School Visits
Over the years, I have had dozens of on-site and virtual school visits throughout the United States. In 2004 my first virtual school visits were facilitated through Public Television. During a virtual school visit, I will talk about many of the same things that I would in an in-person visit. For example, I will discuss my writing process, including brainstorming story ideas, building characters, pacing, and plot. I will still be able to teach students how to create evocative images by exploring sensory details such as touch, sound, and smell and show them details of the revision process including galley copies. Here are presentation topics that I have given at various teacher and librarian conferences in the past:
The First Novel
First novels are often autobiographical in nature. Blue Jasmine is a fictional tale with core emotions from my own journey. I will read from it and talk about how I have blended a young girl's story with my own.
Not Lost in Translation
There exist many challenges in melding multiple cultural, linguistic, and historical backgrounds into one cohesive work. I will discuss the writing process I follow and the solutions I employ to meet this challenge and to create a story that resonates with readers.
Importance of Growing Diversity
Our country of immigrants is rich, unique, and quickly changing. Keeping in mind that the literature is a mirror as well as a critique of society, I will discuss my stories set in other cultures and time not only as exotic pieces but also as a reflection of every person's journey.
Likewise, I will be able to have in-depth discussions with students about the books that I have written and that they have just read. For elementary students, I will talk about one of my picture books, My Dadima Wears a Sari or Monsoon Afternoon. Both books explore the passing of traditions between generations. For older students, I will talk about one of my novels, Blue Jasmine, Boys Without Names, Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet, or Keeping Corner. These books explore contemporary or historic social issues such as immigration, child labor, gender roles, and meaning of freedom through the eyes of a young protagonist. Here are some examples of teaching themes I have used in the past:
My Dadima Wears a Sari
Teaching themes:
Read from the book and talk about the illustrations
Talk about the special bond Rupa and Neha has with their dadima (grandmother)
Show a six-yard sari and other traditional Indian clothes
Demonstrate sari wrapping
Have half-saris for young girls and an outfit for boys to try on
Learn to count 1-10 in Hindi and/or Gujarati
Discuss getting ideas for stories, writing, and revising
Question and answer session
Location of setting: USA
Time Period: Contemporary
Age, gender and ethnicity of protagonist: (Name Rupa) 8 years, female, Indian American
Age of other significant character: sister 5 years
Grandmother, mother.
Central themes: Family, intergenerational relationship, culture, and immigration
Boys Without Names
Teaching themes:
Read an excerpt part from the book
Talk about Gopal and his life in the village verses his life in the city
Talk about the power of sharing stories in creating a bond between the boys
Talk about the title of the book
Discuss the cycle of poverty and the unfairness of child labor
Talk about research, writing, (story arc, character development, pacing, voice, bringing the place alive) revising, rewriting, publishing, and jacket art etc.
Location of setting: A small village and Mumbai, India
Time Period: Contemporary
Age, gender and ethnicity of protagonist: Eleven-year old Gopal, Indian boy
Age of other significant character: Naren and Sita, 6, Amar, Sahil, Kabir, Barish, and Roshan are between ages 7 to13
Central themes: Family, poverty, child labor, storytelling, friendship, trust
Keeping Corner
Teaching themes:
Read an excerpt part from the book
Discuss the historical aspect of the story (set in 1918) and life for Leela and other girls in that time period
Discuss the inequality and injustice that Leela has to endure
Talk about Gandhi and the Satayagrah movement and how it changed and inspired the entire nation and beyond
Talk about research, writing a historical fiction novel, (story arc, character development, pacing, voice, time-line) revising, rewriting, publishing, and jacket art etc.
Location of setting: Jamlee, India
Time Period: 1917-1918
Age, gender and ethnicity of protagonist: Twelve-year old Leela, Indian girl
Age of other significant character: Kanubhai 21, Saviben a teacher
Central themes: Coming-of-age, sibling relationship, education, tradition, widows, inequality, justice