Boston Author Rajani Larocca Has A Contemporary ‘Ramayana’ Retelling

India-West News Desk

BOSTON, MA -Rajani LaRocca, a Newbery Honor–winning author and practicing primary care physician, will release her first young adult novel, ‘Such Great Heights,’ this August.

The book presents a contemporary retelling of the Hindu epic ‘Ramayana,’ shifting focus to a modern interpretation of Sita. The story follows Siya, a high school sophomore on a competitive mock trial team, as she navigates the aftermath of her mother’s death in a car accident four years earlier. The narrative explores themes of grief, identity and truth, raising the question of whether truth holds value if it is not believed.

LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, she writes for young readers across genres, including novels and picture books in both prose and verse.

Her previous work includes the novel in verse Red, White, and Whole, which received a Newbery Honor, the Walter Award and was named a Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Year. In a starred review, ALA Booklist said the novel “will change” readers, while BookPage described it as “a sensitive coming-of-age story with all the makings of a new middle grade classic.”

Her other titles include Mirror to Mirror, which National Book Award–winning author Jacqueline Woodson called “a thoughtful and deeply moving story in verse,” and Sona and the Golden Beasts, which received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist and School Library Journal for its storytelling and world-building.

The release of ‘Such Great Heights’ comes amid continued interest in reinterpretations of classical narratives, particularly those that bring diverse cultural perspectives to established stories.