Thursday, 9 April 2020

The Backbenchers (Unusual Fellows)-Sachin Garg

Book: The Backbenchers (Unusual Fellows)
Author: Sachin Garg
Publisher: Grapevine India

What is the most drastic step you can take to advance towards your goals?


The Backbenchers (Unusual Fellows) by Sachin Garg is a story of Jigyaasu Lele, a teenager, about to join a new school in 11th standard, in New Delhi, along with his childhood friend, Radhika. A person with big dreams, he wants to become the Head Boy of this new school and has a set agenda. His only rule, all rules are sacred. Laasya Khurana, however, couldn’t have cared less about rules. All that mattered to her was rights and her freedom. How these people coexist in Pragati Vidyalaya, Rohini is the story of the book.

The Backbenchers (Unusual Fellows) by Sachin Garg has a very fresh take on school life, its challenges and the rules that schools have. Sachin has taken up some very typical Indian teenagers who have lofty dreams, but their fiefdom is their school. Jigyaasu’s journey as a newcomer in the school, his struggles and information peddling, the bootlicking and the haughtiness of being a topper is the highlight of the book. On the other hand, Laasya Khurana is a known figure in the school because of her antics and the way he has worked on that storyline is interesting as well. I loved the treatment of the plot, simplistic yet brilliant. The ending makes the reader wanting for more and I, for one, want to see how things unfold in Pragati Vidyalaya.

The characters in the book are interesting and each of them has a unique vibe. Jigyaasu is a studious, ambitious and clever guy, who’s friends with Radhika, a simple backbencher who likes to enjoy life. Laasya is a girl who believes in standing up for what is right, no matter the price, and we have Noel, a character who’s a recent addition to Laasya’s life, but becomes her anchor, her moral support for her beliefs.

Overall, I loved the book and The Unusual Fellows of The Backbenchers walk away with 4.13/5 marks.

Get the book here

No comments:

Post a Comment