Anitha Rao-Robinson is a Canadian author and conservationist of South Asian descent who lives on a hobby farm in Milton, Ontario. She has a B.A. in Commerce from Queen’s University and worked as an accountant for many years before devoting herself to writing and conservation. Her first novels comprising a sci-fi trilogy for young adults were published under the name Anitha Robinson.
Fiction (Young adult)
Broken Dreams
By Anitha Robinson.
CBAY Books?, 2019.
This is the final volume of a trilogy.
Fiction (Young adult)
Broken Promises
By Anitha Robinson.
CBAY Books, 2017.
Synopsis
Kalli and Ellis have survived the destruction of the planet Istriya. As they pilot their craft back towards Earth, Kalli realizes that the deep feelings she’s been experiencing for Ellis are just another example of the aliens’ manipulations. Furious at both Ellis and herself for falling for their lies once again, Kalli is determined to save the other homeless girls the aliens had held captive and unconscious. She swears that once the girls have been returned, she’ll never see Ellis again. Unfortunately, one of the girls wakes up leaving Kalli and Ellis with a tough decision. Can they still let her go without her exposing the Istriyans?
Fiction (Young adult)
Broken Worlds
By Anitha Robinson.
CBAY Books, 2014.
Synopsis
When a brutal attack leaves her barely conscious, Kalli thinks that the young man carrying her away is an angel sent to ferry her to Heaven. After all of the abuse and months of homelessness, Kalli welcomes the relief that Heaven would bring. Handsome Ellis, though, turns out to be just as mortal as she is. A kind stranger, Ellis saves her life by taking her to a local clinic to be healed. Once better, Kalli finds herself staying with her unusual rescuer while being monitored constantly by his mysterious family. It’s not an ideal situation, but it beats the streets. Now that she’s safe and warm and appears to have found someone who cares for her, Kalli assumes the worst is behind her. She couldn’t be more wrong. Broken Worlds was the very first Young Adult Winner in the Yummy but Brainy Writing Contest presented by CBAY Books.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
A Family for Faru
Illustrated by Karen Patkau.
Toronto: Pajama Press, 2020.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Tetenya and his mother have found Faru, a baby rhinoceros, alone on the savannah. They know that rhino sanctuaries will adopt orphaned infants, but finding the rangers who protect local herds may be a long and risky prospect—there are poachers lurking about the landscape. Undaunted, Tetenya sets out, leading Faru past giraffes CHOMP-CHOMPING on acacia leaves, amongst vervet monkeys SLURP-SLURPING sweet fruits, and around guinea fowl SCRITCH-SCRITCHING the earth for seeds. Suddenly, danger is upon them: two poachers are coming near. There are only seconds to spare, and Tetenya has nothing but his wits and a handful of berries to help him.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Sari Sisters
Illustrated by Anoosh Syed.
New York: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2024.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Ruhi is ready for her weekend tradition: a dance party with her older sister, Kayra! Everything is ready to go–the music, the lights, the glitterballs–but where is Kayra?
Ruhi finds her sister getting ready for the weekly family gathering and carefully tying a sari for the first time. When Kayra emerges from her room, Ruhi is in awe of her sister and can’t wait to wear a sari too. But her mother and sister say she’s too young to carry all that fabric without tripping.
Ruhi fears that she’s missing out on all the fun that her older sister and the aunties are having upstairs while she’s in the basement with the other kids, so Ruhi comes up with an idea to loosen the adults up and bring everyone together: have a sari dance party! Ruhi spends all week learning to tie and pleat with her mom’s saris so that she can show everyone the following weekend, and reignite her dance party tradition with her sister. But when the big moment arrives, Ruhi trips and her sari begins to unravel! Luckily her sister is there to help secure the fabric and get them back to their favorite tradition.
Links
Anitha Rao-Robinson personal website
Publisher Pajama Press
Publisher Penguin Random House Canada