Mitali Perkins is the author of numerous books for teens and younger readers, including Monsoon Summer and Secret Keeper. She was born in India and immigrated to the United States with her parents and two sisters when she was seven. Bengali-style, her and her sisters names all rhyme: Sonali means gold, Rupali means silver, and Mitali means friendly. About Open Mic, she says, Humor crosses borders like no other literary device. Shared laughter fosters community and gets us talking about issues that might otherwise cause division or discomfort. Mitali Perkins lives with her husband just outside