Savi and the Memory Keeper

Gr 7 Up–Seventeen-year-old Savi’s family of three relocates from Delhi to Shajarpur, once “Dad’s family home”—but without Dad, because he’s dead. At least Savi managed to save his 42 plants. Mom’s (understandably) distracted and distanced; perfect older sister Meher seems to be the only one not fighting the changes. Their posh new school isn’t particularly welcoming until Savi discovers “ginormous” Tree in the school’s back fields; Tree’s inexplicable familiarity eases the overwhelming newness of everything. Tree offers the purpose—and friends—Savi needs to start healing. Ethnic South Asian favorite narrator Nankani fluently ciphers Indian author/climate activist Vachharajani’s adolescent drama enhanced with magic realism, comfortably adapting accents and ages. Her unrushed, indulgent tone is instantly recognizable, raising her register for younger characters, adding lowered gravitas for older, particularly for Tree—and the memories Tree enables.