Hey Kitty
by Shilpa Suraj
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
“Be kind, have courage, and always believe in a little magic.” – Cinderella. Who hasn’t read the evergreen classic love story? Over the years, we’ve seen multiple adaptations of it. But author Shilpa Suraj flips the sweet, familiar tale into a new-age novel brimming with relatability.
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?
Book Title – The Last Bear
Author – Hannan Gold
Publisher – Harper Collins
Recommended Age Group – 9 + years
The Last Bear, beautifully penned down by Hannah Gold, an enthusiastic and talented author, describes the life of a lonely bear on a deserted island of the Artic. The genre of the book is Realistic Fiction and is based on a realistic turn of events. There are two protagonists in this book. Firstly, a young girl named April who lost her mother and is trying to find a friend. She is curious and inquisitive which is how she stumbled upon Bear, the second protagonist. He suffered of loneliness and hunger because of a plastic chain on his paw, preventing him to hunt for himself. The central idea of the book is Global Warming as the icecaps are melting, leaving polar bears stranded on rocks.
Book: The Zora Trigger
Author: Priya Nayak-Gole
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 252
Publisher: Vishwakarma Publications
Fasten your seatbelts because The Zora Trigger is one hell of a ride! This high-octane thriller grips you from page one and refuses to let go. No wonder I finished it in just four days!
TEENAGE JUGAAD
finally, a book for teens about teenage
Cover Image Source: amazon.in
Author: Mitra Malani
Publisher: Notion Press
Genre: Realistic Fiction + Self help
Age group: Teenagers + Young Adults
PLOT SUMMARY
A couple weeks back, I was frustrated with my life.
I went over to my parents and said melodramatically, as if I was in a bollywood movie “I wouldn’t want even my worst enemies to become teenagers. Teenage is so annoying.”
Continue reading Book Review – Teenage Jugaad by Author Mitra Malani
Book Name & Publisher: The Girl Who Lost Her YES published by Harper Collins Children’s Imprint
Author: Aarti Khatwani Bhatia
Illustrator: Priya Kurian
Book Reviewer: Navyaa Mathur
What if, one day, you suddenly start saying ‘no’ to everything – even to the things you like, like candies, toys, and ice cream? That’s exactly what happened to little Mia!
Continue reading Book Review – The Girl Who Lost Her Yes by Aarti Khatwani Bhatia
Book Name & Publisher: Boo-Boo’s Adventures, Boo-Boo Investigates, Boo-Boo the Eco-Warrior published by Om Books International
Author: Tanushree Podder
Genre: Fiction
Book Reviewer: Mannat Ahuja
Continue reading Book Review – Boo-Boo Series by Author Tanushree Podder
Book Title – Living With Adi
Author – Zarin Virji
Published By – Penguin Random House India
Recommended Age Group – 12+ years
Anupama Ma’am, my creative writing mentor, gives the best book recommendations. When she sent a link to buy ‘Living with Adi’, I knew I would absolutely love it.
PLOT
‘Living with Adi’ is a novel about an autistic teenager living in Mumbai with his family. The book features different crossroads in Adi’s life, and how he is resilient and brave through it all. Each part is written by someone in his life.
There are different people, some love Adi and others judge him. Their perspectives come together as a well rounded story, telling us who Adi is and who he is capable of becoming.
TAKEAWAYS
I’ve learnt a LOT about ASD from this book.
ASD struggles are real, but that doesn’t mean a neurodivergent child is any ‘different’ or ‘less’. I’ve also understood that ASD is a spectrum, and different children may face various problems. It’s an umbrella term.
Through this book, we see how some people heavily judge everyone around them, without even noticing and acknowledging their struggles.
CHARACTERS
The characters of this book need a special mention! Each character is intricately woven with nuances and foibles. Some characters will make you laugh, some will make you cry, some will make you want to hug them, and you will love some and despise some.
Each chapter is written through the lens of a different character. The characters have so much perspective!
The author has also left trails around the book about each character, and you will understand them so much better at the end of the book.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME
This book is near flawless. I understand why some of the characters’ perspectives weren’t included, but I still think it would be nice to hear from his doctor and some of the ‘bad guys’.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Ever since the package containing this book arrived at my house, I’ve been re-reading it, and I’ve honestly lost count of how many times. I love it a little more every time I read it, and find something new to appreciate in it. This is a must-have, must-buy and must-read! Take my word for it, you will not be disappointed.
You can get your copy of the book here.
Reviewed by: Vinisha Nainani from Hyderabad
Book Title – Flyaway Boy
Author –Jane De Suza
Published By – Puffin
Recommended Age Group – 9-12 years
Kabir is an ordinary boy at first glance, but there’s an astonishing difference between his biological and mental age. Despite being an imaginative and kind individual, he often finds himself sidelined by peers, teachers, and even his own family, almost invisible to those around him. However, when he mysteriously disappears, he becomes the center of attention. His elder sister and the police mobilize to find him, leaving the question hanging – will Kabir ever return to his family? Discover the answer in ‘Flyaway Boy’ by Jane De Suza.
Book Title – Wish
Author – Barbara O’Connor
Published By – Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Recommended Age Group – 9-12 years
‘WISH’ is an enthralling book which tells us about the captivating story of Charlie Reese who is sent to live with a family when her mother could not take care of her in Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It talks about how she adapts to the new place settling in with her big-hearted aunt and uncle, her loving dog and how she befriends a boy named Howard in her class. Charlie has a lot of wishes in mind but all of them seem unlikely to happen. The book tells us about how Charlie Reese finally realizes the true meaning of family in North Carolina.
