I have heard innumerable stories of the War of 1971 from my grandparents but how much do our kids know of something that happened in the 70s? We may wonder why it is so important to discuss and learn about things that happened five decades ago. But when I read the book, I was alarmed […]
We have been living in Mumbai for over a decade now, but how much do we really know the city? Sure, the children know about the seven islands and how they were brought together. They can clearly see the difference in architecture in South Mumbai vs the suburbs and hence trace the history. But did […]
How far will you persevere when the odds are stacked against you? Sona lives with her mother, brother, and Kutu, her dog at a tea plantation in Darjeeling where her mother plucks tea for a mean plantation owner. Her brother, Samiran Daju is trying to find a job that guarantees him steady income so he […]
Warning: When Blackbirds Fly is not a fun read. It is one of those books that will leave you shattered at the path history took. It will make you angry and then leave you with questions you will demand answers to. When Blackbirds Fly shows the protagonist, a teenage boy, living in Aizawl with his […]
The transition from picture books to chapter books is a tricky one, and very few books manage to capture the attention of an emerging reader. My Trip to La La Land does that perfectly! My Trip to La La Land is about a young girl, Tavishi, who is forced to go to Ladakh with her […]
I’ll admit I let this book sit on my shelf for too long and promptly forgot about it. But we recently went on a family vacation to Tamil Nadu, and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to read The White Lotus. Set in a small village in Tamil Nadu in the year 1901, The […]
Though this book begins against the backdrop of a heavily religious event, and a festival only conservative Hindus know and follow, the story of The Treasure Seekers: An Otherworldly Quest is of three children who stumble upon an unbelievable mystery and set about solving it. Keshav, Veda, and Ranga live in Madhavapuram, a small village […]
Who doesn’t love a fascinating mystery that you know will have you on the edge of your seat? Collecting clues along with the sleuths and wondering whodunnit is what you need to fill rainy, no-outside-play days. The Egghead Detective Agency is exactly what the good Dr Watson ordered, but it is for that hesitant emerging […]
Who among us hasn’t sat in a tedious classroom with the lazy overhead fan groaning, wondering why in the world we are learning whatever the teacher is droning on about? We have all wished we sprouted wings to fly away or had a sudden bout of diarrhoea to run away from the lesson — anything […]
Does making friends ever get easier? Growing up, I moved to a new city every five years. Along the way, I picked up the necessary skills to talk to anyone and make friends quickly. Years later, I was told, all you need is a pet or a child, and you can make friends. Maybe that’s […]