Mitali Perkins has written many novels for young readers, including Rickshaw Girl (chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the top 100 books for children in the past 100 years) and Bamboo People (an American Library Association’s Top Ten Novels for Young Adults, starred inPublishers Weekly as “a graceful exploration of the redemptive power of love, family, and friendship.”) Her newest novel, Tiger Boy (Charlesbridge), is a Notable Book for a Global Society and an NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor Book. Mitali was born in Kolkata, India, before immigrating to the United States with her family when she was seven. She graduated from Stanford University, with a degree in political science, and holds a Master in Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley. She has lived in Bangladesh, India, England, Thailand, Mexico, Cameroon, and Ghana. Currently she resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and sons.
“Mitali was an absolute pleasure to work with. She is so astute, so attentive, and so generous. She was able to consider the work I’d been agonizing over for months (and even years) and offer ideas that fit the work and steered me in exactly the right direction to improve it. I wish I could keep her in my pocket for when I’m stuck again! I was honored to work with her, and I hope to be able to do it again.”–Rajani LaRocca
