Today we’re thrilled to reveal the cover for Lioness of Punjab by Anita Jari Kharbanda! The cover was illustrated by Anantjeet Kaur. The book will be released on September 17, 2022 by Yali Books. Preorder it here.
It is the winter of 1705, and the tenth Guru of the Sikhs is under attack by the armies of the mighty Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Under siege and isolated, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s men are exhausted beyond measure, and forty soldiers decide to head home. Back in the villages of Punjab, these forty men are met by a fiery Sikh woman—a warrior who has been preparing all her life for this very moment—who leads the deserters back to the Guru. This is the story of that warrior, the fierce Mai Bhago, who chose the sword to symbolize her unwavering loyalty and devotion to her people and her faith.
This energetic coming-of-age young adult novel brings us closer to Mai Bhago—a woman revered in the Sikh community and beyond—to imagine her embracing her many roles in a way that was entirely her own and, in the process, becoming a shining inspiration for young women everywhere.
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Anita Jari Kharbanda is an Indian-American engineer by trade and a storyteller by heart. She lives in North Texas with her husband and two sons. An avid lifelong reader of all kinds of fiction, she revels in seeing her children do the same. The healing power of letters filled with family history inspired Anita to start writing. She now writes the kinds of stories she’s devoured through the years, with one difference. She promised herself she’d write stories about the characters she dreamed of seeing in books growing up, and lift the voices of those who go unheard. Connect with her at anitakharbanda.com.
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Anantjeet Kaur is a an independent illustrator and graphic designer. Born and brought up in Delhi, she graduated in graphic design and English literature. A varied life experience, and a love of life and her country as well as her Sikh roots propel her imagination in a unique way. See more of her work at anantjeetkaur.com.
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Yali Books is opening a window to South Asia through high-quality fiction titles for young readers 4-16. Recognized by the American Library Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, and South Asia National Outreach Consortium, their books make wonderful additions to home, classroom, and library collections.
