Like Smoke: A Collection

The book features twenty stories revolving around young individuals standing on the precipice of major life choices. It addresses the unspoken anxieties, identities, and vulnerabilities of adolescence, moving away from idealized teenage portrayals to showcase both their honors and dishonors. [1]

Paro Anand is a highly celebrated Indian author who writes primarily for children and young adults. She was honored with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2017 for her immense contribution to young adult literature. Her works are widely known for handling complex, sensitive, and real-world issues with care and depth.

The narrative profiles twenty distinct young protagonists dealing with heavy emotional baggage, family struggles, societal expectations, and personal growth. These short stories act as mirrors for teenage readers, exploring themes of love, loss, peer pressure, and hope. By highlighting ordinary lives facing extraordinary mental friction, the book serves as a comforting reminder to teens that they are never truly alone in their struggles