Books with author M.M. Perkins

When her father loses his job and leaves India to look for work in America, Asha Gupta, her older sister, Reet, and their mother must wait with Baba’s brother and his family, as well as their grandmother, in Calcutta. Uncle is welcoming, but in a country steeped in tradition, the three women must abide by his decisions. Asha knows this is temporary—just until Baba sends for them. But with scant savings and time passing, the tension builds: Ma, prone to spells of sadness, finds it hard to submit to her mother- and sister-in-law; Reet’s beauty attracts unwanted marriage proposals; and Asha's promise to take care of Ma and Reet leads to impulsive behavior. What follows is a firestorm of rebuke—and secrets revealed! Asha’s only solace is her rooftop hideaway, where she pours her heart out in her diary, and where she begins a clandestine friendship with Jay Sen, the boy next door. Asha can hardly believe that she, and not Reet, is the object of Jay’s attention. Then news arrives about Baba . . . and Asha must make a choice that will change their lives forever.

This coming-of-age story is narrated by two fourteen-year-old boys on opposing sides of the conflict between the Burmese government and the Karenni, one of the many ethnic minorities in Burma. Chiko, a studious Burmese youth, has been seized by the government for his liberal views and is conscripted into the Burmese army. Tu Reh, a Karenni boy whose home and bamboo fields are destroyed by the Burmese soldiers, is eager to fight for his people. When Chiko and Tu Reh meet, a close friendship is forged, demonstrating their courage to overcome violence and prejudice.

When Kim and Kelly attend a sleep over party no one thought they¿d be sneaking over to an abandoned psychiatric hospital late at night. The hospital is made up of many different run-down and spooky looking buildings, all of which have a story to tell of the horrible experiments that used to go on there years ago. Ghosts stories are told during the sleep over party and a dare is cast amongst the guests. Just for kicks the girls sneak over to the abandoned buildings to snoop around. While the other girls are running around and having fun, Kelly and Kim discover footprints, fresh paint, car keys and many other curious items. Fun quickly turns to terror as the girls are chased out by mysterious sounds throughout the building. Robberies at nearby art galleries and odd findings in the insane asylum have the girl¿s curiosity running wild. Using teamwork and perseverance, the young super sleuths are determined to get to the bottom of the strange happenings going on in the abandoned buildings and solve a most curious crime.