Sayantani DasGupta

Sayantani DasGupta is a pediatrician, professor, and writer of middle-grade fantasy novels and nonfiction works. She is best known for her Galaxy Girls book series featuring Bengali folklore-inspired stories, beginning with The Serpent's Secret (2018). DasGupta teaches in the graduate program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University and the graduate program in Health Advocacy at Sarah Lawrence College. Her academic work focuses on storytelling in medicine and social justice in healthcare. Born to Bengali immigrant parents, DasGupta draws heavily from South Asian mythology and culture in her writing for young readers. Her works frequently center on themes of identity, family relationships, and the immigrant experience while incorporating elements of science fiction and fantasy. Beyond her fiction writing and academic career, DasGupta has authored several scholarly books including Stories of Illness and Healing: Women Write Their Bodies and The Story of Bengali Harlem. She frequently speaks at conferences and events about diverse representation in children's literature and medical humanities.

Readers connect with DasGupta's blend of Bengali folklore and contemporary middle-grade fantasy. Parents and educators praise her accessible writing style and cultural representation. What readers liked: - Engaging adventures that introduce South Asian mythology - Strong female protagonists who balance humor with determination - Educational value without being didactic - Fresh take on familiar fantasy tropes - Authentic representation of Bengali culture - Appealing to reluctant readers What readers disliked: - Plot pacing in some books feels rushed - Character development occasionally takes backseat to action - Some find the humor forced or excessive - Younger readers sometimes struggle with Bengali terms Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: The Serpent's Secret - 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: The Serpent's Secret - 4.6/5 (280+ reviews) Force of Fire - 4.7/5 (90+ reviews) One parent reviewer noted: "My daughter finally sees herself in fantasy stories." A teacher commented: "Students who never picked up books voluntarily got hooked on this series."

The Serpent's Secret (2018) - A 12-year-old girl discovers she is an interdimensional demon slayer from another realm when her parents disappear on her birthday.

Game of Stars (2019) - Kiranmala travels through folktale dimensions to rescue her father while competing in a reality TV-style contest against other demon slayers.

The Chaos Curse (2020) - Kiranmala faces her final battle to save her family and both her birth and adopted worlds from dark forces.

Force of Fire (2021) - A young rakkhosh (demon) girl attends a special training school where she learns about her fire-breathing abilities and her people's history.

Debating Darcy (2022) - A contemporary Pride and Prejudice reimagining set in the world of high school speech and debate competitions.

The Story We Tell: Race, Politics and the Media in the New India (2023) - An analysis of how narratives about race and politics are shaped in modern Indian media.

Stories Are Good Medicine: History, Culture, and the Heart of Narrative Medicine (2021) - An examination of how storytelling intersects with healthcare and medical practice.

Roshani Chokshi writes fantasy novels featuring Indian mythology and complex female protagonists, including The Gilded Wolves series and Aru Shah books. Her work combines mythological elements with contemporary settings in ways similar to DasGupta's approach.

Rick Riordan creates middle-grade fantasy series that blend mythology with modern-day adventures, including Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase. His stories feature young heroes discovering their connections to ancient gods and creatures while navigating school and family relationships.

Tracey Baptiste incorporates Caribbean folklore into middle-grade fantasy novels like The Jumbies series. Her work centers on young protagonists who confront supernatural beings while exploring their cultural heritage.

Soman Chainani writes fantasy series including The School for Good and Evil, which subverts fairy tale conventions. His stories examine the complexity of good and evil through the lens of young characters discovering their identities.

Tae Keller creates middle-grade novels that blend Korean folklore with contemporary stories about family and identity. Her work, including When You Trap a Tiger, focuses on young characters who must navigate between magical elements and real-world challenges.