Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this stunning novel in verse. Geetha and her mom are US immigrants from India, who learn to embrace the American Dream and still keep their own traditions from India. Children and teachers can take away many lessons of empathy and also learn about Indian culture. WE need more books like this about children coming here to the US from everywhere in the world. It is important to learn about other cultures and be respectful of others traditions, language, religion, etc. I will definitely use Safe Harbor in my Social Studies class!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this before its publication date.

What a beautiful novel in verse! Starting at a new school is tough, add to that moving to a new country and feeling like you don't fit in with the other students. Geetha struggles to find her place in her new life. This novel does a wonderful job of showing the real life struggles that young people go through every day, while still showing the sunshine at the end of a rough storm.

A perfect middle grade novel written in verse about a young girl dealing with lots of important topics, moving to a new country, making friends and the environment. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

This novel in verse is the story of Geetha, who is starting over after moving with her mom from India to the United States. She struggles to fit in. With the help of family, new friends, and a sweet rescued seal named Santo- Geetha slowly starts to settle in to her new home. This is a story with a theme of resilience. I recommend this book for middle grade readers.

I read a lot of novels in verse (I love them!), but not all of them truly feel like poetry. This one does. Each word is selected with such intention and meaning that the reader doesn’t want to miss a single detail.

Geetha’s mother has moved the two of them to the United States and upended everything in their lives. Geetha struggles with sadness, anger, and loneliness as she struggles to adjust to her new surroundings. Readers with an artistic and sensitive soul will resonate with her, as she finds solace through music, poetry, and nature.

Though the story itself is simple, its impact is profound. Themes of belonging, climate change, activism, and the healing power of artistic expression are woven beautifully throughout, making this a moving and meaningful read. It’s a quick read but one that I would recommend for students who love nature or art!

BORN BEHIND BARS is the only other Venkatraman title I have read, but SAFE HARBOR is one I will also gladly add to my classroom library shelves. Geetha's story is much quieter and more introspective, but every student who has ever had to start over in a new place or found friends in a shelter from bullies will identify with this book. Geetha finds a stranded seal pup with Miguel, an act that leads to new friendships and interests, and she becomes braver about claiming her place in her new world. A quiet, heart-warming story that will be loved by kids interested in environmental causes.

My two favorite lines for book-lovers:
-- "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."
-- "If Library was a kind of perfume, I'd want to spray it on my hands: the scent of words preserved and passed down."

Thanks to the publisher for the e-copy via NetGalley.

T his book contains multitudes. I love how the novel in verse form forces the author to be particularly careful with each word and phrase as they carry so much meaning. This book contained talk of mental health, immigrants, cultures, pollution, and bullying. It was well done and sweet by the end. I really enjoyed it!

Sweet story of life-changing moments for Geetha as she comes to a new country and faces many challenges. She finds hope and friendship in Miguel and their rescue and care for Santo the seal.. Easy to read prose style made this enjoyable and a quick read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is such a sweet middle grade story I think my third graders would adore. I love an animal rescue story, but especially stories where the animals rescue the humans just as much, I think this would be a hit in any middle grade classroom.

Geetha and her mother left India to come to America after the divorce. Geetha is sad to leave behind her grandparents, she misses her father, who stopped seeing her and misses her life. Adjusting to a new school is difficult and the kids are not welcoming. Then while out on the beach she finds a wounded seal pup. This will help Geetha find her bravery and adjust to her new life.

Told in verse, this middle grade novel deals with immigration, divorce, bullying, mental health, and so many issues that face our students today. It is a fast and beautiful read. I have already added this to my library and I hope that it will be added to elementary and public libraries.

Thank you to Net Galley, Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group, and Nancy Paulsen Books for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

This is a great story for middle school readers who find themselves in a new environment and feel alone. Geetha and her Mom move from India to the United States leaving behind family, friends, and pets. Geetha struggles with her new home, school, and lack of friends. Geetha is also dealing with abandonment by her father. She is trying hard to keep from upsetting her Mom as she deals with depression and anxiety. Eventually, Geetha meets a boy her age, Miguel. He makes her feel welcome and together they save a seal that has washed up on shore. They form an attachment to the seal and find a mutual cause that they take back to their schools and help bring the community together as well as help Geetha finally feel like she belongs.

A beautiful novel in verse about finding one's place in a new country. I absolutely LOVED the symbolism in this book - it made such difficult concepts so accessible for middle grade readers.

Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents’ divorce, leaving behind everything she loves—her family, friends, and even her dog. Adjusting to a new school is tough, especially when she's bullied for her clothes, food, and the way she speaks English. But through music, poetry, and an unexpected friendship with Miguel, she finds solace, especially when they work together to rescue an injured harp seal, helping Geetha navigate her own emotions and discover that even in rough waters, safe harbors exist.

My review: A beautifully written and relevant story, this novel in verse evokes compassion and empathy while celebrating music, nature, and belonging. Young environmentalists will love its message, and readers will connect with Geetha’s journey of loss, change, and finding home in new places. Highly recommended!

Genres/Themes: Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes - Emigration, Immigration & Refugees / Science & Nature - Environment / Social Themes - Friendship

[Title] is scheduled for publication on Jan 21 2025, by Nancy Paulsen Books.

I always enjoy reading verse novels. This one does a really good job of addressing the struggles of starting over in a new country; environmental impact; dealing with bullies. Mental health is also addressed. The author's note and list of resources are a welcome addition. I would pair this novel with Song For a Whale by Lynn Kelly, connecting the music piece; and Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga, connecting the immigration experience.

A quick and lovely read about an Indian girl called Geetha who moves to America and finds community around an East Coast beach and the wildlife there. I have a soft spot for middle grade novels-in-verse. The format makes authors choose their words carefully, and communicate succinctly about often complex and difficult topics. Most of the MG novels-in-verse I've read packed a punch that was disproportional to the number of words they contained and this slender volume is no different, tackling topics like immigration, bullying and pollution with nuance and without losing its hopeful tone. I would definitely recommend this to middle graders, especially those interested in marine life.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)
Setting: Rhode Island
Genre: Verse novel, coming-of-age, immigrant narrative

Padma Venkatraman’s Safe Harbor is a beautifully written novel in verse that will resonate with middle-grade readers, particularly those who enjoy stories of resilience, friendship, and environmental activism. The short chapters and poetic style make it accessible and engaging, while the themes of acceptance and restoration add depth and meaning.

Geetha’s journey from India to Rhode Island is filled with challenges—bullying at school, culture shock, and the ache of missing home—but her love of nature, music, and poetry offers her an anchor. Her friendship with Miguel and their efforts to rescue an injured harp seal create a moving parallel between Geetha’s struggles and the seal’s own fight for survival. The book’s message about environmental responsibility is woven naturally into the narrative, making it an excellent choice for classrooms and book discussions.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its honest portrayal of complicated emotions. Geetha’s anger, sadness, and hope all feel deeply authentic, and her gradual realization that safe harbors exist in both people and places is uplifting. Readers will find themselves rooting for her as she learns to navigate new waters—both literally and figuratively.

While the novel’s verse format might take some adjustment for those unfamiliar with it, the poetic language ultimately enhances the emotional impact of the story. Safe Harbor is a heartfelt and inspiring read, perfect for young readers looking for a story that is both meaningful and hopeful. #netgalley #safeharbor #booked_this_weekend

It's hard not to love a story with a sweet young girl having a bit of a crisis having moved from her native India with her mom (who has depression) after her parents divorce and her befriending a seal because it's struggling with an illness that she feels she can help with.

The verse novel is a lovely format for this emotional story. Geetha isn't fitting in at school since her clothes are secondhand and she's not comfortable with herself or the language. Plus, her mom told her the neighbors don't like her playing her flute so early in the morning because it's loud and obnoxious. So she goes to the shore. There she befriends a boy named Miguel whose experiences mirror hers. There they meet the injured seal and are able to continue to see it at the rehab facility while also recognizing they can contribute meaningfully to it's habitat by creating a beach cleanup.

Geetha doesn't become more helpless, she finds ways to channel her feelings of loneliness into the newfound friendship, her flute, the seal, and contributing her part.

It's inspirational and sentimental and a perfect readalike to books like [book:Odder|59251239] and [book:Saving Sunshine|56937775].

We are always looking for captivating novels-in-verse, and this one really delivers. Solid storyline, heartfelt immigration story, and an endearing animal character.

Review 8/10🩵 This book caught my eye when I saw it was a middle grade novel in verse about saving a baby seal🥺 But ultimately it ended up being about much more than that.

Our MC, Geetha, is a little girl who recently immigrated from India to the United States. She misses her home and struggles to find a place in her new surroundings. This is a story about the strength and perseverance of immigrants, community, and environmental protection. Geetha makes friends and finds inspiration in helping her baby seal. It was a short story, but very sweet and worth the read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Nancy Paulson Books for a copy of this lovely middle grade!

A really nice middle grade novel in verse covering immigration, marine mammal rescue, pollution, mental health, bullying, music, and community.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC!