Vaidehi Srinivasan brings out the relevance that Varsha Seshan’s book The Best Idea of All holds for the younger generation.

In the tight-knit neighbourhood of Anand society live three girls – Antara, Tarini, and Saira – who are eager to start a new, innovative business in their spare time. Sick of hearing the phrase ‘When I was your age…’ from their grandparents, the girls aim, through this project, to spotlight their creativity and uniqueness. Throughout Varsha Seshan’s short story, The Best Idea of All they overcome the many hurdles they face setting up the business, and learn valuable lessons about perseverance, hope, and togetherness. 

Both Seshan’s engrossing dialogue and fluid writing, as well as Neha Rawat’s endearing, buoyant illustrations, bring the story to life, fully captivating the reader. This interplay between visuals and text perfectly captures the pure, curious essence of youth, creating a sense of relatability and comfort for young readers. 

While entertaining and vibrant, this book effectively addresses important concerns faced by our youth, highlighting the necessity to care for the environment for the sake of the generations that are to come. Moreover, it encourages the young reader to take action in their community, reminding them of their power to make change. 

In its entirety, the book succeeds on many levels – not only is it comforting and entertaining, it is also motivating and sincere. Those looking for an inspiring read that will warm their hearts must have it on their bookshelves. 

Vaidehi is a Grade 11 student from Bombay International School.