulled in from the start and invested all the way to the end! We follow Siya, a sophomore who is part of the mock trial team. When the mock case is scarily close to how her mother died it takes her on a journey of learning more about her family. Alongside Siya’s story we are told Sita’s story from the Ramayana which reflects Siya’s journey. Siya experiences love with holden boy Raj, but learns her own boundaries in what she’s willing to tolerate in the pursuit of justice. This story is extremely self-reflective and I think is a wonderful ya book of self-discovery and understanding. I felt the plot around the mock trial case being similar to Siya’s mums wasn’t quite wrapped up a strongly as it could have been however I don’t feel it was the point of the story. The ending is left very open ended, Siya being hopeful for her future and was is to offer.
I felt like there was something missing from the story but I can’t quite pinpoint what it is, however I felt this book had great emotional impact and I would recommend!
September 11, 2026
Siya Kunar joins her school's mock trial team is to honor the memory of her mother. She always told Siya that the truth is a flame that burns away lies. When golden boy Raj, varsity soccer star and mock trial co-captain, ask Siya out, it feels too good to be true. But the details of the mock trial case are suspiciously similar to the circumstances of her mother’s accident, and suddenly Siya is questioning everything. Then, someone anonymously starts posting photos of Siya, including her alone with another guy. Nothing happened, but Siya feels like Raj doesn’t believe her. This contemporary retelling of the Ramayana asks whether seeking the truth is always right thing to do...is the past better left behind?
This was a really great teen/YA read about the importance of the truth, and the heartache of discovering people might not be who you thought. When I was younger I had a children’s book version of the Ramayana so although I had an idea of the story I didn’t entirely remember it. This was a great way to rediscover it and it was interesting to see how Siya’s opinion of the original changed through the book. I really liked her as a character - she has a strong voice that comes through really well, and she gives a great perspective. The mock trial was really interesting to read about and I liked the way that the story was structured with snippets of the Ramayana for people who might not be familiar with it, which shaped the narrative and explained the context. Siya had a very strong moral compass and sense of justice, and her perspective was interesting. There were two mysteries running through this book - what really happened to Siya’s mum, and who is taking photos of Siya? Her south Asian heritage and culture were a key part of the story. I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it to fans of investigative YA books like A Good Girl’s Guide to Mürder or Where Sleeping Girls Lie, or anyone looking to read more about the Ramayana.
Thank you Harper Collins for a proof.
Product gifted for promotional purposes, but opinions entirely my own.
August 11, 2026
This was such an interesting read. I really loved the mock trial element- I've definitely never read anything like it and my school didn't have anything like it- and I loved Siya, Grace, and Max and their friendship. I will say, I wasn't a super fan of the romance element- I just didn't like Raj or how he acted, though I'm glad he did the right thing in the end. I loved the interweaving story of Sita and I really liked that we got Siya's perspective on it at the end instead of just being told she finished her paper. Just overall a great story about the truth, relationships, and coming of age.
August 30, 2026
I was provided an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, it was complex and I enjoyed the whole group dynamic thing. I liked the main character's friendship and family life most, I also enjoyed the school life. I wasn't that into her relationship though. I didn't understand what she saw in the main love interest and that kind of took me out of the story. That was a bit of a shame but it might have been on purpose. I think the main character grew throughout the story and I really loved that. Overall, it was an interesting read and I would read more books by this author.
I enjoyed this book, it was complex and I enjoyed the whole group dynamic thing. I liked the main character's friendship and family life most, I also enjoyed the school life. I wasn't that into her relationship though. I didn't understand what she saw in the main love interest and that kind of took me out of the story. That was a bit of a shame but it might have been on purpose. I think the main character grew throughout the story and I really loved that. Overall, it was an interesting read and I would read more books by this author.
August 22, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the ARC!
Siya is determined to secure a role as an attorney on this year's mock trial team. She not only lands her desired position but also develops a promising new romance with her teammate, Raj. However, the simulation takes a dark turn when the details of the mock trial case mirror her own mother’s unexplained death. Suspecting this is no coincidence, Siya enlists the help of her friends to investigate the author of the case, uncovering a trail of secrets that could finally reveal the truth behind her mother's passing.
I found this book to be an engaging read, driven largely by the main character, Siya. Her level-headedness and honesty make her a compelling and relatable character. The family relationships are a major highlight of the book. The quiet moments at home between Siya and her father beautifully highlight a relationship rooted in deep affection and mutual respect. The dynamic between Siya and her sister offers a refreshing, authentic portrayal of sibling bonds. Additionally, the inclusion of high school mock trials adds an educational and fascinating layer to the story, introducing a unique extracurricular world that many readers may not have experienced firsthand.
Siya is determined to secure a role as an attorney on this year's mock trial team. She not only lands her desired position but also develops a promising new romance with her teammate, Raj. However, the simulation takes a dark turn when the details of the mock trial case mirror her own mother’s unexplained death. Suspecting this is no coincidence, Siya enlists the help of her friends to investigate the author of the case, uncovering a trail of secrets that could finally reveal the truth behind her mother's passing.
I found this book to be an engaging read, driven largely by the main character, Siya. Her level-headedness and honesty make her a compelling and relatable character. The family relationships are a major highlight of the book. The quiet moments at home between Siya and her father beautifully highlight a relationship rooted in deep affection and mutual respect. The dynamic between Siya and her sister offers a refreshing, authentic portrayal of sibling bonds. Additionally, the inclusion of high school mock trials adds an educational and fascinating layer to the story, introducing a unique extracurricular world that many readers may not have experienced firsthand.
August 16, 2026
I liked this book but didn't quite LOVE it. The audiobook was well done, but it felt loooooong at times.
I also forget how dramatic YA books can be 😅 Reading them as an adult, I sometimes roll my eyes at the melodrama of it all. The drama with her sister Asha was a bit much, and the relationship with Raj really did nothing for me. By like 3/4 of the way through, I was secretly rooting for him to be the villain.
I think the character development was well done, and I was invested in the story overall. I cared about Siya and wanted her to learn what really happened to her mother, and for her to heal some of the relationships in her life. The reveal about her father was devastating, but I appreciated how she quietly processed things and was able to come around and forgive him.
There was a little more boy drama than was necessary, I think. At first it seemed like Max was in love with her too, but then it never really went that way. But it seemed like Raven was into her too, as well as Raj, obviously. I kinda wish she had ended up with Raven, or maybe asked him out at the end or something. Raj was such a dick.
I wasn't sure where the Sita and Rama story was going, but when Sita announces she'd rather return to the earth and die than go back to the city and deal with Rama not believing her again, I was like "FUCK YEAH, SITA!!!" Lol. I like how that part came together with Siya's paper and her conclusion about the importance of truly knowing yourself and standing tall in your convictions.
All in all, this was well done, and I think it will really resonate with a YA audience!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
I also forget how dramatic YA books can be 😅 Reading them as an adult, I sometimes roll my eyes at the melodrama of it all. The drama with her sister Asha was a bit much, and the relationship with Raj really did nothing for me. By like 3/4 of the way through, I was secretly rooting for him to be the villain.
I think the character development was well done, and I was invested in the story overall. I cared about Siya and wanted her to learn what really happened to her mother, and for her to heal some of the relationships in her life. The reveal about her father was devastating, but I appreciated how she quietly processed things and was able to come around and forgive him.
There was a little more boy drama than was necessary, I think. At first it seemed like Max was in love with her too, but then it never really went that way. But it seemed like Raven was into her too, as well as Raj, obviously. I kinda wish she had ended up with Raven, or maybe asked him out at the end or something. Raj was such a dick.
I wasn't sure where the Sita and Rama story was going, but when Sita announces she'd rather return to the earth and die than go back to the city and deal with Rama not believing her again, I was like "FUCK YEAH, SITA!!!" Lol. I like how that part came together with Siya's paper and her conclusion about the importance of truly knowing yourself and standing tall in your convictions.
All in all, this was well done, and I think it will really resonate with a YA audience!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Five stars. Just kept getting better the more I read. It starts as a sweet coming-of-age story, but gradually grows into something much richer as Siya navigates friendships, first relationships, family secrets, and what it really means to stand by your values.
Siya is a high school sophomore who's excited to join her school's mock trial team, only to discover that this year's case mirrors aher own mother's death. I loved how the mock trial scenes almost become their own courtroom drama..
I liked the way Hindu mythology is woven throughout the story. It adds another layer to Siya's journey without ever feeling forced, enriching both the themes and her personal growth. Combined with the family dynamics, it gives the story more culture.
I also really enjoyed watching Siya grow into a more mature understanding of the people around her. As she gets older, she's trusted with more of the complicated truths about her family, and it captures that transition from childhood to adulthood so well. She gets to realize that the people she look up to are just as flawed and complicated as everyone else.
My one small complaint is that almost every major character feels like a bit of a golden child. They're all incredibly driven, responsible, and constantly balancing academics, extracurriculars, and family obligations. I think that might make it a little harder for some younger readers to connect with if they don't see themselves reflected in that kind of high-achieving environment. That said, the book does acknowledge this later on through another character, which helped make it feel like an intentional choice rather than an oversight.
Overall, I absolutely loved this. It's thoughtful, heartfelt, and full of emotional growth without ever losing sight of the fun of being a teenager. By the end, I was completely invested in Siya's journey, and any small criticisms I had were far outweighed by everything the book does so well.
Siya is a high school sophomore who's excited to join her school's mock trial team, only to discover that this year's case mirrors aher own mother's death. I loved how the mock trial scenes almost become their own courtroom drama..
I liked the way Hindu mythology is woven throughout the story. It adds another layer to Siya's journey without ever feeling forced, enriching both the themes and her personal growth. Combined with the family dynamics, it gives the story more culture.
I also really enjoyed watching Siya grow into a more mature understanding of the people around her. As she gets older, she's trusted with more of the complicated truths about her family, and it captures that transition from childhood to adulthood so well. She gets to realize that the people she look up to are just as flawed and complicated as everyone else.
My one small complaint is that almost every major character feels like a bit of a golden child. They're all incredibly driven, responsible, and constantly balancing academics, extracurriculars, and family obligations. I think that might make it a little harder for some younger readers to connect with if they don't see themselves reflected in that kind of high-achieving environment. That said, the book does acknowledge this later on through another character, which helped make it feel like an intentional choice rather than an oversight.
Overall, I absolutely loved this. It's thoughtful, heartfelt, and full of emotional growth without ever losing sight of the fun of being a teenager. By the end, I was completely invested in Siya's journey, and any small criticisms I had were far outweighed by everything the book does so well.
August 14, 2026
Siya wants to be a lawyer on her mock trial team this year but runs into an emotional hurdle when trial hits a little too close to home. Siya's mom was a defense attorney who died in a car crash when Siya is 9 years old, just like the case they are supposed to learn and defend over the course of the year. Siya grapples with questions about her family brought up by the case, but feels she can't talk to them about it because she is trying to protect them from a situation, she is struggling to manage on her own.
The story summarizes major points of the Ramayana while Siya draws parallels to her own life at various stages. This is a coming of age where Siya struggles with friend groups, family relationships, a new boyfriend, betrayal, social media attacks, and trying to decide who she is and what she stands for.
Although much of the story is a bit depressing, the story is told well, incorporating Siya and Raj's Indian heritage and cultural traditions into the story without being forced. The mock trial works hard to understand the various points of view in the case and work it from both sides. Siya also learns to see more than one side of her mother through the case and has a deeper understanding of what her family also went through.
The story summarizes major points of the Ramayana while Siya draws parallels to her own life at various stages. This is a coming of age where Siya struggles with friend groups, family relationships, a new boyfriend, betrayal, social media attacks, and trying to decide who she is and what she stands for.
Although much of the story is a bit depressing, the story is told well, incorporating Siya and Raj's Indian heritage and cultural traditions into the story without being forced. The mock trial works hard to understand the various points of view in the case and work it from both sides. Siya also learns to see more than one side of her mother through the case and has a deeper understanding of what her family also went through.
August 15, 2026
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
10th grader Siya is ecstatic to make the school’s mock trial team - especially since 12th grader Raj Raghavan is one of the leaders. Siya is also determined to honor the memory of her mother, a lawyer, who died in a car crash when Siya was ten. This year’s mock trial is not sitting well with Siya, however, because it seems to be based on Siya’s family’s own tragedy. She not only wants to do her best, but she also wants to find out if this is coincidence or a plot.
LaRocca includes the Indian story of Rama and Sita woven into the book. While it is supposed to highlight the romance between Siya and Raj, I found that part of the plot to be secondary to Siya searching for the truth about her mother and family. Of course, I’m an old lady, so I am totally missing the romance. I do love LaRocca’s resolution.
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
10th grader Siya is ecstatic to make the school’s mock trial team - especially since 12th grader Raj Raghavan is one of the leaders. Siya is also determined to honor the memory of her mother, a lawyer, who died in a car crash when Siya was ten. This year’s mock trial is not sitting well with Siya, however, because it seems to be based on Siya’s family’s own tragedy. She not only wants to do her best, but she also wants to find out if this is coincidence or a plot.
LaRocca includes the Indian story of Rama and Sita woven into the book. While it is supposed to highlight the romance between Siya and Raj, I found that part of the plot to be secondary to Siya searching for the truth about her mother and family. Of course, I’m an old lady, so I am totally missing the romance. I do love LaRocca’s resolution.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️✨2.75
Such Great Heights follows Siya Kumar who will do anything for the truth in this coming-of-age story.
When her mock trial documents read too closely to what happened to her mother, everything can get flipped upside down.
i liked this book, but i wish i loved it.
honestly, i thought there would be a lot less romance (even though that’s listed as one of the main genres). Raj feels like the perfect man, but there’s another i have bigger feelings for, which had me rooting for Siya to pick him (too bass we can’t have all our fruits in one basket).
having said that, it just felt like the book was bouncing back and forth with the romance and mystery genre instead of having it blend together.
maybe this translates better to the younger audience, because it did feel hard to fully be immersed into the story.
including the traditional story of Ramayana was the best decision to make! having the small chapters of information kept me intrigued and interested on what would come next.
not for me, but that doesn’t mean not for everyone 🫶🏼
thank you EpicReads for gifting me a physical ARC copy and Netgalley for the ALC to fully be immersed into this story while reading.
Such Great Heights follows Siya Kumar who will do anything for the truth in this coming-of-age story.
When her mock trial documents read too closely to what happened to her mother, everything can get flipped upside down.
i liked this book, but i wish i loved it.
honestly, i thought there would be a lot less romance (even though that’s listed as one of the main genres). Raj feels like the perfect man, but there’s another i have bigger feelings for, which had me rooting for Siya to pick him (too bass we can’t have all our fruits in one basket).
having said that, it just felt like the book was bouncing back and forth with the romance and mystery genre instead of having it blend together.
maybe this translates better to the younger audience, because it did feel hard to fully be immersed into the story.
including the traditional story of Ramayana was the best decision to make! having the small chapters of information kept me intrigued and interested on what would come next.
not for me, but that doesn’t mean not for everyone 🫶🏼
thank you EpicReads for gifting me a physical ARC copy and Netgalley for the ALC to fully be immersed into this story while reading.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual Rating 3.5
I really liked the premise of this one and how well the author executed it. Using the mock trial was an excellent way to explore what happened in the past as well as the MC's feelings about it all. The MC's emotions and depth were quite strong and made this work even more interesting. I also liked the meaningful inclusions of depression and grief/healing.
I wasn't completely sold on the inclusion of the folktale at first, but it ended up coming together well in the end. I was also expecting there to be a larger conflict or mystery or something and kept waiting for it, but it never really came. This wasn't necessarily bad, just a little disappointing.
If you're looking for a realistic YA coming-of-age fiction that's character-driven, then I do recommend this one. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I really liked the premise of this one and how well the author executed it. Using the mock trial was an excellent way to explore what happened in the past as well as the MC's feelings about it all. The MC's emotions and depth were quite strong and made this work even more interesting. I also liked the meaningful inclusions of depression and grief/healing.
I wasn't completely sold on the inclusion of the folktale at first, but it ended up coming together well in the end. I was also expecting there to be a larger conflict or mystery or something and kept waiting for it, but it never really came. This wasn't necessarily bad, just a little disappointing.
If you're looking for a realistic YA coming-of-age fiction that's character-driven, then I do recommend this one. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Siya joins her high school’s mock trial team in honor of her mother, who was killed in a tragic car accident and who worked as a lawyer. Siya is excited this year about the team and is planning to audition for a lawyer role, only when the case is distributed, it hits very close to home. The more she looks into it, she realizes there are way too many similarities to what happened when her mom died, and tracking down the person who set up the case becomes a top priority. Another priority however is winning the heart of Raj, a senior on the team.
You know a book is good when you can’t stop reading, and this was one of them. A lot is going on in this one, but it was easy to be connected to Siya and feel her emotions. She is a very strong female character, especially at the end when she holds her ground on her morals. Not having any background in mock trial, I found that part interesting as well. Recommended for high school readers
You know a book is good when you can’t stop reading, and this was one of them. A lot is going on in this one, but it was easy to be connected to Siya and feel her emotions. She is a very strong female character, especially at the end when she holds her ground on her morals. Not having any background in mock trial, I found that part interesting as well. Recommended for high school readers
March 11, 2026
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.
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.
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