Nature lovers, beach kids and poetry fans will all find something to connect with in this beautiful story. I love how the author weaves Geetha's experience with that of a stranded seal. As the seal grows stronger Geetha gains a greater understanding of her own experiences.I highly recommend this title for middle grade readers

This book is a sweet and thoughtful look at moving far away and leaving things behind, and the power of activism. Perfect for early middle-grade readers. Easy read, and enjoyable.

This is a quick read. It is written in verse and flows well. I found it to be a good story but nothing special good character development. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

A beautiful middle grade novel in verse about the things that bring us together (in a country where things so often pull us apart).

Geetha is the main character kids need today. She is 100% relatable. A close family, experiencing being uprooting and moving to a new place. A middle schooler experiencing bullying, displacement, and racism. Honestly just trying to find something or someone or someplace that feels like belonging.

Not only that, Geetha is a go-getter. And she discovers that no matter who you are or how young you are, you can absolutely make a difference. I loved the ultimately positive message of this story. As a flute player and sometime poet myself, this character felt super personal. And, of course as a naturalist, I loved Geetha's interactions with the baby seal!

"And we're close enough that I glimpse
a faint dot of light flickering deep
in the pools of his dark eyes.
like a lonely firefly on a moonless night
searching for a friend."

A hopeful portrait of a new immigrant navigating friendships and bullies who finds her way through environmental activism. Topics of adult mental health and divorce added to the depth of the story. Kids will like the story of the harbor seal pup's recovery and relate to the protagonist and her struggles.

Told in verse, this middle grade novel follows a young girl named Geetha as she moves with her mother from India to Rhode Island. Geetha experiences great culture shock and misses the food, family, and life that she knew. Although heavy topics are present: divorce, anxiety, bullying, and injured animals, the narrative never gets weighed down by sadness. Geetha is a sweet protagonist, and this title is very accessible for elementary students and could be used to spark larger conversations about immigration and environmental issues.

I got an ARC of this book.

I am a sucker for an animal rescue story. I will ugly cry and not be able to handle the animal parts of the plots at all. I am a total wimp when it comes to these stories, but this one never really hit that emotional high for me. Is this because I am finally able to read an animal book without crying or was this book just slightly not seal enough?

The main plot is a young girl dealing with her parents divorce which led to her mother moving them to another country away from everything she knows. Not only is everything new, but her mom has mental health issues. Learning English in India meant learning British English, which is brought up in a poem one time. There were a few other differences that the MC had to deal with like nodding in different in India and the US. Those little differences gave the book a bit of flavor, which I enjoyed. It strengthened the MC trying to adjust to a new culture plot.

There was little to no seal plot. They visited the seal a few times, but weren’t really able to interact with the seal. There was a good reason and I can support it, but it ruins some of the magic that they could see a sick seal through glass and then watch for a few minutes when it was in a kiddie pool. I understand why this plot was more minor, because it felt like it was more realistic than so many other animal rescue stories. It is probably why I didn’t cry. I didn’t get emotionally attached to the seal. I wanted the seal to live, of course, but I wasn’t emotionally invested in the very little that I got to know about the situation.

The mom’s mental health issues and her going to school felt like it was also thrown on. I am glad it allowed for parents who struggle to still be seen as good parents and allows for kids to see that parents aren’t perfect. It just was never fleshed out.

None of the plots were ever fleshed out. I think that is the biggest weakness of this book. It needed to be twice as long to really handle all the plots that were happening and give them the emotional depth I have been seeing in other novels in verse in the middle grade world in the last year.

This was a sweet book about friendship and loss, told through verse. This book is different from Padma Venkatraman's usual titles, but I still ended up enjoying it a lot. I really liked the relationship between Geeta and her mother, and how Geeta was still able to express her frustration and love with her parent. I also appreciated the normalization of divorce and parenting with depression. I enjoyed the growth of the characters throughout the book, and how Geeta was able to connect with others through environmentalism and helping the harbor seal. Finally, I enjoyed Geeta's use of music as therapy, both personal and in helping the harbor seal heal.

Geetha and her mother move to the United States from India. She has left behind her father, grandparents, friends, dog, way of life. Although mom found a place for them to live, she has to go to the thrift store for clothes, which her new classmates make fun of. She loves playing her flute every morning, until a neighbor complains she is being too loud, too early.

One day she meets a boy named Miguel, who has also left his family to move to the apartment building with his mom. As they are walking on the beach one day, they find a seal caught in wire, stranded on the shore. Geetha and Miguel visit the seal every day at the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center and she is allowed to play the songs and poems she writes on her flute to him.

Throughout the book, she learns about her mom, Miguel and his family, the kids at school, and herself and her strength. I plan to read this book with my students because it is a good story about loss, growth, and that we all face uncomfortable times in life. I think this is a five star read for not only the Middle Grade it is recommended for, but readers of all ages.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange to an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman.
Safe Harbor is a novel in verse that shows the resilience of a young girl moving to the US from India. Geetha connects to her struggles by focusing on her music and a hurt seal pup. This is a sweet story that teaches children to be true to themselves even when life gets difficult. Being a novel in verse, this book will appeal to elementary students.

Great novel in verse about changes both in life and our environment. Compelling story with heartfelt characters. Enjoyable and engaging read.

This novel in verse is both engaging and accessible to middle grade readers, particularly the who enjoy a well-written story about friendship, understanding and saving our environment.

When Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents’ divorce, they leave behind everything Geetha loves. As if leaving behind everything wasn’t already tough enough, Geetha gets bullied at school for her clothes, her food, and her English (who knew there were two different English ways of spelling things!). Geetha finds solace in playing her flute and writing poetry, and even more when she meets Miguel and the two of them help rescue an injured harp seal pup stranded on the beach.

As time moves on, Geetha feels her anger growing; she’s never been so sad or angry - anger at those who pollute the sea and sadness over the animals who get hurt from it, anger at her mom for moving her halfway across the world… but then Miguel and her start up a beach cleanup she’s surprised by how many kind kids are out there who want to help. When it’s time to let the baby seal go, Geetha has mixed feelings, knowing she’ll miss him, but also wanting what’s best for him. As she’s learning to live with mixed emotions and feelings, she also comes to understand that even though there will be rough waters, there are plenty of safe harbors out there too.

Over these last few years, I’ve really come to love novels in verse, especially when it’s aimed at the younger crowd of middle grade readers because it almost forces the author to be more particular on their word choices. This novel didn’t disappoint at all and it was simple, but still powerful.

I love how opening a book is like opening a door,
taking me to a different time and place,
Into someone else’s head and heart.

This novel not only focuses on climate change and beach cleaning, but also has to do with mental health a lot. Geetha is growing up and having to deal with a lot of change all at once and that can take a toll on anybody. She knows she has anger and resentment, but she doesn’t know how to handle that - this book talks you through her journey.

Overall, this is a simple but powerful novel in verse that will show young readers to be the change they want to see in the world.

*Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC. Safe Harbor is a novel in verse and was wonderful. Geetha has just moved from India to Rhode Island after her parents divorce. Geetha is angry to be seperated from her family who was her safe place. Geetha meets her first friend on the beach where a baby seal has been hurt by pollution in the water. This sets Geetha to get involved with cleaning up the beaches to prevent this from happening again.
I enjoyed this story and will be adding to our school Library.

*Safe Harbor* by Padma Venkatraman is a beautifully written novel-in-verse that explores resilience, friendship, and survival. The story follows Deepa and her older sister, Sita, who are forced to navigate homelessness in Chennai after their mother disappears. Venkatraman’s lyrical prose captures the raw emotions of fear, hope, and sisterly love with deep sensitivity. I was completely drawn into Deepa’s journey, rooting for her as she discovers inner strength and the power of human kindness. This is a poignant and unforgettable read that lingers long after the final page—I’m so glad to add it to my books-in-verse shelf in my classroom!

Thank you for NetGalley and the Penguin Group for this Arc.

This novel in verse tells the story of Geetha an immigrant to the US. She loves to play the flute and writes poetry. Although, she has a difficult time at first making friends at school, she makes friends with Miguel. Together they visit the library and play music together. When she and Miguel find a harp seal stranded on the beach, Geetha uses music and her school community to help the seal. I loved the sense of community that Geetha finds and the message of the story. I liked the length of the book. I believe the cover of the seal will capture the attention of the readers and the format and length of the book will keep them reading.

“Tears are just water. It shouldn’t hurt so much when you try holding them in.”
Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman is middle grade realistic fiction written in verse. This is the story of Geetha, who has recently immigrated with her mother to the United States from India. She faces many struggles that lots of children face today: divorce, immigration, bullying, mental health, and concerns for the environment.
I LOVE novels in verse. It always amazes me how an author can tell a story so beautifully in so few words. This novel addresses a lot of sensitive topics that could easily be overwhelming for a child but, each topic is delicately handled, making this a wonderful reading experience. Because of the variety of topics dealt with, there is something nearly everyone can relate to.
This would be a great addition to a library servicing upper elementary or middle school students. I would recommend this to 4th grade & up.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My students will love this short novel in verse and will be drawn to the beautiful cover. It’s about animal rescue, settling in a new country, and forming new friendships. They’ll like Greta and feel for her situation as she settles in a new place. It’s a great book to build empathy. I love the environmentalism component and plan to purchase multiple copies for my book club u it on the topic.

This book was an easy read and is perfect for middle grade students. I really enjoyed the layers of the book from the enviromental issues to the bullying situation. I wish Geetha had been brave enough in the end to turn in her bullies or confront them, but reality is that most kids will do neither. I think this book has the ability to connect to many readers- those who are nature lovers, those who have been bullied, those who have immigrated to a new country, those who have ever been the "new kid", those who feel different than everyone. There is something for everyone to connect with this story.

Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman is about a young girl that immigrates from India to the United States. Although she is fluent in English, she quickly finds that there are some differences between the English she was taught and the English that is spoken in the United States. In addition, she faces cultural challenges and the challenges that come with adjusting to a new school and making new friends. Padma finds comfort in her music and then finds friendship with a boy names Miguel when the two help an injured seal they find on the beach. From there, Padma discovers a whole new set of challenges, but as she learns more about herself and those around her, she's able to learn how to face these challenges and work toward solutions.

This novel-in-verse is relatively short, but manages to tackle a variety of tough topics including immigration, divorce, bullying, friendship, global warming, and environmental awareness. Overall, I felt like the author did a great job finding some balance among these topics, BUT at the same time I felt like it was a little overwhelming to keep track of everything that was going on. I think this book would actually have done great as a series with deeper dives into each topic. For example, the themes of global warming and environmental awareness come up early in the book, but they don't really have a major role in the story until around the 75% mark. I enjoyed the growth that Padma experienced and I appreciate that the author based at least some of the story off of her own experiences, but I just wish there was more to some parts of the story.

I think that young readers with be able to relate to Padma in different ways while also gaining insight into some of the experiences that others face. The novel-in-verse format helps make this book more accessible to readers and I think the human and animal characters will help draw readers in. Overall, I think this book will make a good addition to school and classroom libraries.