Books of Paro Anand: our pick

Wingless

When Princess Chutki was born to the King and Queen of Angels, there should have been a grand celebration in the kingdom with music, feasts, and gifts. But there was none of this. All the angels wanted to get rid of the infant as she was an aberration—a wingless angel. Her parents smuggled her to Earth and left her in the care of a childless human couple. She grew up innocent of her royal angelic birth. And then she learns the truth. What happens to Princess Chutki? The book explores concepts of identity and social acceptance.

Weed

Umer loves his father, like all sons do. He wishes to follow in his father’s footsteps without knowing entirely what this entails.

Weed is the story of a family in Kashmir that faces turmoil due to forces of militancy and war. Umer is torn between a mother who is strictly against violence and a father who leaves home in the name of jihad. As the government is unwilling to offer aid to a militant’s family they soon face intense poverty. Which path will Umer decide to follow?

The Little Bird Who Held Up The Sky With His Feet

In the heart of India, a forest is in grave danger. The Monsoon Army, with its murderous rains and storms, threatens to destroy the forest and its inhabitants. The birds, animals, and insects are extremely worried. As the monsoon draws closer, King Lion, the king of the jungle assembles all the animals and sends out a desperate plea for help. Piddi, an ordinary sparrow, has a dream. He believes he can stop the ferocious Monsoon Army. Is it possible that a tiny sparrow can save the jungle?

No Guns at my Son's Funeral

Aftab is an average Kashmiri teenager. He feels that school is interesting only because of his friends. Nonetheless, he has friends outside school. One of them is Akram, the leader of a terrorist group. Neither his family nor his friends know about it. As time goes by, Aftab crosses the line from fascination to belief when he is recruited to carry out a dangerous mission. The story depicts the teenager's struggle to balance his family's beliefs of peace and harmony and his desperation to prove himself to Akram. Read the book to find out where his choice leads him.