The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series)

Reach for this book when your child feels like they are caught between two worlds or if they are beginning to view their family traditions as embarrassing rather than empowering. It is a vibrant, fast-paced adventure that validates the experience of children from immigrant backgrounds while offering a high-stakes fantasy world that any reader will find exhilarating. The story follows Kiranmala, a girl from New Jersey who discovers on her twelfth birthday that her parents' tall tales about being Indian royalty were actually true. As she travels to a different dimension to save them from a rakkhosh demon, she must embrace her heritage to find her strength. Parents will appreciate the clever blend of Bengali folklore with modern middle-school humor. It handles themes of identity and bravery with a light, witty touch that makes the emotional growth feel earned and organic for the 8 to 12 age range.