Q&A with Suma Subramaniam

  

 

 

Suma Subramaniam is the author of the new middle grade novel V. Malar: Greatest Ranger of All Time. Her other books include V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time.  

 

Q: What inspired this new adventure for your character V. Malar?

 

A: I wrote my MFA thesis on how animals are represented in children’s and young adult books. At the time, I never imagined exploring the natural world myself or seeing endangered species up close. But that became the starting point for my middle‑grade book V. Malar, Greatest Ranger of All Time.

 

Animal stories have always been common in children’s literature. However, when I searched for mentor texts, I realized that stories about Asian wildlife and nature conservation were missing. I knew I had to visit the natural forests of the Western Ghats in South India to write Malar’s adventures authentically.

 

This story grew from my desire to inspire empathy, respect, and appreciation for the natural forests of South Asia.

 

Q: Do you think Malar has changed at all from the first book to this one?

 

A: Malar’s core traits and familiar demeanor remain steady throughout the story, but the new friendships she forms at camp spark meaningful growth.

 

Before attending camp, she had never spent a night away from her parents. Over the course of her stay, Malar learns to be independent, navigate challenges on her own, and build connections with her campmates.

 

She doesn’t undergo a fundamental transformation. I wanted to preserve the qualities her readers know and love. Instead, Malar adapts to her environment, applies her strengths to solve problems, and gathers new life lessons along the way.

 

Q: What do you think Archana Sreenivasan’s illustrations add to this new book?

 

A: Archana Sreenivasan’s illustrations bring the landscape and rich biodiversity of the South Indian Western Ghats vividly to life. One of the most rewarding parts of our collaboration was that I didn’t need to include any art notes. Because Archana is based in India, she portrayed them with authenticity and depth.

 

Q: Did you need to do much research to write the book, and if so, did you learn anything especially surprising?

 

A: My research for the book was extensive. I read many sources and traveled to the forests of the Western Ghats. This mountain range stretches across six Indian states. Its size is similar to the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest.

 

The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many plants and animals found there exist nowhere else. The region also feeds rivers that support more than 200 million people.

 

What surprised me most was how much the landscape endured. For centuries, the forests have faced deforestation, farming, climate change, and large projects like dams and tramways. Yet the wildlife and forests continue to survive. Their resilience shows how extraordinary this habitat truly is.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m currently drafting and revising a few middle‑grade and picture book projects. Meanwhile, two picture books, Karma Is Action and Ahimsa Is Everywhere, along with the third book in the V. Malar series, will release in 2027.

 

Summer 2027 will bring two new books from Candlewick Press: Karma Is Action, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu, and V. Malar: Greatest Hallowali of All Time, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan. In fall 2027, Ahimsa Is Everywhere, illustrated by Shrija Jain, will also be published by Kids Can Press.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Suma Subramaniam.