‘I was adopted, just as I had suspected for years.’ Anu’s life sucks. Her curly, unruly hair reminds everyone of a famous godman, Parvati Didi’s agarbatis make her gag, she has to dissect cockroaches in school, none of her crushes reciprocate her feelings and she’s always, always in detention. But through all these, her lovely, funny family has always been there for her.

So when a secret tumbles out of the closet and tears her family apart, Anu is shattered. Now along with boys, teachers and boring history classes, she also has to deal with a sister who is no longer a sister and parents who are bewildered and normal again?

A Children’s Bookshelf Selection: Each month our editor’s pick the best books for children and young adults by age to be a part of the children’s bookshelf. These are editorial recommendations made by our team of experts. Our monthly reading list includes a mix of bestsellers and top new releases and evergreen books that will help enhance a child’s reading life.