Naeli And The Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan

The Blurb On The Back:

Naeli loves her life in Hyderabad, India, yet she yearns to find her English father, who left when she was little. When a mysterious ticket arrives from England, Naeli abandons her familiar world to track him down. Armed only with her father’s name and cherished violin, she embarks on a bold adventure through Victorian London and beyond …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Jasbinder Bilan’s standalone historical adventure for readers aged 9+ is a mixed affair. I liked the fact that this is a story about bi-racial children with Indian and English heritage as it’s not something that gets covered a lot. Naeli is a plucky and determined character with a real gift for music and I liked her friendship with the confident Jack but the plot is episodic and for me missed emotional details that would have helped flesh it out.

NAELI AND THE SECRET SONG was released in the United Kingdom on 5 June 2025. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.