The Governor General’s Literary Award-nominated novel about a girl from the slums of Jakarta who dreams of an education and a future as a writer From the time she was a little girl, Nia has dreamed up adventures about the Javanese mythical princess, Dewi Kadita. Now fourteen, Nia would love nothing more than to continue her education and become a writer. But high school costs too much. Her father sells banana fritters at the train station, but many of his earnings go toward his drinking habit. Too often Nia is left alone to take over the food cart as well as care for her brother and their home in the Jakarta slums. But Nia is determined to find a way to earn her school fees. After she survives a minibus accident unharmed and the locals say she is blessed with ‘good luck magic,’ Nia exploits the notion for all its worth by charging double for her fried bananas. Selling superstitions can be dangerous, and when the tide turns it becomes clear that Nia’s future is being mapped without her consent. If Nia is to write a new story for herself, she must overcome more obstacles than she could ever conceive of for her mythical princess, and summon courage she isn’t sure she has. Praise for Girl of the Southern Sea 2019 Governor General's Literary Award: Young People's Literature – Text Finalist 2019 NCTA Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention 2019 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature Honor Book 2019 Northern Lights Book Award: Pre-Teen Cultural Winner 2022 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award shortlist 2023 Indiana Young Hoosier Award Nominee 2020 SYRCA Diamond Willow Award Finalist 2020 MYRCA Sundogs Award Nominee 2020 USBBY Outstanding International Books List selection 2020 Bank Street Best Book selection 2021 Red Cedar Book Awards Nominee 2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List selection 2019 CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens Starred Selection 2019 Resource Links "Recent Canadian Titles too Good to Miss" selection 2019 Junior Library Guild selection "In spare and elegant prose, Kadarusman weaves a quiet tale of survival, grit, and integrity....Peppered throughout are stories that Nia crafts, based on Indonesian legends about the princess of the Southern Sea. With nuanced characters, this is a lovely gem for fans of irrepressible girls and contemporary stories set outside of the U.S."―Booklist "A gripping, emotional realistic novel describing the grim realities of growing up in Indonesian poverty....VERDICT A riveting read featuring a determined and talented teenager."―School Library Journal "Readers will cheer Nia's real powers―her storytelling talent and her resiliency―in this vividly set story."―The Horn Book Guide "Punctuating Nia's thoughtful, present-tense narration with her stories about Dewi [Kadita], Kadarusman effectively weaves a gentle tale of love and loss and illuminates the power of storytelling. A thought-provoking peek into a culture deserving of more attention in North America."―Kirkus Reviews "A stark setting combines with striking characters...The novel does not offer simple solutions but instead wraps up Nia's story in a way that demonstrates her willingness and ability to stand up for herself. Girl of the Southern Sea is an uplifting novel about hope and the power of storytelling."―Foreword Reviews "Rating: E...[Kadarusman's] insight into life in Indonesia, supplemented by her shared heritage has made this fictional story of poverty, tradition and self-determination entirely accessible and - more importantly - believable. There is a pragmatism here that transcends all the possible and imagined divisions in this story which gives it an appeal as broad as the ocean it describes."―Resource Links "In Girl of the Southern Sea , Michelle Kadarusman delves gracefully into weighty subjects like poverty, slum living, and forced marriages, as well as limited access to education, healthcare and opportunities for the future, especially for girls. Upbeat, optimistic Nia is a very relatable protagonist, even for those who can't fathom her day-to-day existence."―Shelf Awareness " Girl of the Southern Sea is an enjoyable, brisk, and emotionally charged novel that tells difficult stories inspired by the realities of girls in Indonesia. It is a sharp and politically attuned work that will give readers further appreciation for the value of access to education, health care, and justice."―Quill & Quire "A deftly crafted and inherently entertaining read from cover to cover, Girl of the Southern Sea by Michelle Kadarusman is unreservedly recommended for both school and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections for young readers ages 9-12."―Midwest Book Review "Nia is a wonderful character – resilient, courageous and independent....Kadarusman gives her readers a young rebel as the protagonist of this novel....Young adult readers in the junior grades will find Girl of the Southern Sea an entertaining and interesting novel. A glossary of Indonesian terms and a map