Jasmine
Skies is the sequel to Artichoke Hearts written by
Sita Brahmachari. In Jasmine Skies,
Mira Levenson is a fourteen-year-old girl who lives with her family. The story
begins with Mira convincing her mother, Uma, to let her visit her cousin,
Priya, in India after her granddad, Bimal, passed away. Mira finally got
her way, but she knew there was more to her mother’s words other than the
reasoning she gave Mira which was that they did not have enough money for a
visit and eventually, they lost touch with their family. However, Mira set on a mission and not only was
she going to meet her extended family, but she was driven to find out what
happened between her mother and her aunt Anjali, Priya’s mother.
When
Mira arrives in India her baggage is lost but that does not change her mood
when she sees her family. From the first moment Mira and Priya get along. Mira confides in Priya that she has taken her mother’s
personal letters to uncover the problem that lies between her mother and her
aunt. Mira asks Priya to keep quiet and she wants to visit the old family house
on Doctor’s Lane. Janu, the
sixteen-year-old boy who lives at Priya’s house, takes Mira sightseeing. He also fulfill's Mira’s wish to visit the old family home. Unfortunately, when Priya and Mira
go to a party that takes place inside the old family home, an accident happens that unravels what Mira was searching for.
Sita
Brahmachari ends this wonderfully written realistic fiction that
lets the reader know there will be another story to follow. Jasmine Skies introduces the Indian culture, family ties and friendship. Although,
realistically it’s a lot for a fourteen-year-old to endure as described in the
story but it was never-the-less remarkable.
For 4th
grade and up.
A story told from two points of view, Joe and Ravi. 
