Imagine the sweet rustle of leaves, the faint whisper of the trees talking to each other, and the whirr of the chainsaws coming closer.
Wait, what?
The chainsaws were unexpected, right?

‘The Forestborns’ by Vardhini Amin offers a narrative that intertwines the mystical elements of fantasy with pressing environmental themes. The story introduces readers to the Vruhas – spirits of trees that come alive under the moonlight.

The central characters, Siah, a young sandalwood tree spirit, and Avni, a twelve-year-old girl, unite to combat the threat of sandalwood smugglers endangering their forest. The narrative follows their journey to thwart the smugglers’ plans and save the sandalwood grove.

Amin’s portrayal of Siah and Avni is nuanced, showcasing their growth as they confront external threats and internal conflicts. Siah’s determination to protect her home and Avni’s evolution from a grieving child to an active defender of the forest are simply beautiful. The grief Avni felt when her father died, and the hopelessness Siah felt when nobody listened to her, is truly felt.

Author Vardhini’s descriptive prose brings the forest to life, creating vivid imagery that totally immersed me in the deep, mystical, and breathtaking forest that the Vruha call home.

The Forestborns, for me, isn’t a simple story – it’s a real epic, one that made me laugh and cry, one that left me spellbound and with tears running down my face. Get your copy now here. 

Reviewed By: Abir Barve, 11 years old