Buy Manya Learns to Roar in India – on Amazon and Funky Rainbow
Buy Manya Learns to Roar in the US – on Amazon and Toka Box
Illustrated by Priya Kuriyan
This book was a winner in the Children First writing competition, organised by Parag, an initiative of Tata Trusts, and Duckbill Books.
Winner of the Best of Indian Children’s Writing Award, 2019
Manya badly, badly wants to be Shere Khan in her school play. The Jungle Book is her favourite film and she knows all the lines. She’s sure she’ll be a superb Shere Khan.
But not everyone thinks so. Her classmate Rajat is always making fun of her stammer. Her English teacher thinks its risky to let her get on stage and her principal seems to agree.
The more anxious Manya gets, the worse her stammer becomes. Will Manya lose her dream role? Can she overcome her fears and learn to roar?
Manya badly, badly wants to be Shere Khan in her school play. The Jungle Book is her favourite film and she knows all the lines. She’s sure she’ll be a superb Shere Khan.
But not everyone thinks so. Her classmate Rajat is always making fun of her stammer. Her English teacher thinks its risky to let her get on stage and her principal seems to agree.
The more anxious Manya gets, the worse her stammer becomes. Will Manya lose her dream role? Can she overcome her fears and learn to roar?
Here’s what readers are saying about it!
“… a delightful story that entertains, engages, and will hopefully impact many young readers.”
“I hope schools can introduce such books in their curriculum at a very young age to encourage being empathetic to people who are not like them.”
“The book is so wonderfully written and illustrated with a powerful message – for all ages.“
“Manya is a brilliant portrayal of the turmoils of a ten year old. … a gripping story that is inspirational to children and a handbook for parents and teachers.”
“Manya Learns to Roar is an uplifting chapter book, powered by a protagonist who knows her own mind and doesn’t let her stammering get in the way of her dreams.” – Goodbooks
The book covers issues like disability, bullying and bias and aims to make its reader conscious/sensitive about them. The idea is not to incite pity but empathy, and the book does that job well – Bookistan
The story beautifully brings out how cruel some children can be to a child suffering from any form of disabilities. – Young India Books
In Manya Learns to Roar, Shruthi Rao humorously and sensitively explores how children overcome challenges and emerge victorious. – Booked for Life
” … an absolutely important read.” – Toka Box
Find more reviews on Amazon and on Goodreads.
Manya as the Subject of a Research Paper!
“Representation of Disabled characters in Children’s fiction: An analytical study on Shruthi Rao’s Manya Learns to Roar” (2023) by Esther Blessie J, who’s doing her Masters in English literature at Patrician College of Arts and Science, Adyar, affiliated to the University of Madras.
Manya in the News!
Defying the Odds – Hindu Metroplus
It’s Time to Show Some Sensitivity – Deccan Herald Metrolife
Ten Indian Books featuring disabled children
Thirteen Books to read on International Day of Disability
Indian Moms Connect’s Top Chapter Books of 2017
Interviews
Huffington Post – My Journey as a Person who Stammers
Don’t Cross a Writer: The story behind the story – Duckbill Blog
An interview with Shruthi Rao by Sandhya Renukamba – Duckbill Blog
Direct Dil Se with Shruthi Rao – Toka Box
Mums and Stories – Shruthi Rao on winning stammering through Manya Learns to Roar