Book Support

On a sunny Saturday morning in late February, Rohan Mukhopadhyay unpacked 10 boxes of brand-new children’s books. He was at the Beehive, a venue in Los Angeles, California, with his mom, dad, and brother. Together, they arranged the books on folding tables. All were gifts from donors, including authors and publishers. Rohan, 13, was giving them away as part of a program he started called Reading Among Ruins.

GETTING READY At his temporary home, in Santa Monica, Rohan organizes books for donation.

Just weeks earlier, wildfires had torn through Los Angeles, destroying more than 16,000 structures, including schools and houses. Rohan and his family lost their home in the Palisades Fire, and with it, Rohan lost his beloved book collection. “I was heartbroken,” he told TIME for Kids. “It made me wonder how other people, other kids, felt about losing their books.”

That simple question kick-started Rohan’s relief effort. “I wanted to help,” he says. Now the seventh grader is going all out to get books to young people who were affected by the fires.

DONATION DAY Rohan arranges a selection of books at the Together We Rebuild event, in Los Angeles, California, in late February.

Books Matter

In its first month, Reading Among Ruins gave away more than 1,000 books to kids. Asher Finkelthal, 13, was one. “I like the feeling of books,” Asher told TFK, “and I like rereading books.” Losing his books was devastating. Rohan’s giveaway lifted Asher’s spirits.

Using an online form, “I requested a few books by Stuart Gibbs,” Asher says. “He’s one of my favorite authors.” Soon, Rohan gifted him with books from Gibbs’s FunJungle and Spy School series. “It felt really good” to receive them, Asher says. “It’s nice to know that other people care about books also and want to help people rebuild their collections.”

TAKE YOUR PICK Wildfire victims can take free books at Together We Rebuild.

Veeren Mehra, 10, also got books from Rohan. He learned a powerful lesson: “If you are in a tough situation,” Veeren says, “people will be there for you.”

Books are there for people, too. “They’re things that you come back to again and again” for comfort and joy, Zibby Owens says. She’s the founder of Zibby’s Bookshop, in Santa Monica. Rohan and his family are frequent visitors. Owens is also leading a campaign—to rebuild school libraries. “I think what he’s doing is amazing,” she says about Rohan. “Being able to sense what your friends need in a time of distress? That is a superpower.”

Community Spirit

Officials say it will take time to recover from the wildfires. Until then, the community has come together to support neighbors in need. The giveaway Rohan did in February was part of a larger effort called Together We Rebuild. Local groups provided essential items like clothing and furniture. They also connected people with financial aid and helped them find housing.

Kids got special attention at the daylong event. There was entertainment and a petting zoo, and there were lots of free toys and books. “We probably gave away more than a couple hundred books,” says Rohan’s mom, Puja Chugani. “Actually, we lost track.”

GOOD READS Rohan offers books that were donated by authors and publishers.

Rohan remembers how kids looked as they made their selections: “Really excited,” he says. As long as there’s a need, he plans to keep on giving.

Inspired?

Let Rohan’s story inspire you to address a need in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can boost literacy and make the world a brighter place.