Protest. Isn’t that what is on everyone’s mind now? How does one protest? How does one agitate, educate and organise? Where do we find the courage to stand up for what we know is right?
The Chronicles of Courage series reminds us that it’s been done in the past and that we can do it again. And Bijal Vachharajani’s epistolary novel, A Revolution in the Valley, is a moving, hopeful, triumphant part of the series.
A Revolution in the Valley is told primarily through letters exchanged by Jenny, who lives in Kerala, and Teesta, who lives in Bombay. There’s a lot happening in the country at this time: 1973-1984. The Emergency. The proposed Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project. And of course, the cricket World Cup. In the midst of all this, Jenny must write to a pen-pal because her handwriting is ‘untidy’.
It’s with her pen-pal Teesta that Jenny’s world begins to widen. Through letters exchanged by the two girls, we learn about lion-tailed macaques in the Silent Valley and mudskippers in the mangroves of Bombay. Sprinkled with humour and light-heartedness, A Revolution in the Valley moves beyond exploring a movement to telling a believable story that has us rooting for the characters. Notes passed in class made me smile. Secret letters exchanged through library books created joy. And blossoming friendships remind us that people change and grow if you give them a chance.
I love epistolary novels, and A Revolution in the Valley is no exception. Balancing humour and seriousness, it tells a timeless story, reminding us of our history and showing us that everyone–young or old–can make a difference.
| Title | A Revolution in the Valley |
| Author | Bijal Vachharajani |
| Tags | Chronicles of Courage, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade |
| Ages | 10+ |
| Rating | 4.5 |
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