A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story begins slowly. We see Junglee, a wild child. She is faster than all the others, and she can’t sit still—except when the stillness comes over her. As I turned the first few pages, I wondered where the book would take me. Once I got into Junglee's world, though, there was no stopping me. I was moved to tears more than once as I marvelled at Paro Anand’s magnificent writing and Priya Kuriyan’s exquisite art. The book is a stunning read that beautifully reflects the wonder of the world around us. Told from two perspectives—that of Junglee, a Pardhi girl, and Raunaq, a tiger cub—A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story plays with form beautifully. Words tell Junglee’s story, while pictures tell Raunaq’s. The way the two are woven together is simply gorgeous. I do wish, though, that the pattern had been retained right through! In the third … [Read more...]
Queen of Water
I’ve been waiting to read Queen of Water, the fourth book in Devika Rangachari’s Queen books! I just finished reading it, and it didn’t disappoint. While I did enjoy Queen of Ice and Queen of Fire more, this one also drew me into a world of political intrigue, mistrust and loyalty, where women must fight their own quiet battles to be seen and heard. Queen of Water takes us back to the Chola dynasty, introducing to us Kundavai, the one who advised both Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra. We see the world through her eyes as she observes things playing out around her. Wilful and determined, her character comes alive to us. What sacrifices did she make to become the powerhouse she was? How did she balance her loyalty to her family with her newfound love? Just like with the other three books in the series, it is remarkable how human Kundavai and the others seem in this work of … [Read more...]
Sneaker Paati
Kittu is delighted to discover that he has a cool Paati, the kind he can boast about! She does headstands, and is even willing to teach him to do them! Soon enough, Kittu discovers that his Sneaker Paati, aka Shobha Attai, can do more than just headstands. Maybe she'll be his new confidante and solve the problem of Big Bad Abby, the local bully. Sneaker Paati is an amusing story, one that I particularly appreciated because it breaks the convention of children solving everything themselves. While I do usually like stories that feature children with agency, I've noticed that the children's literature I read (and write!) hardly ever steers away from this formula, leading to a surfeit of orphans, boarding schools and conveniently missing parents. As a child, I did read several stories featuring grown-ups, and I didn't like them any less for it! In terms of plot, however, I did find … [Read more...]
Frindle
We're rereading Frindle at my book club! I read it quite a long time ago, and it's EXACTLY my kind of book. Nick Allen isn't really a troublemaker. He just likes to have fun. And where's the harm in making up a new word? Pen. Quite a boring, mundane word. Why not call it a frindle instead?And that's the premise of this delightful, fun story that keeps you reading page after page. I love how the book is plotted as well as how the characters develop as the story proceeds. Finally, a book about words is perfect for a book club! The Question As so many children have just come back after their Christmas break, chapter three is perfect! Following Nick Allen's school system, we'll talk about our holidays, do a quick vocabulary quiz, and then come to the most fun thing of all - the time-wasting question. I know that this part will make the children … [Read more...]
The Vampire Boy
The Vampire Boy by Sharanya Deepak is another delightful hOle book - quirky and unique. We'll be rereading it at my book club in December 2025!The government has decided that all children - including young vampires - must go to school. What is Kristofer to do? He knows he will be shunned, but off he goes, only to meet with curiosity and bullying. In a way that is perfect for this age-group, humour underlines everything that happens to Kristofer. Soon, he makes friends with not just Bo, but also Bran, the class bully. Together, they go to school, they go on a camp, and they even catch a chicken thief!I'm waiting to reread it with my book clubbers. Here's what I plan to do with it. Book Discussion Kristofer is a vampire who hates blood!As this is the first book we will be reading together, a good way to begin is with a discussion on what makes us … [Read more...]
Banian Buddies
Banian Buddies is another lovely book by Vibha Batra! I love how she manages to bring a local flavour to each of her books, from Kolam Kanna to Pinkoo Shergill and now, Banian Buddies. The banyan tree on Banian Avenue is in danger—and it’s all Venky’s fault. He asked his Thatha to write a letter to The Grouchy Times complaining about the noise the rooster Tandoori makes. Tandoori belongs to the fruit vendor’s daughter Kannalmozhi. When the local authorities dash into action, they want the vendors to move away, but they also want to cut down the banyan tree to widen the road! Banian Buddies touches upon a lot of interesting subjects that are sure to make children think. For one, when the children approach a celebrity to support their cause, they are utterly disillusioned. This grand celebrity who seems to care about the environment isn’t at all what she seems to be! … [Read more...]
Full Cicada Moon
“Where are you from?” Sometimes, this feels like such an innocuous question. But often, it isn’t. For Mimi Yoshiko Oliver, growing up in 1969 Vermont, it feels like a particularly loaded question because her mother is Japanese and her father is African-American. She is American, but she doesn’t “look” it. Full Cicada Moon is a beautiful novel in verse that takes us through Mimi’s ups and downs as she finds her feet in a new school. Several sections in the story made me stop and sigh—particularly moments when Mimi experienced kindness and sensitivity from her father, a potential friend, or a teacher. Laced with light humour, this middle-grade book is a quick and easy read that juxtaposes the tiny steps we take as individuals with Neil Armstrong’s small step on the moon. Whenever I read books that bring in other languages, I love it when these words aren’t explained to us in the … [Read more...]
Punching the Air
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Verse can do what prose cannot. I cannot imagine a book as powerful as Punching the Air being written in prose. It is stark and vivid, detailed and hard-hitting all at the same time. Amal was just sixteen when he was convicted of a crime he did not commit. Even though the protagonist Amal isn’t identical to the author Dr Yusef Salaam, what he goes through is based on the latter's incarceration. Yusef Salaam came, eventually, to be known as one of the exonerated five. Together with Ibi Zoboi, he crafts an unputdownable story that left me both angry and hopeful. Amal means ‘hope’, but when he is in prison for no reason except the colour of his skin, it is hard to hold on to hope. Every emotion rages through the story, and the way the writers play with format, word choice and alignment made the story all the more impactful. Amal oscillates … [Read more...]
The Great Sneak-Out
What an adorable book! The Great Sneak-Out is my favourite POFFS book because it's such a perfect blend of ridiculous and heartwarming. The charm of the story begins with the dedication. The author Sanjana Kapur once hid her sister (the editor of this book, Aparna Kapur) under a table!? I would love to know more! The story features a sister who does just that. When Ira, who is in the first grade, doesn't want to go to her classroom, her sister Ana hides her under her desk. The problem is that Ira is much happier in Ana's class than in her own, especially as all Ira's friends get into the act and make the little girl comfortable. The Great Sneak-Out is about helping someone who is unhappy, keeping secrets and finding that you belong. Unlikely friendships, unpredictable adults, and enterprising children kept a giggle in my throat and wonder in my eyes as I read about Ana and … [Read more...]
You Bring the Distant Near
You Bring the Distant Near has been on my TBR for a few years now. Yet, I never got around to reading it because I often don't enjoy sagas that span generations. The cover says, 'Five girls. Three generations. One great American love story.' I wondered if I wanted to read a book spanning generations. Plus, the cover made me wonder if I would be reading yet another American immigration story. I suppose the answer is 'yes and no'. It is an immigration story, yes, but it is both simpler and more nuanced than many others that I've read. You Bring the Distant Near is about finding your place in the world, whether or not your identity spans continents. In some ways, it's simplistic because it feels like finding your "happily ever after" is a straightforward, uncomplicated journey. Yet, the very simplicity of it was a breath of fresh air. I liked that it was not charged and … [Read more...]
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