Chandra Prasad Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Akashic Noir Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Chandra Prasad

American author Chandra Prasad writes books for young adults and for grown ups. She has made a name for herself in two kinds of writing: made up stories and true ones. Her work covers different time periods, which draws in readers who like history. She is also an editor, meaning she helps shape other writers’ books too.

One strong point in her young adult novels is how she builds her main characters. These people feel real and act in ways that make sense for their age and their troubles. Readers often keep turning pages because they want to see what choice the hero makes next. This skill makes her stories feel alive without needing extra bells or whistles.

Another gift she has is making a plot that pulls people forward. She does not use fancy tricks or over the top drama to get a reaction. Instead she shows small moments that add up to big changes for the people in the book. This quiet but steady way of telling a tale lets the reader stay hooked from start to finish.

Prasad keeps readers around the world interested by staying true to her own voice. She does not chase trends or try to copy what is popular at the moment. Instead she writes stories that feel honest to her own sense of right and wrong and to the questions she cares about. This honesty comes through on every page, and people from different countries notice that realness.

A big way she entertains is by putting her characters in tough spots that have no easy answer. These problems might come from history or from family or from the rules of a small town. She does not solve them with a magic trick or a fake happy ending. The fun for the reader comes from watching a person struggle and then grow in a way that feels earned.

Her stories also mix action with quiet thinking time. One chapter might show a chase or a secret meeting. The next chapter might show a main character sitting alone and working out a hard decision. This back and forth keeps the beat of the book from getting flat. And because the story is always true to what she cares about, it never feels like she is performing for a crowd.

Chandra Prasad shows no sign of slowing down in her writing life. She has new projects in the works, though specific titles and dates are not yet public. Readers can expect more young adult and historical fiction from her in the coming years. Each future book will likely carry the same honest voice and strong characters she is known for.

Early and Personal Life

Chandra Prasad grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, a city with a long history and many different kinds of people. As a child she spent hours with books, letting stories carry her to other times and places. That early love for reading slowly turned into a love for making up her own characters and worlds.

She went on to study at Yale, a school known for pushing students to think hard and write clearly. Her time there helped her learn how to shape a sentence and how to build a story that holds together from start to finish. Those skills later showed up in both her made up tales and her fact based books.

Like many popular writers, she found her inspiration in the world around her and in the history books she read. Each new project taught her something about pacing, about voice, and about when to let a quiet moment speak for itself. Over the years she grew from a beginner into a trusted name in young adult and historical fiction, and she keeps getting better with every book.

Writing Career

Chandra Prasad started her novel writing career with Death of a Circus in 2006. She followed that with On Borrowed Wings in 2007 and then Breathe the Sky in 2009. These early books helped her build a name in young adult and historical fiction.

She later released Damselfly in 2018 and then Mercury Boys in 2021. Each new book showed growth in how she crafts a plot and shapes her main characters. She continues to write today, so readers can expect more novels from her in the future.

Damselfly

Chandra Prasad wrote the young adult survival thriller titled Damselfly. Scholastic Press released this book on March 27, 2018.

After their small plane goes down, a group of private school students ends up on a remote tropical island. Samantha Mishra wakes up hurt and alone in the jungle with no clue where the other survivors are. She later finds her best friend Mel, and the rest of their fencing team from Drake Rosemont, and they set up a camp while waiting for help. As time passes, the teens realize no rescue is coming, a strange force stalks them, and the biggest danger might come from inside their own group.

Readers will find this book hard to put down once the story gets going. The tension between the stranded teens keeps every chapter moving at a good clip. One finishes the novel feeling like the time spent was well worth it. New readers should give this survival tale a try.

On Borrowed Wings

Chandra Prasad wrote the young adult historical novel titled On Borrowed Wings. Atria Books published this work on June 19, 2007.

A young woman named Adele Pietra wants to escape a marriage that has already been planned for her. She takes on the name and gender of her brother who has passed away so she can go to Yale University in his spot. There she joins a fun group of male students and has to face hard questions about her social class and where her family comes from. She also deals with new romantic feelings for another student while hiding who she really is.

Many found the main character’s bold choice both surprising and easy to root for. The story moves at a steady pace and keeps one wondering how she will keep up the disguise. The friendships and school life feel real and never too dramatic. Anyone who likes clever young adult historical fiction should give this book a chance.