'Yesterday, by the grace of Allah, I, Mehr-un-nissa, daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and Asmat Begum, completed thirteen years of existence on this earth... Thirteen years...I'm not sure how pleased I am to have reached this significant age.' Long before she became Nur Jahan--Emperor Jahangir's last wife and the most influential Mughal queen--she was Mehr-un-nissa. Born to Persian refugees who attained eminence at the Mughal court, Mehr-un-nissa grew up on the fringes of Emperor Akbar's court in Agra, Kabul and Lahore. In this fictional diary, Deepa Agarwal gives us a glimpse into the queen's teenage years: how she grows into a strong and passionate young woman; her love for poetry and writing; and her interest in the larger world around her. Her diary also describes the Mughal world through the eyes of a young girl: the vibrant Meena Bazaars; the elaborate festival celebrations; and the intricacies of life in the zenana. But above all, her diary records her ambition to meet the love of her life and also to carve a place for herself in history. A fascinating blend of history and fiction, The Teenage Diary of Nur Jahan brings alive a bygone age in a unique and captivating manner for young readers.

A glimpse into the heart and mind of a young girl who went on to become an important queen. In the Rajput kingdom of Amber, Jodh Bai, daughter of King Bihari Mal, is now a teenager. Her clan, the Kachhwahas, are a proud warrior race, but Jodh Bai is a dreamer and poet at heart. When she picks up an empty accounting book and starts writing her thoughts in it, she ends up recording the happenings in the world around her--the joys, sorrows and ambitions of the women, the brothers and uncles who are trained to be warriors, the beauty of the arid landscape, and the politics of the times that is bringing the Mughals from distant Agra closer and closer to Rajasthan. Then one day, she is told something unbelievable--she is going to wed the Mughal emperor Akbar. How will Jodh Bai, a Hindu princess, live in the Mughal zenana? Will she find a true companion in Akbar? And what will life be like away from her beloved Rajasthan? History does not record the existence of Jodh Bai. Instead, Akbar's Rajput wife is only referred to by the royal title of Mariam-us-Zamani. But in this heartfelt fictional diary, Subhadra Sen Gupta skilfully brings alive the story of a young Rajput princess who went on to become a powerful queen of the Mughal empire.

Fourteen-year-old Debu sets off across the high mountain passes from Kumaon to Tibet to search for his father who got lost in a blizzard the year before. Adventures follow thick and fast—a forced stay in a monastery with a boy lama who takes a fancy to him, his capture by the cruel, enigmatic bandit Nangbo, who has magical powers, and a stay in the legendary goldfields of Thok Jalong. And finally—a heart-pounding, breathtaking horse race. Does Debu find his father. Does he win the race? Pick up this page-turner to find out!

A lyrical and gripping read that captures the drama and intrigues in the Mughal empire at the height of its glory. It is 1626, and Jahanara is in Mandu, central India. Her father, Prince Khurram--who will later become Emperor Shah Jahan--has fallen out of favour with Emperor Jahangir, and now lives in the Deccan with his wife Arjamand Bano and their five children. As events unfold around her, Jahanara records them in her diary--her father's reaction to his exile; Empress Nur Jahan's demand that Jahanara's brothers be sent to her court as hostages; the conspiracies in faraway Agra and Lahore as Jahangir slides into ill-health; and her own growth as a sensitive writer and poet. Then one day, her father rides away to capture the Mughal throne, paving the way for Jahanara to return to her beloved Agra. This fictional diary recreates the drama of ambition, intrigue and loyalty that marked the Mughal empire at the height of its glory. As young Jahanara witnesses her father's rise to the throne, she also contemplates the incredible cruelty that men inflict on each other, and the love and tenderness that will finally redeem all. Gripping and lyrical, The Teenage Diary of Jahanara brings to life a time we only read about in history books.

Description Eleven-year-old Loki-Lokanayaki Shanmugam-is cricket crazy. She wants to play on the local cricket league team, The Temple Street Tankers. But they have a ridiculous 'boys only' rule that they aren't willing to change for a girl. And her parents seem to be too involved with her brother's studies to bother with Loki. So she takes matters into her own hands and begins a petition to fight for her right to play cricket. But very few people are willing to sign this petition-even her parents refuse. Nobody takes much notice till anonymous Twitter sensation @_poetic_paati takes up Loki's cause. Soon, Loki's petition goes viral and the entire nation is rooting for her. But will her parents, the team, and the guardians of tradition change their minds? And more importantly, if they do, will Loki be able to deliver the runs? Witty and fast-paced, Loki Takes Guard is as much a story about the joy of sports as it is about breaking outdated rules and standing up for oneself.

Best Stories from Around the World is a collection of timeless pieces from the world's greatest storytellers-Oscar Wilde, O' Henry, Saki, H.G. Wells, Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and many more. Hailing from different countries such as America, Ireland, the United Kingdom and India, this book is an entertaining consolidation of diverse stories which cover a broad range of topics and themes. While 'The Gift of the Magi' resonates with the sense of love and loss, 'The Selfish Giant' and 'Rip Van Winkle' relives our childhood. Some stories warm your heart, some make you think and some delight you with their magical language while at the same time they explore universal themes and arouse a gamut of responses. A must-have, this book offers a plethora of classics to read and enjoy for any lover of a good story.

Description The Chowtas ruled over Ullal and surrounding areas of coastal Karnataka. Many rulers in this dynasty were women, and at least two carried the name Rani Abbakka. They have gone down in history and folklore as fearsome warriors who fiercely defended their tiny kingdom, and repeatedly defeated the Portuguese. This is the story of Abbakka III. Abbakka grows up knowing she will rule over the kingdom one day-the one that was ruled by her grandmother Abbakka II and her mother Rani Tirumala Devi. Abbakka trains with all her heart in everything a queen needs to know, and never tires of hearing the tales of sea battles that her grandmother waged against the firangis. But Abbakka is also a young girl who loves adventure. She sets out on dangerous missions to track down spies on the seas. She accompanies her mother in a secret plan to outwit the Portuguese as they try to capture the kingdom's precious pepper crop. And then there is the handsome, mysterious boy from Mangalore, who she likes enormously... Steeped in the culture and history of the region, The Teenage Diary of Abbakka is the fictional diary of an unusual girl growing up during an exciting time-a girl who would eventually go to any lengths to protect and defend her kingdom.