Padma Venkatraman is an American citizen and lives in Rhode Island. Padma Venkatraman's most recent novel, A TIME TO DANCE, was released in May 2014 to starred reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, VOYA and SLJ, and rave reviews online and in newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and The Denver Post. A TIME TO DANCE is also an IndieBound KidsNext Summer 2014 List selection. CLIMBING THE STAIRS was released to starred reviews in Booklist, PW and VOYA, and ISLAND'S END was also released to starred reviews in KIRKUS, Booklist, PW, and SLJ. CLIMBING THE STAIRS won the 2009 Julia Ward Howe Boston Authors Club Medal (YA) and the ASTAL RI Book of the Year award, as well as several other honors, including: Bank Street College of Education Best Book, ALA/YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, Booklist Editor's Choice Best Book of the Year, NYPL Best Book for the Teen Age, 2009 CCBC choice, NCSS/CBC Notable SS Trade Book, Capitol Choices Award, PA School ibrary Association Top 40, CLN Top 25 07-08, ALA/Amelia Bloomer 2009 Book, PW Flying Start, and Booksense Notable. ISLAND'S END won the South Asia Book Award as well as the Paterson Prize and was honored as a YALSA ALA/BBYA, ALA/Amelia Bloomer selection, CCBC choice, Kirkus Best Book, Booklist Best Book, and a finalist for the Crystal Kite and Julia Ward Howe awards. Padma Venkatraman has a doctorate in oceanography and was a researcher for many years before she wrote her novels.