Boomi's Boombox

Acclaimed author Shanthi Sekaran delivers a powerful story about grief, family, dance, and friendship that follows a young girl who accidentally travels back in time to meet her dad as a child that will change her life forever. Perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and The Ethan I Was Before. A Junior Library Guild Selection! When Boomi’s dad dies of Covid, the rest of her life topples like a row of dominoes. First her best friend, Bebe, stops talking to her. Then she gets kicked out of her ballet academy. Her mom becomes hyper focused on her weight. Her grandmother sinks further into the shadows of her mind. Then Boomi is given one last gift from her dad: his old boombox. Inside it, she finds a mix tape and a note: You can change your life. When she presses play on the boombox, her life really does change: she’s magically transported to Thumpton-on-Soar, England, 1986. And her dad’s there! But he doesn’t know he’s her dad—he’s twelve, just like Boomi. Boomi starts to see what being twelve was like for her dad, growing up Indian in a town that wanted to silence people like him. She starts to understand why he never went back. But why is Boomi sent back to Thumpton? Is she supposed to save her dad? Or change her life? Magical Time Travel: An old boombox isn’t just a boombox—it’s a time machine that sends Boomi back to 1986 England. A Second Chance with Dad: She doesn’t just travel to the past—she gets to meet her own father as a twelve-year-old boy, giving her a chance to heal and understand him in a whole new way. A Powerful Story of Grief: Perfect for young readers navigating the difficult emotions of losing a loved one, this story balances heartbreak with hope and adventure. Finding Your Voice Through Dance: From stressful ballet auditions to discovering the power of Bharatanatyam, Boomi’s journey is a celebration of cultural identity and learning to take up space.