Safe Harbor

October 14, 2024
Aquatic pollution and marine life conservation propel this fish-out-of-water verse novel. Following tween Geeta’s parents’ divorce, Geeta and her mother, who is studying for her doctorate in psychology, emigrate from Chennai, India, to the U.S., seeking a fresh start. Afraid of triggering Amma’s depression, Geeta squelches her anger at being uprooted. Their apartment complex—“squat gray buildings.../ on a narrow gray street below a dull gray sky”—is close to the ocean, but unlike the Bay of Bengal, Narragansett Bay is empty and cold. School is no better, especially when a “shiny-smile” girl targets Geeta with daily bullying. A fledgling friendship with Latinx-cued local Miguel seems doomed following initial miscommunication, but the two later reconnect when trying to save an injured baby harp seal. They name him Santo and learn that he’s drifted from his usual habitat due to global warming. Issues surrounding her parents’ separation, Amma’s mental health, and the effects both have on Geeta’s own life, are somewhat dampened by familiar plotting.
Venkatraman (Born Behind Bars) centering adult women of color in STEM spaces, including a veterinary technician and Miguel’s oceanographer mother, who act as role models for Geeta add an empowering undertone. Ages 10–up.

Starred review from November 1, 2024

Gr 5 Up-Venkatraman's latest novel beautifully captures the theme of finding love by letting go. Gheeta, a young girl from Tamil Nadu, India, relocates to America with her mother after her parents' divorce. Leaving behind her beloved patti, appa, and dog Dhurrie, Gheeta struggles with sadness and adjustment in her new environment, where she faces bullies and cultural challenges. However, her life begins to change when Miguel, a boy her age, and Santo, a harp seal pup in need of rescue, enter her world. Through her efforts to help Santo and connect with her new friends, Gheeta discovers her place in this unfamiliar setting and learns that sometimes release is necessary for growth. Written in verse, this novel offers a poignant exploration of emotional resilience and the bittersweet nature of change. It will particularly resonate with readers who value themes of personal growth, cultural adjustment, and the power of compassion. Additionally, environmental advocates will find the subplot of rescuing Santo and the broader message of climate awareness engaging and relevant, which is a perfect fit for middle school library collections. VERDICT The novel is a must-read for those who appreciate lyrical storytelling with emotional depth.-Jessica Siddharth

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2025
Grades 3-6 Geetha's life is turned upside down when she and her mother move from India to Rhode Island, where being an immigrant in a new elementary school leaves her feeling alienated, angry, and longing for connection. After a chance encounter with a neighborhood boy and a calming walk in the sand, Geetha finds the connection she craves in a seal that has washed ashore due to injuries from human pollution. As Geetha acclimates to her new home, she uses her connection to this injured seal and her lifelong love of music to forge a new way forward for herself and her mother. Geeta's love for music drives the poetic lines of this novel in verse, which is characterized by erratic, somewhat jumpy pacing that reflects Geetha's journey towards happiness. Simple and relatable, Safe Harbor mixes themes of coming-of-age, immigration, and conservation into a sweet story accessible to younger elementary readers as well as those who enjoy Kerry O'Malla Cerra, Saadia Faruqi, and Barbara Dee.

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March 1, 2025
Geetha and her mother, who lives with depression, move from Chennai, India, to Rhode Island, leaving behind the rest of their family and settling in an apartment near Narragansett Bay. Geetha is lonely at school and is made fun of for her accent, food, and thrift-store clothes. She often fights to "hold back the dam of anger building," though regular trips to the library and composing music on her bamboo flute provide release. She befriends Miguel, a Mexican American boy, and the two find a harp seal that has been injured by a fishing line; after it's taken in by the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center, they visit it as it convalesces. Inspired to prevent further injury to animals from pollution, the two organize a community beach cleanup. Written in verse, this compact, emotional story brims with metaphors about the ocean and sea life that echo its themes of home and the scary process of learning to let go of people, things, and beliefs. Additionally, there is a strong marine conservationist message that may inspire readers to learn more and take action. An author's note contextualizes Geetha's story in Venkatraman's own experiences; resources about marine life, bullying, and mental health are also appended. Julie Hakim Azzam

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

February 15, 2025
A novel in verse centered on a young girl who moves from India to Rhode Island in the wake of her parents' divorce. Geetha finds herself bullied by her schoolmates for her clothes and her accent and missing everything about home: her extended family, her music tutor, her dog, and, above all, her father. Meanwhile, her mother, grappling with depression, worries about making ends meet and building a new life in America. Still, playing her flute anchors Geetha amid the turmoil. When she discovers an injured harp seal pup on the beach, she and her new friend Miguel (who's of Mexican descent) alert the authorities, who rescue the animal and bring him to a sanctuary. The experience brings her closer to Miguel--a child of divorce like her. As Geetha and Miguel visit the pup, whom they name Santo, Geetha's inspired to learn more about seals and the plight they face due to climate change. At times, the verse falls a bit flat, though Geetha's emotions ring true, as do the little moments that remind Geetha that she's an outsider. The story comes to vivid life as Geetha draws parallels between herself and Santo--both feeling lost and adrift--and organizes a cleanup of the beach. Venkatraman closes with an especially poignant author's note in which she discusses her own experience as a woman of color in STEM. A tender coming-of-age tale with special resonance for nature lovers.(Verse novel. 9-12)

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