Critically acclaimed author Shanthi Sekaran makes her middle grade debut with this timely and stunning novel in which a young boy and his friends must rescue his grandmother from a relocation camp after their country’s descent into xenophobia. Perfect for fans of The Night Diary and Front Desk.

Before his grandmother moved from India to the island of Mariposa, Muki Krishnan’s life was good. But now? He has to share his bedroom with Paati, his grandmother, who snores like a bulldozer and wakes him up at dawn to do yoga.

Paati’s arrival coincides with even bigger changes in Mariposa. The president divides citizens into Butterflies—families who have lived in Mariposa for three generations—and Moths, who, like Muki’s family, are more recent immigrants. The changes are small at first. But then Muki and his friends find a camp being built to imprison Moths before sending them away. Soon after, his Paati is captured and taken there.

While devising Paati’s escape, Muki discovers that a secret rebellion is underway, and as he digs deeper, he realizes that rescuing Paati will be the fight of his life.

* Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year *

Social Justice for Kids: When the president divides the nation into "Butterflies" and "Moths," Muki must find the courage to stand up for what’s right.
Kids’ Activism: Discover a resistance movement where the most powerful messages aren’t written down—they’re hidden inside samosas.
Unlikely Friendship: Muki teams up with his classmate Tinley to get answers, but her father is the general in charge of the camps.
Family Bonds: A heartwarming story about a boy who has to share his room with his snoozing, yoga-loving grandmother—and then risk everything to rescue her.

The Samosa Rebellion

The Samosa Rebellion