Book Synopsis

A poignant story of life in India during the pandemic that mixes loss, hope, and even a mystery solved by imaginative, lively, almost-nine-year-old Swara. Now available in paperback.

When the pandemic hits and India goes into lockdown, high-spirited Swara keeps up her daily chats with her just-as-imaginative grandmother, Pitter Paati, through video calls. But soon Pitter Paati becomes too ill to even call, and then Swara's parents say she has died of the virus.

Swara can't believe it. Pitter Paati would not just leave! It's impossible!

As Swara investigates the mystery of her grandmother's disappearance, she stumbles upon a neighborhood mystery as well. With help from her friends, usually-annoying brother, and clues she's certain came from Pitter Paati, Swara solves that very real mystery and, slowly, comes to terms with the truth about her grandmother.

She also realizes Pitter Paati will be with her, in many important ways, forever.

Review Quotes

Praise for When Impossible Happens

"Deftly combines humor and pathos to authentically represent grief through a child's eyes while simultaneously treating readers to a gripping whodunit." --Kirkus Reviews

"Swara is an engaging narrator in a cast of distinctive characters that bring her neighborhood to life, even amid a global pandemic. The characters' authenticity shines during scenes of online school with a compassionate teacher hearing the very real concerns of children living through COVID-19. Humor keeps readers engaged through clever wordplay . . . A welcome perspective on life, loss, and current events." --School Library Journal

"In this much-needed fictional account of a non-American country during lockdown, De Suza perfectly captures the voice of an overeager 9-year-old, with tones of The Westing Game's Turtle Wexler and a sweet, interwoven story about how hard grief can be to combat . . . Young readers eager for longer chapter books and international stories will enjoy stepping into Swara's shoes." --Booklist

"Interspersed with occasional lists and poems, brief, conversational third-person chapters trace the stages of grief, accompanying Swara's investigation and deeply felt emotional beats as she slowly comes to terms with her loss. A compassionately rendered story, told with hope, humor, and pathos, for anyone navigating dark times." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Jane De Suza is the author of several bestselling adult and children's books published in India. She writes a humor column for The Hindu, a daily newspaper in India, and had a parenting column for Good Housekeeping. Jane earned an MBA at the Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur, India, and has worked in advertising for many years as a Creative Director. She currently lives in Singapore with her family.