What a gorgeous book! Even though I've seen Song of the Asunam dozens of times on my social media feed, I had no idea what to expect because I avoid reading reviews before I read a book that looks exciting to me. And this book by C.G. Salamander and Rajiv Eipe is absolutely stunning!I opened the book and spent several minutes just gazing at the end papers. Six-eyed lions with trunks and tusks. Striped hyenas with manes. Tiny elephants as high as grass. Snakes with legs. Each of the mythical beasts featured there is a work of art.And then comes the story. Sweetness and adventure come together in Vetri's tale as he trains himself to be a hunter. But then, are the monsters he hunts truly monsters? Is slaying the monster the only way to save his village?I loved every page of Song of the Asunam. The words and artwork come together to create a rich experience for the reader, an … [Read more...]
The Piano
I've been meaning to read The Piano by Nandita Basu for a long time. I read and loved Rain Must Fall, and although Starry, Starry Night didn't entirely work for me, I loved the idea and the artwork.The Piano is another lovely graphic novel, a sweeping story that takes us from 1912 to 2012 in just a few pages. I like how sparsely it is told, allowing us to ride through the story, tasting its beauty, and rejoicing in the relationships forged.The Piano is inspired by a real piano that author Nandita Basu was drawn to many years ago. Her investigation into the origin of her piano led her to tell this story, the story of an instrument crafted in 1912 in Leipzig. Although Jorge, the original recipient of the piano, cares nothing for it, the piano eventually crosses time and place, finding its way to a girl who is in search of a friend. History and story are woven together to create a … [Read more...]
ZardoZi
ZardoZi by Debasmita Dasgupta is a gentle, deceptively simple book. In just a few words, accompanied by powerful pictures, it tells a rich story--one that, as the subtitle says, is stitched with love.ZardoZi begins with a dream. Zi feels like he has found a treasure, but he doesn't know what it is. When he talks about his dream, though, it seems as if everyone already has something figured out for him, the interpretation of the dream included. As the story moves on, we see that having things figured out irrespective of what Zi wants seems to be the norm. Even words like Let him be what he wants to be are little more than lip service.Subtly, gently, the story shows us how expectations are foisted upon children. Zi feels like he is losing his voice, his identity. Everyone has ideas of what he ought to do. How will he make himself heard?I love the gentle exploration of … [Read more...]
Stories: Comic-Page Style
What a rewarding session we had with Nandita Basu! At workshops like this one, I think I learn as much as the young writers who sign up.Step by step, Nandita led us through the creation of one page of narrative that brings together text and illustration in the style of a graphic novel. We launched straight into the workshop with an interesting prompt that made all of us think. We've all wronged someone at some point in our lives; there's been a time when we were needlessly nasty to someone who didn't deserve it. This formed the basis of the plot we went on to sketch over the next hour.Layouts, structure, characters, setting, conflict, emotion ... in a single hour, Nandita led us through the whole lot. How important is background when setting the context of our story? Is it all right to make stick figures rather than fully detailed characters? How large or small should the … [Read more...]
Heartstopper
I rarely write about books that are so popular, but I loved the Heartstopper series and I can't wait to see what happens next! Unlike most other books I've read, I came to the series through Netflix. I watched both seasons and was so drawn to the characters that I had to read the books. And the books were just as gorgeous. Yes, just as gorgeous, not more so--and again, this differs from my usual opinion on book to screen adaptations!Heartstopper traces the heart-warming relationship between Nick and Charlie, two high school students. Charlie is openly gay, but Nick has always thought of himself as heterosexual. What, then, is he to do with these feelings he's developing for Charlie?An authentic coming-of-age story, Heartstopper addresses heavy themes from sexuality to eating disorders and mental health, without ever seeming like a story with multiple agendas. As author Alice … [Read more...]
Nadya
Nadya's family is perfect, or so it seems. It's full of laughter and fun, and she knows that no matter where she is, her father will find her.But one day, things don't seem so perfect anymore. Eventually, Nadya's father tells her that he's going away. He promises he'll be back soon, but that's a lie.With minimal text and powerful, bold illustration, Nadya tells the story of family, and relationships that need to change and grow. Emotions run high, and pictures, rather than text, propel the story, bringing a sense of urgency into the story and highlighting the conflict and tension in the family.And I loved it. I loved how much was expressed in so little. Graphic novels work best for me when they are like this - with expressive pictures doing most of the talking. Especially for middle-grade readers who struggle with dense text, Nadya is the perfect read!TitleNadyaAuthor … [Read more...]
Rain Must Fall
Rain Must Fall by Nandita Basu is such a beautiful read! I devoured it in one sitting, and I loved it.Anya, Rumi's best friend, asks whom Rumi would like to go on a date with. Rumi makes the mistake of being honest and saying 'you'. After all, you can be truthful with your best friend, can't you? And it isn't really as if Rumi has a romantic interest in Anya; it was just a game. Wasn't it? Maybe not. Because gossip and cruel jokes begin on the school group. Soon, Rumi discovers that neither parents nor schoolmates can accept the idea of a non-binary individual. Schoolmates think it's a joke, and Rumi's parents think therapy is the "solution".Away from it all, in a small town, Rumi discovers and befriends a ghost, Rain. Both Rain and Rumi are trapped, alone and misunderstood. As human and ghost get to know each other better, Rain begins to remember snippets of his life, and … [Read more...]
WeirDo
What's the best kind of surprise? An unexpected book in the mail!Last week, I ordered books from KoolSkool and Funky Rainbow. The following day, I received a message saying that my shipment from Scholastic India was on its way. I was puzzled, but I let it go. I don't know how things work.Except that I do.I know that Funky Rainbow sends books by speed post. And a few minutes later, I got a message saying my shipment from KoolSkool was on its way. So what was Scholastic sending me?A brand-new book for review! Joy!WeirDo is a hilarious graphic novel featuring a boy whose parents have a dubious sense of humour. Weir's parents could have chosen any name in the world. But what did they choose? Weir.And what's Weir's last name? Yes, it's Do. And in case there's any confusion about it, Do rhymes with go not to.I'm not a big fan of humour that employs disgust to function, so … [Read more...]