Earlier this month, I saw posts on social media about The Pink Dress--the story of a girl who wants a pink dress and will not let anything stand in the way. I was uncomfortable about the stereotype of a girl wanting pink. I couldn't help thinking about how my book clubbers would respond to the book.And yet, I knew that a hOle book by Shabnam Minwalla wouldn't be as simple as that. Besides, stereotypes exist for a reason, and why must every story deliberately contradict an idea that many would identify with?With all these thoughts in mind, I started reading.And I loved the book.Yes, Kanmani, the protagonist of the story, wants a pink dress. But that's just one layer of this deceptively simple story. As we read on, we understand where she comes from and why the pink dress is out of reach. Just like in When Jiya Met Urmila, we see class divides, which are so complex and … [Read more...]
Maya and the Robot
What a charming middle-grade book!I stumbled upon Maya and the Robot completely by accident. I was looking for something by Maya Angelou, and this one showed up. It looked interesting, so I picked it up--and thoroughly enjoyed it!Maya and the Robot begins slowly. When I started reading it, I wondered if it would be a predictable story about a genius girl who finds a friend in a robot she creates because her best friends are now in another class. It is, and it isn't. For one, the story becomes far more believable because Maya doesn't create the robot from scratch all by herself. Instead, she finds one designed by an engineer at Stanford and tweaks it based on notes she finds, as well as research. For another, the story has many more layers, making it a satisfying, endearing tale.The robot Ralph drives the story. Through him, we get to know all the others, from Christopher … [Read more...]
My Name Is Khadija
Do you like your name? Have you ever thought of changing it? I know lots of people who've changed their names--including my grandmother--but I've always loved mine. I love the letter 'V' and I love what my name means ... unlike Khadija in the story. Why couldn't her parents have chosen a simpler name? Like Priya or Hema, for instance.My Name Is Khadija is a humorous, enjoyable read. Mariyam Fatima's words make Khadija come alive to us, and Isha Nagar's illustrations are full of joy.Khadija's stubbornness, her childlike questions, and her determination to get the best deal are delightful. When her father tells her that Khadija was Prophet Muhammad's first wife, Khadija's response is perfect, exactly what I could imagine a child saying -- But I don't want to be anyone's wife.Right through the story, I found myself chuckling at the pictures, especially at the expressions on … [Read more...]
The Race for Rugda
The Race for Rugda by Lesley D. Biswas and Anupama Ajinkya Apte is a heartwarming story for young readers. In some ways, it's an old-fashioned tale, one that helps us believe goodness and kindness will always be rewarded. Yet, it conveys this message in the sweetest possible way without hitting us on the head with its moral!Savita's mother has been ill for a while. When she's finally regaining her appetite and her strength, all she wants is rugda--a mushroom that people in Savita's village forage for in the woods. Savita is determined to find the mushrooms for her mother, but when people need her help with other things, what can she do?As the story progresses, we hope that things will turn out for the best--and they do. Ultimately, we finish this delightful Hook Book with a smile, reassured that all is well with the world!TitleThe Race for RugdaAuthorIllustratorLesley D. … [Read more...]
Song of the Asunam
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...]
Trouble with Magic
The name itself makes my eyes sparkle. Trouble with magic? That sounds promising! And it is. I giggled my way through the book, chuckling at the hapless Aunt Malu and charmed by the enterprising Veena. Aunt Malu should have known better, but ... therein lies the tale! Trouble with Magic was the very first book we read at the very first edition of my book club over five years ago! We're rereading it next month! Inventions What would you invent if you could invent anything in the world? Do you think that invention of yours is scientific or magical?Children at my workshops have invented all kinds of things from time machines to superfast shoes and robots that do their homework for them. Aunt Malu is a delightful mix of magician and scientist - neither real nor fantastic - and so, she provides the perfect balance for children who want both … [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...]
Brachio
What a charming book! Brachio by Venkataraghavan and Ananya Broker Parekh is a visual treat, one that touches the reader with sweetness and whimsy.Brachio is so tall that he doesn't fit on the cover, as you can see. In fact, he even has his own fold-out page so that you can see how tall he is. But can someone so tall ever fit in? Can he belong anywhere?Brachio is the kind of book that makes you smile long after you've finished reading it. It is a picture book that addresses big themes, like purpose, loneliness, friendship and cruelty. Through it all, just like a powerful lighthouse that stands tall, Brachio gives us hope. Perhaps our usefulness does not determine our worth. Perhaps there is more to us than what we can do. And in these ideas lies the beauty of the book. I loved the story, the design, the … [Read more...]
Dear Author, You Are Wrong
Varsha Varghese’s Dear Author, You Are Wrong is another book I had the chance to read as a manuscript a few years ago when it was submitted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2023. It won the award—and deservedly so! It is a deceptively simple read, one that addresses a range of social issues with quite a light touch.When eleven-year-old Avisha reads a book that makes her upset and angry, she hunts out the author’s email and writes to her. The author writes back, and this sets Avisha off on an unexpected investigation. As Avisha turns detective, she realises there are more questions than answers--uncomfortable questions, at that. Why must delivery people use a separate lift in her apartment complex? Do families have clear gender roles? Is a gender role wrong in itself?With Avisha, we discover how easily inconvenient questions are dusted under the carpet. Issues of caste and … [Read more...]
The Case of the Mysterious Witches
What a powerful, important book!I haven't read the first two M4 mysteries, but I have read--and admired--some of Mallika Ravikumar's other work. My first was the award-winning The District Cup, which I loved. More recently, I read The Battle for Baramulla, and I commented on how meticulously researched it is.That's what makes The Case of the Mysterious Witches stand out too. Detailed, eye-opening and hard-hitting, it is a pacy, gripping read that makes the reader stop and think.The Case of the Mysterious Witches begins with the discovery of a woman being chased and beaten by an angry mob. Aghast, the M4--three children and a dog--race to her rescue. Soon, however, they are enmeshed in a larger social problem, one that deals with daakins and chudails, witches and evil spirits. Through the lens of caste and gender, the author examines the branding of women as witches and … [Read more...]