I read Boy 87 by Ele Fountain several years ago, and it stayed with me. Stark, powerful, frightening--I still remember the mood it left me with. And Wild is no different. Jack is a bundle of rage and resentment. His mother never had time for him. Why should anything change? Why must he suddenly forge a relationship with her when the only person he wants to be with is gone? Bubbling with frustration, he doesn't care what he does. If it means getting into trouble at school, so be it. Full of raw energy and power, each page of Wild pulses with Jack's anger, and the anticipation just keeps building as we read on. We dread what he will do next, terrified at everything that could go wrong. And yet, just like Boy 87, Wild is, ultimately, a story of courage and hope, of doing the right thing. Jack is lost but perhaps he can find his way again. And maybe he isn't as alone as he … [Read more...]
The Case of the Vanishing Gods
I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, and that is what makes it all the more remarkable how well the M4 series by Mallika Ravikumar works for me. I read The Case of the Mysterious Witches some time ago, and it left a powerful impression on me. The Case of the Vanishing Gods was no different. The story begins with a simple robbery--Mrs Shenoy's jewellery is stolen, and along with it, an antique idol. Malhar, a fan of detective stories, is determined to find the criminal, and soon, he ropes in his sister Meera. However, two urban kids living in a bubble of privilege have little experience of a murky world where innocent people are jailed and beaten. Enter Mirchi, who might not be able to read well but certainly knows the ways of the world. With the dog Munna, we have the M4 who dip their toes into a theft and find themselves neck deep in a racket far bigger than they imagined. What I … [Read more...]
Foxlight
Foxlight is my third book by Katya Balen, and it's just as wondrous as the others! The beauty of the book begins with the title--Foxlight. I can imagine it perfectly--the mixture of orange and red, neither night nor day, elusive and special. And elusive and special is exactly how the characters in the story, Fen and Rey, see their past. They can't put their finger on it. They don't know their story. They must step out and find it, even if it means venturing into the terrifying wildness. Foxlight is a search for identity and belonging. Although Fen and Rey have each other, they long for more. At the Light House, which takes in abandoned babies, everyone has a story. Everyone except them. They have nothing but a charcoal sketch of a fox from their mother. No letter, no name, nothing. So Fen creates stories and dreams of being free and wild. Rey tries to grow plants in unforgiving … [Read more...]
Unlocked
I’ve read both Flat-Track Bullies and Pops! by Balaji Venkataramanan, but Unlocked is the one I like best! Tanvi Bhat’s illustrations make the reader linger on the pages long after we’ve read the words, delighting in the detail. When Ravi has to go stay with his grandfather, he isn’t best pleased. His grandfather’s house reminds him of a hospital. But in just a few words over the course of the story, a lovely relationship blossoms between grandfather and grandson. In the gentlest way possible, Ravi’s grandfather prepares the child for the inevitable. Life is like a game of snakes and ladders. Sometimes, he’s climbing a ladder; sometimes he’s sliding down a snake. Childlike delight, worry and love shine through the pages making Unlocked a beautiful read, one that handles the difficult topic of death with gentleness and warmth. And like with nearly every Hook … [Read more...]
On Air with RJ Rini
As a child, I was quite the chatterbox. I remember my cousin offering me five rupees if I could stay quiet for five minutes. I spent all of those five minutes asking if five minutes were over. Needless to say, I never earned those five rupees. And that’s why a character like Rini is particularly endearing. She isn’t just a chatterbox; she is a chatter-machine. But like so many other children who enjoy the sound of their own voice, she doesn’t quite remember to listen, to pay attention to what those around her might want. On Air with RJ Rini is a charming story about a girl who realises that becoming a radio jockey is the perfect career choice for her. When her best friend Uma isn’t nearly as excited about the prospect, Rini is confused. Why is Uma unhappy? It takes Gaga—aka Gayatri Aunty—to help her solve the mystery of the sulking best friend. I thoroughly enjoyed the … [Read more...]
Book Covers – Reimagined
Our second guest session of the season--and my thirty-fifth guest session in all--was such a visual treat! We haven't ever had a cover design workshop before and I enjoyed this one, particularly as Isha Nagar, who conducted the session, designed two of my book covers (Fishbowl and Uncontrollable), both of which I love! Through the course of an hour, Isha guided us through the process of redesigning covers for our favourite books. We began by writing down the main characters and theme of the story. Then, Isha explained the three essential elements of a book cover - title, the main illustration, and author name. She showed us multiple examples, demonstrating various design approaches from her own work as well as famous titles by other illustrators. She spoke about Fishbowl, The Ghost of Malabar, Banian Buddies, and several more. It was wonderful to see the range of covers she shared … [Read more...]
The Adventures of Mooli and the Bully on Wheels
We're rereading The Adventures of Mooli and the Bully on Wheels at my book club! The book features characters some of my book clubbers have read about before. We've read both The Adventures of Mooli and the Sticker Trickster and The Adventures of Mooli and the Blue-Legged Alien. It's time to meet Mooli again!Mooli and his friend Soups are fun, enterprising characters, itching to try something new. After all, they want to win a prize on WAYOUTS - World’s As Yet Original Untried Tricks and Stunts. Toothpaste art sounds like a good idea--or not. Funny, silly and full of wacky ideas, Mooli is a character with whom book clubs are fun! Art Explorations Mooli tries to create art using a tube of toothpaste. We're not going to waste toothpaste, but we are going to have fun with art! Can the children draw with their eyes closed? Or with their … [Read more...]
Tara and the Friendship Theorem
Maths and Logic are fascinating. I remember when I studied Descartes, who tried to prove the existence of God using pure logic. I understand the drive to do that - just like I understand Tara's need to use a theorem to find friends. Can a foolproof Friendship Theorem exist? Can we actually use a Venn diagram to find friends? Tara and the Friendship Theorem is a lovely book about big changes and making friends. Like with Ramanujan, I enjoyed the facts at the head of each chapter; they help me get into Tara's very particular character. Just like Tara (and the author Chitra Soundar), I, too, played pallanguzhi as a child too, though my rules were a little different from the ones at the beginning of the book. But I played all things mathematics - Cheese Buzz, Magic Squares, even mental maths games. Unlike Tara, however, I never attempted to use Maths to find friends. And more importantly, I … [Read more...]
Ada Lace, On the Case
Most of my book clubbers love mystery stories, and that's why the A to Z Mysteries are a great favourite. It's time to introduce another series--Ada Lace, On the Case! Like Maya from Maya and the Robot, Ada Lace is a scientist and inventor. How does she solve the mystery of a dog that has suddenly gone missing? As we find out, here's what we'll do! Picture Description Let's begin by looking at the cover of Ada Lace, On the Case. What do we learn about the protagonist just from the picture?What, in your opinion, is Ada most interested in? Field Journal The cover of Ada Lace, On the Case has the protagonist holding a field guide. What is a field guide, and what is a field journal? I will ask my book clubbers to keep a field journal for ten days, as we read this book. During the last class, each of them will share what they jotted … [Read more...]
Maya and the Robot
Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing is a heart-warming story about a girl and a robot. It is the story of being lonely, finding community. and discovering what it is to be human. Particularly in an age when AI has found its way into so much of our lives, it's a relevant read while also being a timeless one. Here's what we'll do as we read it at my book club. Book Discussion What, according to you, makes a human different from a robot? At my book club, we'll have a mini-debate on the topic: A robot would make an excellent friend.I'm curious about what my book clubbers will come up with! Vocabulary Games Maya and the Robot is one of those books for which I found tons of resources online--though mostly related to vocabulary. Let's do criss-cross puzzles, word games, and more! Science Fiction For the creative writing … [Read more...]
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