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WNDMG Author Interview: Khushboo Patel on her Verse Novel ALL THAT CHANDNI KNOWS

By on December 10, 2025   /   Author Interviews, Diversity, WNDMG   /   1 Comment

 

Author Interview – Khushboo Patel

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Khushboo Patel today. Khushboo is a debut author of a gorgeous new middle grade novel in verse as well as a couple picture books, and I had the honor of reading (and blurbing) her gorgeous MG book! Her title is called “All That Chandni Knows” which launches from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Kids on March 31, 2026.

I absolutely loved every bit of this book— the verse, the plot, the character, the voice. I find myself always searching for new verse novels, and I promise you—this one is magical!

 I was enthralled from the very first page of the book, and I know everyone will adore it too!

I encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their classrooms and libraries.

About ALL THAT CHANDNI KNOWS:

Description taken from online:

A powerful middle-grade novel in verse set in India at the turn of the millennium that follows a 12-year-old girl as she navigates new beginnings, difficult truths and a crush.

Perfect for fans of The Night Diary; Red, White and Whole; and Remember Us. 

For twelve-year-old Chandni, 1999 is the year everything must be perfect. And why shouldn’t it be?

Her parents are well-respected doctors in the community, she’s the leader of her friend group, and her crush is even hinting at liking her back. She also has her sights set high on a spot at India’s most prestigious boarding school for girls. If she stays focused and works hard, the dream just may be in reach.

But as the boarding school selection looms closer, Chandni is overwhelmed by a devastating secret that’s threatening to tear her family apart. With life and relationships spiraling around her, Chandni will have to decide between pursuing her ambitions and protecting her family.

Set against the vibrant turn of the millennium in India, this debut middle-grade novel in verse is a beautiful and vulnerable story about the seismic events that life throws at us and the love that helps us brave it all.

Interview with Khushboo:

I loved getting to talk to Khushboo about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her and Chandni as well.

 

SSS: What a wonderful book. I was interested right away, from the very first page and Chandni’s teasing of her secret! What is the inspiration behind Chandni’s tale (and only what you feel comfortable sharing) ?

KP: Thank you, Shifa! I so appreciate the care with which you asked this question.

This story started for me with these questions: What happens when the world as we know it is upended? What do we fear? What do we rely on? Where do we find comfort or relief? How do we navigate the push-pull between ambition and protection, and acceptance and agency, and perfection and freedom?

And as I was writing, more questions showed up (some that I wasn’t expecting), and I loved exploring and grappling with them. 

This book is very much a work of fiction, but like Chandni, I grew up in Vadodara in the late ‘90s, and I struggled with some of the things she struggles with. And while it is a story of pain, it is also a celebration of so many things I love—coming-of-age stories, mother-daughter stories, first-person stories, poetry, music, my childhood city, language, food and culture, middle-grade friendships and crushes, all the games we played, and just getting to show kids today—a life before the internet.

SSS: As a mom of three girls, I wanted to reach out and hug Chandni! Her voice and her personality are so sweet, and yet full of strength, and the clear care you took to craft a story that was both important and compelling was absolutely remarkable! How did you balance such a strong voice with such a heart-wrenching story?

KP:I think when you are dealing with some pain, it is easy for the character to slip into a complaining or whining tone. And when you are trying to write a flawed character, it can sometimes come across as brash or annoying. It’s all so tricky! I certainly see that now when I look back at the beginning of my first draft, and I think that’s normal because setting up the story is so hard craft-wise, and in the first draft, you are just trying to figure out the characters and the story problem on the page. Good thing we get to revise and revise and revise!

Voice can be such an elusive and inexplicable thing and it’s so often a writer’s unique way of looking at and expressing things, but I think a part of it is also working on craft and story.

I think what helped the voice here is the fact that Chandni is a complex character. She has such different roles at home and at school and so much is changing around and within her, that she is forced to act, even if she is doing some things all wrong. I think it helps to have a character with agency and enough things happening with the plot, which are not things one would usually think of when thinking about voice. Chandni came into her own when I put her through the wringer, and she had to react and do things.

And I am forever grateful to my brilliant critique partner and friend Lisa Carter, who told me that the trick is going to be conveying this story through the eyes and voice of a protagonist who is in pain, YET is innately positive, proactive, and making the best of her situation. It’s advice that I held close while revising.

SSS: I loved reading all the details about Chandni’s life, her food, her culture, and even the historical time frame that was so relatable to myself as a kid growing in America in the 90s/2000s!

How does Chandni’s setting of 1999 India impact her life, her friendships, and her family?

KP: This is such a good question, because the fact is that the story would not have worked if it was not set in this time period in this particular society. She would probably not have kept this secret as long as she did, or would maybe have felt less scared of societal expectations and norms, and then the stakes just wouldn’t be there in the same way.

And yet, the story also lives in a place that maybe feels liminal and timeless and relatable because a lot of these societal conversations (colorism, women’s safety, patriarchy, religious tensions, etc.) are still relevant today, not just in India, but in many parts of the world.

 

SSS: I absolutely loved how the mother was a doctor! I loved how you both critiqued society for the misogyny present in some spaces but also showed the resilience and strength of women that have always persevered and taken up space throughout any time and place. How did you strike this balance?

KP: I loved exploring that in this book—that mirroring of ambition and the pull of dreams, and staying true to oneself, even for the mother. How the conditions are always difficult, but we try to push boundaries for ourselves and future generations. And also, the tension of how that sits alongside the demands of motherhood. Life and society are not perfect, so then, what is the perfect choice? Which also ties into one of the main themes of the book.

 

Link to order here.

Writing Process

 

SSS: When did you start writing the story and was the process a long one?

KP: I wrote just one chapter in prose in September, 2022 and shared it and the premise with Joyce (my lovely agent), who immediately cheered it on. Then the story mostly just sat in my head and in the form of a list of scenes as notes. In February, 2023, I did a workshop with SCBWI on beginnings and endings, and I then started drafting more seriously, this time in verse. From there, the first draft came out pretty quickly, and I shared it with some writing friends and then with Joyce in April, 2023, who loved it. I also sent it out for more critiques and then again, I just sat with the feedback and the story. So much of writing for me is also just thinking about the story and the many directions it could go in and working things out in my head before I put them on paper. I wasn’t feeling ready to put it out and wanted to revise more, but didn’t know how to begin, and I was also working on my other picture books and taking more courses and learning craft. Simone (my brilliant editor) acquired it in May, 2024, and it went through several intense rounds of revisions after that! Writing is never easy for me, but the whole process has been so rewarding, and I will forever cherish these years I spent working on it.

 

SSS: How is the process of writing a historical novel in verse? Was there anything specific you had to research, or did you write it from mostly your personal memories?

KP: Since it’s not a fact/history-heavy story, it was mostly from personal memories and mining memories of friends and family. It was so fun to go down memory lane! In terms of research, I did do some general search to nail down the specific year that would work best for the story, and I also spent a lot of time listening to music from that time, to find exactly what I needed for certain scenes.

SSS: Any advice for fellow middle-grade authors?  

KP: I’m not sure I know enough to give advice, but one thing that has really helped me is the support of my writing friends, so I’d say, find your writing community.

The writing process is so personal, so the best advice seems to be—try different things and do what works for you.

And here are some things I routinely tell myself:

Just try. This is a long game, rejection/ block is a part of the process, and endurance/ giving yourself grace is key. Read deep and wide and engage with different types of art (paintings, music, architecture, movies, etc.). See what you like, don’t like, lean into your taste, and trust your gut. Try new things and keep your mind open. Keep learning craft. Do the deep work. Ask for help. Let go of perfection, get past the cringe, and be okay with ‘failing’ publicly. And don’t forget to have fun!

All easier said than done!

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Is there anything I haven’t asked that you’d like to share with us?

KP: No, I think you covered it all. You asked such great, thoughtful questions!

SSS: What else can we look forward to from you?

KP: My picture book Stolen Colors, illustrated by Tara Anand (who also did the beautiful cover art for Chandni!) is out from Levine Querido on March 3, 2026. It is a book about body safety and consent, and I can’t wait for the world to see Tara’s stunning, powerful art.

And I have another picture book My House is a Muddy River coming out from Putnam/ Penguin Kids in Spring 2027, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu, which was actually my first book deal!  It’s a flood story set in India and I recently got to see the gorgeous first sketches.

I feel so grateful to get to work with such amazing artists and editors.

 

Thank you Khushboo for joining us- and again, I reiterate to everyone to go READ THIS BOOK!!!

 

KP: Thank you for having me! I so appreciate your kind words and support. You and your work are an inspiration, Shifa! All my best to you.

 

About Khushboo Patel:

Khushboo Patel is an Indian American author of children’s books. Before she found the courage to write, she was a lawyer and an entrepreneur. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. All That Chandni Knows is her debut novel.

 

Website: https://www.khushboo-patel.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/khushboo_.patel._/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/khushboopatel.bsky.social

 

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Middle-Grade Novels featuring South Asian Characters

By on October 13, 2017   /   Book Lists, Fiction, For Librarians  

As a writer of South Asian origin, I am always looking out for books that feature South Asian or middle-eastern characters. I interact with many middle-grade readers of South Asian descent in grades 4-8, so these books are of high interest. This post is about celebrating and sharing such books that were released in 2017 and also seeking out ways to find them.

Firstly, what makes a South Asian character? This means a book that features a character whose culture, people or heritage is portrayed from the southern region of the Asian continent. The countries and islands that make up South Asia are Tibet, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Sri Lanka.

Secondly, how many such books are out there? The CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center School of Education, University of Madison-Wisconsin) receives the majority of new U.S. trade books for children and teens each year, and provides information on the number of children’s books by and about people of color.  According to the 2016 statistics from CCBC, out of 3400 books that they received, 239 of them were by and about Asian Pacifics or Asian Pacific Americans. While it is fantastic that the number of diverse books is increasing by the year, the need for representation is still high.

Thirdly, what can we do to increase the visibility of these books? Ideally, all types of diverse books should be read and enjoyed by everyone. Therefore, here are some suggestions that are not limited to middle-grade readers of South Asian descent.

  1. Show up at diverse author events and buy the books.
  2. Read and share your views about these books with your family, friends, and on social media.
  3. Request or order the books for your schools and local libraries.
  4. Donate your time or money to organizations like We Need Diverse Books that work tirelessly to promote diverse literature.
  5. Add these books to the required reading lists so it helps kids recognize and celebrate different cultures.

With that said, here are some compelling 2017 novel recommendations, featuring South Asian characters and what the authors have to say about the stories:

Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar : In her interview for NBC, Kelkar talked about the meaning of Ahimsa and the motivation behind writing the novel. She said, “I didn’t think much about activism when I was I child. I used to write letters to companies protesting things sometimes, but it wasn’t until much later that I learned that writing can be used for speaking up and speaking out. Ahimsa was a principle of nonviolence at a time when conflicts were generally solved through war. This was the first time this unique idea helped create a country. You don’t need to own a weapon to do this. It is within you.”

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan : Hena wrote about her inspiration for the book in her interview with Cynsations. She said, “I wanted to write a story with a protagonist who was an “every girl” who happened to be an American Muslim. I hoped that readers of all backgrounds would be able to relate to her as much as I did to the characters I had grown up reading and loving—none of who had resembled me in any way. “

 

 

Finding Mighty by Sheela Chari : Mixed-Up Files did an interview with Sheela Chari. Sheela talked about the interracial friendship in the novel. According to Sheela, the main character “Myla was more like her as a young person – a highly observant girl who felt largely unnoticed by the world.” She said, “Because she was so much like me, it made sense to make her Indian-American, with a family and lifestyle similar to my own. “

 

 

Karma Khullar’s Mustache by Kristi Wientge : Kristi Wientge talked about why it was important for her to highlight her culture in the story at Yayomg. Kristy said, “I love highlighting things we think are SO different, but, in fact, are so, so similar to our “normal.” I’ve traveled and lived in China and England and now in Singapore and without fail, people from each place have a picture of what America is and what Americans are like and they seem to be blown away that I don’t fit neatly into any of those ideas and that I’m very much like they are.”

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani: Nidhi Chanani talked about her story, her art, and activism in an interview with the Horn Book. According to Nidhi, “There are many communities that are underrepresented within books and art. It creates a cycle of prejudice and isolation. Art and books that showcase underrepresented identities can shift our perceptions of difference, of ourselves, and inspire people to make more inclusive art.”

 

Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste: This story features a South Asian Character as the best friend to the main character. Tracey Baptiste talked to Sheri Larsen of Mixed-Up Files about how we can make a difference in the lives of middle schoolers. Tracy said that “Books that accurately represent different cultures and different stories are crucial now so that there isn’t an ingrained sense of “otherness” about people who don’t look the same, or who live differently.”

 

Step Up To The Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami: In her interview with Lee and Low, Uma Krishnaswami said that readers of this story “will see that community and caring cross boundaries of language and race. That friendship is a better choice than hatred and suspicion. I hope they will see that playing ball can be competitive but it can also be a way to come together and heal divisions.”

 

 

The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi: Karuna talked to Hena Khan about what it means to have this book out, in terms of inclusion. In her interview for the School Library Journal, Karuna said, “It’s incredible to look back now and realize that I am actually an author, just like the other women of color authors. I always looked up to and dreamed about emulating with my words. I definitely wouldn’t have imagined it being with a book that represents the never-heard voice of Bangladeshi Americans.”

 

Which books on the list are you excited about reading? Please do share in the comments below.

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