Kushti Kid

I’ve read and enjoyed so many of Vibha Batra’s books that when I saw Kushti Kid, I knew I had to read it. And it’s lovely!

Several of Vibha’s books challenge stereotypes, particularly gender stereotypes. There’s Pinkoo Shergill, which features a boy who wants to cook. Kolam Kanna is about a boy who enjoys putting kolam. And The Chhau Champ has at its centre a girl who wants to do chhau. Many of her books are favourites of mine and more importantly, favourites at my book club.

Kushti Kid, Vibha’s latest book with Scholastic India, is the story of Qainaat, who, inspired by a movie she watches, wants to become a wrestler. Contrary to her family’s expectations, her attraction to wrestling isn’t just a fleeting infatuation; it lingers. And so, she joins a summer course … and meets with one obstacle after another. Can a girl wrestle? Should she stand up to institutional bullying? Importantly, can she?

Qainaat’s story is one of grit and perseverance. With her new friend Tanki, she works towards overcoming every obstacle, from Masterji to Bhaiyyaji and Birju. And when she needs help, she knows how to ask for it.

As with all Vibha’s books, the characters sparkle. Qainaat and her family are especially lovely characters, detailed and relatable. I was so invested in the characters that I could not stop reading once I’d begun!

I did feel, however, that the design of the book made it less appealing. Books like Kolam Kanna invite the child reader in, but Kushti Kid had a much more old-fashioned feel, with its smaller font and sketches. That didn’t take away from my experience of a lovely book, but I wonder if children would find it a deterrent!

All in all, though, it’s a lovely book, one that I’m sure to introduce to my book club soon!