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 … [Read more...]
Bud, Not Buddy
I said, "No, sir. I don't know why, but my eyes don't cry no more." Steady Eddie said, "I like that, 'my eyes don't cry no more.' You mind if I borrow that? That sounds like a great name for a song." I said, "No, sir, I don't mind at all."I'm not sure why this section made left a strong impression on me. Perhaps it's because of how simple it is and how much it reveals through its simplicity. A ten-year-old boy says his eyes don't cry anymore. It's heartbreaking and poetic--and this little exchange makes us notice both.Bud, Not Buddy is a precious book, bursting with the kind of innocence that makes my heart ache, much like The Mighty Miss Malone, which I read and loved several years ago.Armed with a set of rules to have a funner life and be a better liar, Bud sets out to look for his father. All he has to help him is a suitcase full of his treasures. Some of his … [Read more...]
The Vaidyar’s School of Medicine and Magic
Recently, I was asked to conduct a workshop on exploring new perspectives in fantasy writing. As usual, I started by asking students what they'd read. All the usual names cropped up - Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Dog Man ...We went on to discuss Indian fantasy, and the fact that publishers so often tell us that Indian fantasy doesn't sell. What a blanket term that is - Indian fantasy! What is "Indian fantasy"? Can stories inspired by Hindu mythology be compared with those inspired by Greek or Roman mythology?These conversations lead to other important ones - about all the crossovers between myth and fantasy, science fiction and fantasy ... and, in the context of The Vaidyar's School of Medicine and Magic, history and fantasy.Kathir, the narrator and protagonist, believes that the Siddhars belong to folklore--until he is apprenticed to the Hill Vaidyar. What follows is an … [Read more...]
Sandy to the Rescue
Another edition of my book club, and we're reading another delightful hOle book!Sandy, aka Sandip when his mother is angry, makes a new friend, Aftab, who needs rescuing from Mrs Gupta, the witch next door. The problem is that he needs to sneak Aftab into his house, feed him and give him a place to stay. And of course, Sandy has got to be braver than Aftab when it comes to an adventure of this sort. After all, Sandy is a whole year older.We've read this hOle book before, and I'm looking forward to reading it again--five years later! Here are some bookish activities we're going to do. Making Up Words 'It's greeny blue, not bluey green. It's, um, grue!''You need spectacles,' Aftab scoffed. 'It's not grue, it's breen!'What words can you make up by combining two words? What do these new words mean? Hiding Places Aftab hides under the … [Read more...]
Song of the River
I love Gill Lewis’s books, and when I saw Song of the River at Kahaani Box, I picked it up without a second thought. And even though I haven’t read any of Lewis’s books in a while, I wasn’t disappointed.When Cari’s father dies, her mother wants to start over. She wants to move out of the city and to a village where she can run a picture perfect café, complete with chequered tablecloths. For Cari, though, it feels like they’re deliberately leaving every memory of her father behind. They’re a half family now, and it seems as if her mother wants to forget. A river of rage surges within Cari, one that is echoed by the river outside their new cottage.When the river breaks its banks, Cari’s mother is heartbroken. Everything is destroyed, and she realises what a foolish ideal she was chasing. But perhaps it’s time to change the song of the river—both within Cari and in the physical … [Read more...]
I Am Hachi
Some picture books make you smile page after page, and I Am Hachi is one of them. Told from the point of view of a dog, it's an adorable story that explores the unique relationship between animals and their humans.Hachi has a dozen names--Hachiko, Himu, Chimuna, and so many more. And his story is one of innocence, trust and love. His life is like a journey through four seasons. In spring, he is a bundle of curiosity and bubbling with energy. As we move through summer, autumn and winter, we see him aging, but secure in the comfort of his home and his family.What I loved most about the story is the voice. We hear Hachi's voice and the way in which he makes sense of the world around him. He knows exactly what phrases like bahar chalte hain and nahai-nahai mean. He loves the first and hates the second! And yet, he's full of contradictions and idiosyncrasies. He hates having a … [Read more...]
The Girl Who Became a Buddha
What is it like to be the mother of one who gets enlightenment? How does one watch a young prince walk away from responsibilities towards something impractical and incomprehensible?The Girl Who Became a Buddha is a beautiful story that shifts the spotlight from Siddhartha to Pajapati, his foster mother. Author Maria Denjongpa creates vivid pictures of Pajapati, a feisty, rebellious girl who grows to be a queen and dares to ask questions. She is one who eventually seeks (and finds) enlightenment herself.As I read The Girl Who Became a Buddha, I was drawn into Pajapati's world. I love that her spiritual journey--and that of others in the story--is never once preachy. On the contrary, we meet practitioners of all kinds. A courtesan may be drawn to Buddha's path just as much as a queen. Every human is a bundle of contradictions and flaws, searching for answers in their own way. … [Read more...]
Hope in the Valley
The blurb of Hope in the Valley speaks of how the book is a tale of "growing up in Silicon Valley at a time when immigrants are looked at with suspicion". With news coming in from all over the world--and most recently from Belfast--I can't help wondering, how much has changed? How is it that a book set almost fifty years ago is still relevant today?Hope in the Valley is a layered story told from the point of view of the youngest of three siblings, Pandita Paul. Pandita doesn't want things to change. She doesn't want the house across the street to be demolished, and she doesn't feel set for middle school, especially now that her erstwhile best friend is friends with trendy Katrina Reed. She certainly doesn't want to join drama camp, but when it's something her father asks her to do for him, what can she say?The various threads of the story are beautifully woven together to bring … [Read more...]
‘Carri-On’, Ruddy!
I remember the first time I visited Tadoba. Our guide, Vishwas, told us that being a forest guide is much like being a detective. You have to listen, look for detail, pay attention, and follow the clues. And the ruddy mongoose in the story--a naturalist and a sleuth--does just that.As with Sea ice? Now you don't!, the depth and breadth of research took my breath away. Page after page, I was awestruck by everything Rohan Chakravarty and his sleuth Naturalist Ruddy draw our attention to. Birds, spiders, ants, lizards--everything catches Ruddy's eye, and everything becomes a marvellous mystery for us to uncover. Parts of the book invite the reader to engage in an investigation with Ruddy, revealing gems of information in the best possible way.As an educator, I'm constantly on the lookout for texts that make nonfiction writing fun. I've worked with Sad Animal Facts and How Do … [Read more...]
Becoming Naomi León
Some time ago, I read about how searching for belonging creates among the most powerful children's stories. Time and time again, that rings true.Becoming Naomi León is the story of a young girl and her brother Owen, who are being raised by their Gram. As with Foxlight, Naomi has dreams of how her mother does want her, will want her, will shower her with love, and bring her family.As expected, Naomi's mother does turn up. But she's nothing like Naomi imagined. She's unpredictable, alternately showing love and blazing in anger. Worst of all, her mother wants Naomi, but not Owen. What is Naomi to do?Becoming Naomi León is a beautiful story of courage, love, and making difficult choices. Can Naomi live up to her name and become the lion she is? Can she stand firmly in support of what she wants, even though being abandoned led to selective mutism that she continues to struggle … [Read more...]