| Short Bio: |
Dr. Padma Venkatraman is an author and an oceanographer. She lived in several countries before becoming an American citizen. She has directed a school and taught faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and school children (elementary to high school). |
| Selected Works: |
Padma Venkatraman's debut novel, CLIMBING THE STAIRS (Penguin, 2008), is a coming-of-age story set in India in the 1940's, in which a young woman's struggle for personal freedom unfolds against the dramatic historical background of World War II and India's nonviolent independence movement led by Gandhi. Curricular connections include: Thoreau (Civil Disobedience), MLK and the Nonviolent Civil Rights Movement, WWII. |
| Travel Range: |
Anywhere in the world is fine by me! |
| Blurbs: |
Venkatraman's CLIMBING THE STAIRS was released to starred reviews in Booklist, VOYA and Publishers Weekly and has since received several honors and awards, such as: Winner Julia Ward Howe BAC Award 2009, 2009 ALA/YALSA Best Book YA, Booklist Editor's Choice Best Book 2008, 2009 NYPL Best Book, 2009 CCBC choice, NCSS/CBC Notable SS Trade Book 2009, Capitol Choice 2009, CLN Top 25 07-08, ALA/Amelia Bloomer 2009 Book, Booksense Notable, Shortlisted for RARI 2008, Booklinks Best New Books, Publishers Weekly Flying Start, Shortlisted for Maine State Award 2009-2010. |
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