The Boundless starts slowly; I almost did not read it. But that's what made me realise once again how important reviews are: I read on only because Katherine Rundell was quoted as having said, 'WHAT A BOOK!'And though there were parts I skimmed over, and parts that irked me (like the tiny peculiar sentence in Hindi), I have to agree - The Boundless is a phenomenal book in many ways. It's wild, imaginative and breath-taking, full of the kind of danger and adventure that keeps you reading on and on, however much you may skip on the way.The Boundless is the greatest train in history, but for young William Everett, it turns out to be much more than that because several people intend to rob the funeral car, which carries the body of the rail baron and some of his treasures. From sasquatch to the hag of the muskeg, William encounters all kinds of strange creatures during his journey in … [Read more...]
Pig Heart Boy
Cameron's heart is weak. He does not know how long he has to live. But there's a doctor who believes that a heart transplant from a pig will give him a chance. And Cameron decides to take the chance.Pig Heart Boy is an incredible story, overwhelming me with all the ideas it encompasses. Life and death, family, friendship, betrayal, economic hardship, incomprehensible greed, animal rights ... The nuances of the story took my breath away.Cameron's parents fight all the time, and the thirteen-year-old boy hates it, especially as he knows he is central to many of their quarrels. Even when it comes to the idea of going through a 'procedure' and getting the heart of a pig, his mother isn't convinced, unlike his father. Worse, the entire procedure has to be hush-hush because Dr Bryce knows only too well that a transplant of this sort would attract unnecessary attention. Cameron realises … [Read more...]
Making Millions
Nicholas wants to go for a masterclass, but his parents refuse to shell out the money he would need. What do real friends do when a friend is in need?Even though Cass thinks that yet another class is strange, this masterclass is what her friend Nicholas wants. So, of course, Cass and the Bubble Street Gang need to make money - and quickly. While they're at it, they decide to become millionaires - there's no need to keep their dreams small, is there? And so, that's the Bubble Street Gang's next project - making millions.Making millions is not the only project that Cass has on her hands. She has a mystery to solve. There is an invisible boy in her class, and no one seems to believe her when she says that. She must get Invisible Boy to reveal himself, and she's determined to do so.Making Millions is a hilarious, heart-warming story, and I loved everything about it. As a child, … [Read more...]
Radhika Takes the Plunge
A little over a year ago, I read the picture book Clumsy! by Ken Spillman and I enjoyed it. It is a sweet, heart-warming story about a girl who is often called 'clumsy', 'careless', 'butterfingers'. That becomes her identity until her grandmother gives her a box of paints. I loved the simplicity of the story; that's what made me pick up Radhika Takes the Plunge.Radhika has an over-protective mother, who refuses to let her go swimming. For as long as Radhika lived in Delhi, she did not mind very much. When she moves to Australia, she is mortified by the fact that she has never been to a swimming-pool when everyone else has, or as she puts it, everyone else seems to be 49% fish.When her mother finally lets Radhika go to the pool, the girl takes the plunge - in more ways than one.Once more, I liked the story because of the simplicity of the style. To say that the … [Read more...]
A Place Called Perfect
I was a bit apprehensive about reading a book that promised to be 'Perfectly Creepy'. I'm not a big fan of creepy stories. But I loved the cover and the title intrigued me, so I picked it up and started reading.And before I knew it, I had finished the book.A Place Called Perfect is the story of a perfect town with just one problem. Somehow, people at Perfect soon become blind and need special rose-tinted glasses to see. Violet hates the place before she even goes there. She did not want to move, and she hates the fact that her father decided to take a job there without even consulting her.At Perfect, though, things become stranger and stranger. Her mother becomes the stereotypical Perfect housewife. Violet herself is expected to behave perfectly all the time - even variations in games during playtime are heavily frowned upon. Worse, her father vanishes and she begins to hear … [Read more...]
The 1,000-Year-Old Boy
"References to historical dates, places and words in old languages are accurate only in the sense of being 'not very'.Ross Welford in his Author's Note to The 1,000-Year-Old BoyIsn't that a promising note to an imaginative story?The 1,000-Year-Old Boy is about Alfie Monk, who has been eleven years old for a thousand years. To some, this may sound fantastic. But Alfie now just wants to grow up. Thanks to two life-pearls, panic and an accident, his cat Buffa and he cannot die naturally. This does not mean that they're immortal; rather, they're biologically immortal, meaning they can be killed. But until then, they do not age unless they can successfully use a second life-pearl.When you live for a thousand years, can you make friends? What happens if you don't age in an era when witches are burnt at the stake? And what about in modern times when you need documents … [Read more...]
Mockingbird
Several years ago, I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. That was when I came across Asperger's Syndrome for the first time. I read up bits and pieces about it, and was overwhelmed by the power of the brain and the ways in which it processes information.I picked up Mockingbird without knowing that it was written from the point of view of a girl with Asperger's. Caitlin's world is confusing - why do people speak in riddles? Why do people say things they do not mean?A beautiful, heart-wrenching read, Mockingbird explores grief, loss and healing. How can Caitlin find closure when her brother Devon - who always helped her make sense of the world - is killed in a school shooting? And can she help others find closure too? Is that what empathy is about?Unsaid rules that govern the world make Caitlin retreat into herself … [Read more...]
Stargirl
Sweetness is such a wonderful ingredient, and so rare in a YA novel.When Stargirl joins regular school after having been homeschooled most of her life, she is something of a phenomenon. She dresses strangely and does odd things. She seems to know everybody's name and everyone's birthday. She strums her ukulele and sings 'Happy birthday' to each one. She is the weird girl at school, but diverting enough to become popular.The problem, though, is that Stargirl does not seem to see a difference between 'us' and 'them'. At basketball matches, she cheers equally for both teams - for don't you feel elated when a team scores? Apparently, the answer is 'no'. Cheering for the enemy is unheard of, unthinkable.Yet, Stargirl does not care - or even seem to notice - when classmates begin to shun her. She continues to burst with spontaneity and love.So, Leo, who loves her but seeks … [Read more...]
Diamonds and Daggers
When Piotr's father is suspected of having stolen celebrity actor Betty Massino's diamond necklace, the boy's world seems to fall apart. For Piotr, the UK is home, but his father is fed up of being treated with suspicion simply because he is Polish. He is suspended from his job as a security guard, though he has not officially been charged with the crime because no incriminating evidence has been found. Yet, Piotr's parents have made their minds up. They're going back 'home' to Poland.Piotr is horrified by the idea. When he tells his friends that he is moving to Poland forever, they know that the only way they can prevent Piotr's family from leaving is by proving conclusively that Piotr's father is innocent.And so, the Marsh Road investigators begin to look for clues. They interview suspects and take notes. With Piotr's tickets booked, solving the mystery of the diamond necklace … [Read more...]
Catching Up: Writing
On the writing front, things are moving slowly, as usual. I have lots of things in the air, waiting to become either concrete or virtual. In their own time. Older books continue to bring me joy, though, in their own ways.The Prophecy of Rasphora - A New ReviewVery few things make me happier than a review of one of my books. At the Writers' Club yesterday, one of the students from my previous batch handed me this - my first child-review of The Prophecy of Rasphora.WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERSTranscriptionTitle:- The Prophecy of RasphoraAuthor:- Varsha SeshanPublisher:- Mango DC BooksIllustrator:- Lavanya KarthikThe Main Characters:- Afreen, Tara, Vandana, Miss (a dog), Avamel, Efferin, Safir, Terrine, Coutim, Anita, AnandThe Story is Set in:- Monkey Hill and RasphoraSynopsis of the Story:- This story is about 3 girls named Afreen, Tara and Vandana and … [Read more...]