Dive into “The Sea Elephants” by Shastri Akella, a spellbinding novel set in 1990s India. Follow Shagun’s journey of self-discovery as he flees a demanding father and profound grief after his sisters’ deaths. Find solace and belonging in an all-boys boarding school and later, with a traveling theater troupe. Shagun embraces storytelling, embodying diverse characters, but his past and his father’s threat of a conversion center loom large. When he meets Marc, he experiences longed-for love, yet must confront his shame and fight for his happiness. This darkly beautiful, triumphant debut is an ode to storytelling and hard-won self-love. “The Sea Elephants” is a must-read for fans of immersive literary fiction.