It is 1997 in Sri Lanka, and Kavi is your average 10-year-old, fangirling over Shah Rukh Khan and studying hard for her year 5 scholarship exams. Only, she is also coming to terms with the recent loss of her father, and even more recent re-marriage of her mother to a man she intends to despise for the rest of her life.

Kavi’s life takes a complicated turn however, when she wins a scholarship to a reputed “bigger and better” school in Colombo, and what she hoped would be the start of an exciting new life for just her and her mother, turns out to be a solo escape from her poverty-stricken village to a new and scary life in the big city.

Set against the backdrop of the country’s civil war, I Am Kavi – scheduled to be published in the US this September- is a rich and tender middle grade (8-12yrs) novel in verse, where debut author Thushanthi Ponweera cleverly employs imagery-driven lyricism to help tell Kavi’s story in a contemporary narrative structure that is both poetic and captivating.

From the incandescent glow of jasmine flowers, the transparent flaps of the tuk-tuk driving through rain, to the intimidating presence of soldiers and checkpoints, we witness through Kavi’s innocent eyes, what it is like to live a very ordinary life in quite an extraordinary setting.

In Colombo, Kavi comes to live with her maternal aunt who is employed as a maid and we watch as she, wide-eyed, takes in all the opulence of a life so far removed from her own, while also grappling with the terms and conditions of societal classism.

As the novel progresses, we watch as Kavi learns to navigate her new life, friends, and conflicting emotions – even going to great lengths to earn her place in a discriminatory society, feeling deeply her sensitivities and her failings, and even celebrating her wins as she journeys towards defining belonging, family, and where happiness truly lies.

Another beautiful middle grade novel in verse that is a must read!

I’m sad to say I wasn’t familiar with The Sri Lanken Civil War prior to reading this but am so thankful that a middle grade has touched upon the topic. The novel takes place in 1998 Colombo. A coming of age story about finding peace with yourself, fitting in and starting a new school. Kavi grew up in a small village and received a scholarship to a school in the city… taking on a new persona to fit in with her peers, her lies quickly escalate and soon backfire.

The book is full of character and culture. I think young readers will gravitate toward Kavi’s bravery and the beautiful way the author has laid out the text!

Thank you Holiday House for the ecopy!

I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera explores a Sri Lankan girl, nicknamed Kavi, who finds herself feeling lost and angry during the Sri Lankan Civil War. Her mother seems to have moved on from her father’s death and married a new man and is newly pregnant and there seems to be no room in their lives for Kavi. Furthermore, Kavi’s mom is sending her to a new school and to stay with her aunt, which would take her away from the only friend she has.

As a coming-of-age story, this book succeeds in fleshing out Kavi’s internal voice and her struggles while also casting the other characters like her mom in a sympathetic light. The war is an ever-present shadow looming over them and the little details here and there like making sure you don’t leave any bags on public transport add to that sense of realism and are a reminder of the tumultuous times Sri Lankans had to live through. There’s a matter-of-fact acceptance that Kavi and other characters hold that this is their reality.

Kavi is very rootable and her feelings of confusion, anger, and longing to fit in are done well. The other characters are also solid, especially the aunt that she ends up living with, and I love that there’s so much affection and love there between the two.

Unfortunately, the last half of the book is where the story fell flat for me. All the issues set up are resolved so easily and it’s as if a middle part was completely missing where Kavi has to face these challenges and reflect on herself and her relationships. Issues like her fake new friends, her feeling uncomfortable in the new school, her antagonism towards her stepfather and her resentment and hurt towards her mother, are solved in 2-3 sentences. It feels bewilderingly short.

Overall, I Am Kavi is a lovely story of a girl growing up and finding herself in a very chaotic time. While many characters are solidly done, the overall plot and themes did feel like the book was on double speed and there wasn’t enough development for me to personally enjoy the latter half. I can’t wait though to see the book when it comes out in print so I can see how it’s formatted since it’s in-verse.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review has been scheduled to be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and my blog on September 5, 2023.

this was okay, but read a little juvenile and i didn't feel connected to the characters or what happens to them at all. i can see other reader enjoying this a lot tho!

— thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the free digital ARC.

Ponweera has done a fabulous job in creating a memorable character, addressing issues many kids would relate to, and narrating it in a manner that young readers would cherish.
The author not just highlights Kavi’s personal struggles, she weaves in serious socio-political themes like civil war, racism, poverty, societal divide, disability, and even death without getting into much graphic details. She explores varied family dynamics, village life, and local culture and transitions. 

Younger readers will surely enjoy this book. It is easy to read, fast moving, touching, and inspiring. Despite the serious themes, the tone is quite optimistic, even humorous at times.

There are many characters in this story. Some major, and many secondary. But not one of them is out of place or sketched inappropriately. 

There’s a lot to learn from Kavi’s journey. Her story teaches children to be brave and courageous, the power of acceptance, forgiveness, and love. It’s also a good opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss civil disobedience in Sri Lanka. 

I loved reading ‘I am Kavi,’ and am waiting to read more of Ponweera’s works.

I Am Kavi is s novel in verse of endearing Kavi, with whom you can’t help but empathize- feeling unwanted, unequal, inadequate, unworthy. An ending that feels like an embrace, reassurance. Beautifully written.

This beautiful middle grade novel-in-verse follows Kavi, a young girl in a small village, who gets the opportunity to go to a big school in the capital of Columbo on scholarship.

Kavi makes friends and makes mistakes, though my favorite aspect of the book is her rocky relationship with her mother.

Just like any ten-year-old, Kavi's jealousies and desires to be wanted manifest in stubborn ways, to the point that she doesn't even look back at her mother when she leaves.

It must be all those Hindi movies I watch / that's made me such a good / actress.

Another aspect of the book that I loved was the peek at Sri Lankan religious traditions, with Kavi's commentary and her occasional not-quite-devout arguments with Lord Buddha.

The book is set in 1998 against the backdrop of the decades-long Sri Lankan civil war. There is no conflict shown in the book - life goes on in Columbo - but there is an author's note with historical background at the end.

This was a lovely and poetic look at a girl's life in 1990s Sri Lanka ( also the same time that the author grew up) and it was a joy to read.

Plus this cover is stunning!

(will post to my blog closer to the release date)

What a stunning historical fiction book in verse! I loved how Thushanthi was able to weave a story illustrating civil war in Sri Lanka as well as a story of a teenage girl living and making my mistakes, but also growing and loving. I loved watching Kavi grow throughout the book. The poetry was also really beautiful-I highlighted many lines!

Set in 1998 during the Sri Lankan war, Kavi's father has died and her mother remarried quickly and is now expecting a new baby. Feeling as if she has lost both her father and her mother, Kavi craves the love and attention she once felt. Upon earning a scholarship, she enrolls in what is considered a better school in the city. The rich family her Mala Nanda (Aunt) works for as a maid agreed to take her in while she attends school. A whole new world of fancy cars, credit cards, clothing, and more entices Kavi to lie about who she is to be a part of the social scene.

Engaging verse provides introspection of the war going on inside Kavi's mind, juxtaposed with the literal war simultaneously going on in her country. As she evolves with her experiences, self-love lays the foundation for being open to receiving love from others. Kavi's tenacity serves her well in this charming middle grade debut.

This free verse novel was pretty good. I enjoyed the story of Kavi and her struggle to fit in to a new school.

4.5 stars

wow, this book is truly beautiful. it's the kind of peace that comes with growing up, and there's a certain truth to that. reading this book was fairly easy, it was quick and short—perfect for younger audiences. and the prose is just another tool the author uses to draw you into kavi's world. and this was a middle grade book set in the global south so it has a special place in my heart 💛 kavi's journey might be just another person in the world, but it truly felt unique. from her being a scholarship student to wanting to be like the other girls & her coming on terms with her family, this novel was a joy to read!

— thank you NetGalley and Holiday House, for presenting me with an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. all opinions are my own.

This novel in verses is set during Sri Lankan civil war and is narrated by Kavy, its main character. She is a Buddhist, Sinhalese young girl who after living and studying in her small hometown is sent to study in a big city where she faces new challenges and questions her real self. While Kavy hears about bombs in the news she is dealing more with problems related to puberty and class differences.
Kavy is a short novel about identity, family, and strength.
This is a children's novel but also it could be a one-sitting-read for adults. I enjoyed the popular culture elements from the late 90s because as a millennial, the first songs that I learned in English were from Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls. For children, this could be a good reminder of always be truthful.

I appreciated that at the end, the setting background about the war is well explained and also, it includes a glossary of the words used in Sinhalese.

Thank you Holiday House/ Peachtree Publishers/Pixel+ink for the e-ARC.

Pub date: September 19th, 2023

This is the story about Kavi, a girl growing up in a village in Sri Lanka. She scores the highest on her exams and qualifies to go to an elite new school. She stays with her aunt, who is a maid for a wealthy family. This is a story about growing up and finding your way. I really enjoyed this verse novel. I learned about many new things. A definite must middle grade read.

With beautiful poetry, I AM KAVI introduces the reader to a country and historical event they probably know very little about. The characters were well rounded ad I was all in rooting for Kavi, even when she was making bad decisions. I loved the inclusion of her Buddhist religion and the nuanced transition if her blended family.

In I am Kavi, we get to meet Kavi, a Sinhalese girl from a small village in Srilanka. We get to see what her day to day routine and how her life changed (she thinks it's changed) when her mom remarried. As the story starts we get to know that she's won a scholarship and she can attend a great school in the city. Kavi's world is shattered when her mom can't accompany her to the city as she's pregnant. Kavi thinks that she's no longer part of the family and her mom and her stepfather want her gone.
In city, everything is new for her. From Tv to car to the rich children in her class. Inorder to fit in, she lies. She lies about herself, her home, her family status. All the lies bite her back when one thing goes wrong and everything she has built in this new life crashes down. How she faces the problem and gives second chance to her step dad and getting together with her mom is what the story unravels. I liked her innocence and understood her inner struggles and loved the relationship between her and Sasha. The cultural representation was done well. As a tamilian myself, I had heard so much about the war between Sri Lankan government and LTTE growing up. And being a kid in either side during that period would definitely cause a trauma that I can't even fathom about it.
In one Tamil movie, a eelam Tamil kid who was adopted by Tamil parents wants to meet her biological mother. So the parents take her to Srilanka in search of her mother amidst war. When they meet, the kid asks her biological mom to come to Tamilnadu and the mom responds saying 'I'll come when the peace is restored ' and the child asks 'when?'
Even though the civil war is ended, people are still fighting and I hope the peace is restored soon so that no Kavi from either side has to live their lives with fear.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this novel in verse.

I really enjoyed this one, and think many of my students will get pulled right in. It's a wonderful story, and the beauty of the verse enhances this tale.

Ten-year old Kavi passes the scholarship test with flying colors, affording her the opportunity to choose the school she wants to attend in Sri Lanka of the late 1990's. She looks forward to living with her mother in a safer, better location. When her mother informs her that she is staying put with Kavi's new stepfather and that she is pregnant, Kavi is convinced she has lost her mother's love. She resents the man who has replaced his dead father. She lives with her mother's older sister in Columbe in the house where her aunt is the maid. Influenced by the spoiled daughter of the house, Sasha, Kavi neglects her studies and focuses on being friends with the popular girls and dressing and acting cool. She lies about her family and home in order to fit in, something she comes to regret later on. This typical middle school coming of age book has a new spin because of its setting: Sri Lanka during the war years.

Wow. Absolutely beautifully written in prose format (I kept thinking "its like Elizabeth Acevedo, but better"). Additionally there was a great lesson about friendship and changing schools and living with a step-parent during the Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009).

I'm embarrassed to admit how little I know about Sri Lanka. Thank you to Thushanthi Ponweera for the introduction to Sri Lanka in her book I am Kavi. So glad that you wrote this book!

This book is just perfect and I plan to purchase it for my niece. I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover, but it is definitely worth purchasing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of I Am Kavi in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher (Holiday House) for approving my review request. Publication date is 19 Sept 2023.

I hope this book is a finalist for GoodReads Readers Choice. This book is going on my personal "best of 2023" list.

thanks to holiday house and netgalley for this arc!

i am kavi follows kavi, a sri lankan girl growing up during the sri lankan civil war and truly this book gets better the more you read.

to start off i love middle-grade verse. something about it, especially from authors such as rajani larocca and now thushanthi ponweera just hits the right spot for me. this only added to this great story. from the start kavi is an incredibly loveable character: she loves her mother, works incredibly hard, is incredibly smart and is just overall the perfect protagonist to root for. every mistake she makes she owns up to and it was never frustrating to see her make these bad decisions as you can see where she is coming from at all times. this book was just so wonderful to read and to truly sit and enjoy the beauty of life and love.

An exemplary "fit-in" story expressed in a poetic form. Being a Sri Lankan myself, some events and actions are relatable, and give me a wave of nostalgia. Amazing plot and character building.  I would look forward to seeing more of Ms. Ponweera's work.