We chat with author Rajani LaRocca about Such Great Heights, which is a contemporary retelling of the Ramayana that asks whether seeking the truth is always the right thing to do. Sometimes, is the past better left behind? PLUS you can read an excerpt at the end of the interview!
Hi, Rajani! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m an internal medicine doctor (for adults) and author (for kids). I live in the Boston area and write all kinds of stories — novels and picture books, fiction and nonfiction, in poetry and prose.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love books. I was an avid reader from a young age, and I read anything and everything I could get my hands on, including Amar Chitra Kathas, comic books that told stories from Indian history, literature, and mythology. These stories helped me understand my Indian background, even though I grew up in the United States.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Poky Little Puppy
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Namesake
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Westing Game
Your latest novel, Such Great Heights, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Mock Trial. First Love. Secrets.
What can readers expect?
Such Great Heights tells the story of Siya Kumar, a high school sophomore who wants to be on her high school mock trial team in honor of her mom, a lawyer who died in a car accident when Siya was ten. Then she starts to date the team co-captain and soccer star, magnetic Raj Raghavan. But when Siya accidentally gets locked in a room overnight with another guy during a team bonding session, Raj doesn’t seem to believe her when she says nothing happened. And the mock trial case is eerily similar to the circumstances of her mom’s death, leaving Siya to wonder if it really was just a car accident that took her mother’s life. A modern retelling of the Hindu epic the Ramayana, this story features first love, mock trial, and family secrets.
Where did the inspiration for Such Great Heights come from?
My grandmother was named Sita, the wife of Rama in the Ramayana. I always thought it was a beautiful name, but she reminded me the original Sita went through a lot of pain. And it’s true: Sita in the Ramayana is abducted, held captive, and isn’t believed when she tells the truth. She goes through a literal trial by fire. And she doesn’t get the happy ending I always thought she deserved. This book is my attempt to make sense of a story that has always haunted me.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
It was really fun to write about a teen’s first love – and the headiness, the uncertainty, and the obsession that goes with that experience. There’s a scene on a Ferris wheel that I absolutely love.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
It was challenging at times to make sure I included enough mock trial content without overwhelming the overall story. My wonderful editor helped me find the right balance.
What’s next for you?
I have two picture books coming this fall, including We Are the Light, beautifully illustrated by Sayan Mukhejee, about three different families celebrating Diwali. That book releases in September.
In November comes Vibhi and the Voice, which is about a girl who’s afraid of the dark until she meets a girl made out of darkness who’s afraid of light – and together, they help each other. Cindy Derby created truly luminous art for this book.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I thoroughly enjoyed the summery romp The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. I just read Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid and loved it! Next in my current pile is The Ending Writes Itself, a mystery by Evelyn Clarke. I can’t wait to dig in.
EXCERPT
CHAPTER 1
I slip off my shoes, put my bare feet on the ground, and sit on the bench as the early-morning sun shines through the dark green foliage of our Japanese maple. I remember sitting here with my mom on a cool autumn afternoon, with dried leaves rustling around us and the smell of woodsmoke in the air. I’d told her about something that had hurt my feelings, some child-hood drama that I can’t remember anymore. She’d listened and dried my tears.
“You know who you are, Siya,” she’d said. “Your heart knows what’s right. Come here, sweetie.” I’d scooted forward and planted my feet, just like her. She put her arm around me. “Whenever you need me, I’ll be right here.”
I didn’t know at the time that I’d lose her just two months later. But I still come here to feel her presence, just like she told me to. Dad says I look like her—and I see the resemblance in my curly hair, the shape of my eyes. But I really want to be like the way she was, the way she moved through the world, confident and strong and helping people. Mom was a lawyer who dealt with corporations all day but spoke for those without voices in family court at night.
And no matter how busy she was, she always took care of us—Dad, my sister Asha, and me. She always put us first.
“Mom, if you’re listening,” I say, “wish me luck.”
Text copyright © 2026 Rajani LaRocca, Used with permission from HarperCollins Children’s Books
