Illustration by priyankar gupta

Bolbo Baggins is a hobbit who loves comfort, food, and staying home. Then a wizard and 13 dwarves show up and drag him on a quest to steal treasure from a dragon named Smaug. He faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and a riddle game with Gollum where he finds a magic ring. Bilbo starts as a nobody but becomes a hero. *Best for:* Ages 10+. Classic fantasy adventure. It’s the prequel to _The Lord of the Rings_ but works as a standalone.

This isn’t one big story. It’s a collection of short stories, all set in the same made-up South Indian town called *Malgudi*. Malgudi is a small town where nothing huge happens, but the people are unforgettable. You meet: - *Swami*, a schoolboy who hates math and gets into funny trouble - *An astrologer* who fakes predictions until his past catches up with him - *A talkative man* who tricks people just to earn his next meal - *Vendors, teachers, shopkeepers, kids* - all regular people living regular lives Each story is short, warm, and a little bit funny or sad. R.K.

Huck Finn is a 13-year-old boy who doesn’t want to be “civilized.” To escape his drunk father and the people trying to make him proper, he fakes his own death and runs away. He ends up on a raft floating down the Mississippi River with Jim, a runaway slave who’s trying to reach freedom. They have wild adventures, meet con artists, get into trouble, and slowly become best friends. Along the way, Huck has to decide what he thinks is right. Everyone tells him helping Jim is wrong, but Huck decides he’d rather “go to hell” than turn Jim in.