Safe Harbor
By: Padma Venkatraman
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 176
Published: January 21, 2025
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Dates Read: March 14, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

When Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents’ divorce, they leave behind everything Geetha loves. As if leaving behind everything wasn’t already tough enough, Geetha gets bullied at school for her clothes, her food, and her English (who knew there were two different English ways of spelling things!). Geetha finds solace in playing her flute and writing poetry, and even more when she meets Miguel and the two of them help rescue an injured harp seal pup stranded on the beach.

As time moves on, Geetha feels her anger growing; she’s never been so sad or angry – anger at those who pollute the sea and sadness over the animals who get hurt from it, anger at her mom for moving her halfway across the world… but then Miguel and her start up a beach cleanup she’s surprised by how many kind kids are out there who want to help. When it’s time to let the baby seal go, Geetha has mixed feelings, knowing she’ll miss him, but also wanting what’s best for him. As she’s learning to live with mixed emotions and feelings, she also comes to understand that even though there will be rough waters, there are plenty of safe harbors out there too.

Over these last few years, I’ve really come to love novels in verse, especially when it’s aimed at the younger crowd of middle grade readers because it almost forces the author to be more particular on their word choices. This novel didn’t disappoint at all and it was simple, but still powerful.

I love how opening a book is like opening a door,

taking me to a different time and place,

Into someone else’s head and heart.

This novel not only focuses on climate change and beach cleaning, but also has to do with mental health a lot. Geetha is growing up and having to deal with a lot of change all at once and that can take a toll on anybody. She knows she has anger and resentment, but she doesn’t know how to handle that – this book talks you through her journey.

Overall, this is a simple but powerful novel in verse that will show young readers to be the change they want to see in the world.

*Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review