Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
I’m hungry for all the treats in this story and for more books from Rajani LaRocca. Mimi is a kind and inquisitive girl that you instinctively root for, and her struggles with failure really resonated with me. This play on Shakespeare with a culinary twist is absolutely delightful and, dare I say it, scrumptious. More, more, more!
Sami ThomasonSquare Books, Oxford, MS
Praise for Much Ado About Baseball
This ambitious, layered story pulls together sports, Shakespeare, and mathematics while conveying a sweet, accessible message of the value of friendship and forgiveness.
School Library Journal
Praise for Much Ado About Baseball
In addition to the wonders of the game, readers will encounter magical delights like fairy dust, a Fountain of Youth, Books of Power and mildly poisonous snacks.
Linda Sue Park in the New York Times Book Review
Praise for Seven Golden Rings
This heartwarming rags-to-riches story is accompanied by vivid illustrations that pulse with detail, movement, and color. … A cleverly imagined story with a delightful premise.
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Seven Golden Rings
LaRocca’s story, cast in the cadence of classic folktales, is enlivened by the contrast of Sreenivasan’s cartoon illustrations, which render tableaux in a magenta-tinged palette. A deft and engaging introduction to a sometimes flummoxing subject.
Publishers Weekly STARRED Review
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
This deeply memorable coming-of-age story weaves Indian mythology with the relatable modern story of Reha, as she grapples with identity, family, and what it means to truly be home.
Joy McCulloughAuthor of Blood Water Paint; A Field Guide to Getting Lost; and We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire
Praise for Much Ado About BaseballBaseball provides energetic context to this story in alternating voices of friends in a lovingly drawn and diverse community. Add magic, numbers, Shakespeare, and lashings of mystery, all seasoned with artful sprinkles of culinary flavor and equal parts humor and heart. Cleverly adjacent to the world of Midsummer’s Mayhem, yet standing wonderfully well alone.
Uma Krishnaswami, Author and Astrid Lindgren Award nominee
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
Enchantment reigns, yet the author’s exploration of family, friendship, and self-esteem are firmly grounded in reality.
Publishers Weekly Review
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
This riff on A Midsummer Night’s Dream is heartfelt and ridiculously fun. Mimi, sweet as sugar with a heart of gold, creates as many problems as she solves, but readers will be cheering for her and her family the whole way.
Booklist Review
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
An entertaining and epicurean retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. . . . Strikes a perfect balance between the pleasant and the melancholy, as sweet and savory as one of Mimi’s confections.
Shelf Awareness
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
This delightful and delicious spin on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream flows beautifully into a sensitive and thoughtful novel that addresses family dynamics and self-confidence alongside mouth-watering descriptions of food. Readers will relate to Mimi’s attempts to stand out and find her place and will be thrilled by the magical baking.
School Library Journal Review
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
An intimate novel that beautifully confronts grief and loss.
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
I felt this novel in verse in my bones. An important book, it will change how young readers see their world. And that’s the best kind of book to read at any age.
Jane YolenAuthor of The Devil's Arithmetic, Briar Rose, and Mapping the Bones
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Red, White, and Whole is the lyrical and poignant journey of a first generation Indian American girl growing up in the eighties. LaRocca weaves together a beautiful mix of themes– identity, belonging, love, devastating loss, and eighties pop music rendered in seamless verse. A book I wish I had growing up in the eighties!
Veera HiranandaniAuthor of Newbery Honor The Night Diary
Praise for Midsummer’s Mayhem
Taking its inspiration from one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Midsummer’s Mayhem is a sweet and fun story about mistaken identity, bumpy romance, and the everyday magic of baking.
Barbara Deeauthor of Star-Crossed and Maybe He Just Likes You
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
LaRocca takes us back to 1983 with eighth grader Reha, who feels like she has two different lives– her American life at school, and her Indian life at home. Sometimes it feels impossible for those two worlds to mix. Ultimately, her Amma is her moon, and Reha is the stars– the meanings of their names. When Amma is diagnosed with leukemia, all variations of Reha’s lives come crashing down. Red, White, and Whole is a beautiful, poignant novel-in-verse about family, friendships, and the lifetime-end… Read more
Andrew King, University Bookstore, Seattle, WA
Praise for Midsummer’s Mayhem
Midsummer’s Mayhem is an enchantment of a novel, bursting with magic, mystery, and mouth-watering baked goods. Readers who have their own baking-show dreams will be cheering for Mimi until the very last page.
Kate Messneraward-winning author of Breakout, The Seventh Wish, and All the Answers
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Infused with science, 80’s music, and the struggles and joys of navigating middle school when you live in two different worlds, RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE is delightfully real and achingly beautiful. Reha’s story grabbed my heart from the first pages and never let go.
Kate MessnerAuthor of Breakout and Chirp
Praise for Bracelets for Bina's Brothers
The vibrant colors and perky tone of this culturally specific yet universally appealing book make for a fun read-aloud with a bit of a math lesson sneaked in.
Booklist Review
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Don’t mind me, I’m just over here crying. What an incredibly beautiful, intense read. I’m in awe of how much LaRocca manages to fit into so few words, from Reha’s different friendships to her family connections to all the wonderful retellings of Indian stories. Every single metaphor is perfect, from the moon to the different blood cells. I can see this book being a great tool for writing teachers as well as an inspiration for young readers to look to stories and poetry for comfort in dif… Read more
Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC