Praise for Bracelets for Bina's Brothers
This culturally relevant, STEM-savvy picture book showcases a strong female protagonist.
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Rajani LaRocca’s follow up to MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM is a deeply moving #OwnVoices middle-grade verse novel, set in 1983, about a 13-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants. Torn between two worlds, Reha struggles to be both Indian and American, as she navigates through middle school, first love, and grief and loss when tragedy strikes. Full of relatable characters and situations, RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE’s message to stay resilient, hopeful, and loving is necessary and timely.
Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, Massachusetts
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Truly, one of the most heart-expanding stories ever, filled with kindness, music, mythology, all of those things. But above all, here is a story of love, and the ways in which it transcends nationalities, age, science, and fear. In LaRocca’s gifted hands, her Reha shows us how to live in the world, even when it feels divided, even then.
Kathi AppeltNational Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor-winning author of The Underneath and Keeper
Praise for Midsummer’s Mayhem
Midsummer’s Mayhem is delightful confection of a family story full of heart, magic, and a baking championship with mysteriously high stakes! LaRocca takes Shakespeare’s almost throwaway reference from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and reclaims it, by centering a multiracial Indian-American family in her tale. Mimi’s pluck, gentle courage, and knack for combining flavors will capture reader’s hearts, imaginations, and undoubtedly, taste buds!
Sayantani DasGuptaauthor of the NYT-bestselling Kiranmala and The Kingdom Beyond series
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 Midsummer’s Mayhem
Laugh-out-loud funny one moment and mouth-wateringly delicious the next, Midsummer’s Mayhem is an utter pleasure to consume from the very first page! LaRocca’s debut novel entices and bewitches—I dare you not to fall under its spell.
Tara Dairmanauthor of The Great Hibernation and the award-winning All Four Stars series
Praise for The Secret Code Inside You
Dynamic and eye-catching . . . A solid introduction to a complex topic.
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Seven Golden Rings
[Seven Golden Rings] succeeds both as an entertaining read-aloud and as a teasing introduction to the binary system.
Booklist STARRED Review
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
Midsummer’s Mayhem has all the ingredients for a delightful read: developed characters, delectable dessert descriptions, and a dash of magic. Toss with Shakespeare and sprinkle in realistic family conflicts, and LaRocca has created a poignant story of friendship that will warm the hearts of readers.
Erin Dionneauthor of The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet and Secrets of a Fangirl
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 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 Red, White, and Whole
Rajani LaRocca’s RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE explores the difficulties and joys experienced by immigrants through the eyes of Reha. Reha is of two worlds, her parents are from India but she was born in the US, and she often finds herself torn between the two. She has two best friends, one she sees during the week at school and one she sees on weekends when she spends time with other Indian families, and feels like she lives two different lives. When her mother gets a scary medical diagnosis Reha decid… Read more
Faith Parke-Dodge, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Praise for Much Ado About Baseball
A Much Ado About Nothing homage that explores parental expectations, complicated friendships, and teamwork. A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem.
Kirkus Reviews, STARRED 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
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 Midsummer's Mayhem
Absolutely scrumptious! I fell in love with this book and devoured it in one day. LaRocca crafts a spell of tricky fairies, lovable mortals, and heartfelt magic. Mimi is determined, resourceful, and unfailingly kind. Perfect for aspiring bakers, younger siblings, or anyone with a passion.
Anna Merianoauthor of the Love, Sugar, Magic series
Praise for Much Ado About Baseball
The book — like its companion — is an utter delight. It’s the perfect read for anyone who loves stories about family, friendship, and most importantly, baseball.
Paul Swydan, Silver Unicorn Bookstore
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
The realistic characters and complex family dynamics augment the tightly knit plot, and the mouthwatering descriptions of food are guaranteed to make readers hungry. . .A delectable treat for food and literary connoisseurs alike.
Kirkus, Starred Review
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
What a wonderful, intriguing, and magical book. And wow, did it ever get my tastebuds going! Each time I picked it up, I felt the urge to head to my kitchen. . . . What I loved most was the smartness of it. It never once doubted its young readers.
Kathy AppeltNewbery Honor and National Book Award nominated author
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