My Name is Cinnamon-Vikas Prakash Joshi

Book: My Name is Cinnamon
Author: Vikas Prakash Joshi
Publisher: Hay House India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Are you an inquisitive person and question a lot?

Both a captivating chronicle and an endeavor of remarkable depth and ambition, My Name Is Cinnamon provides a richly textured narrative of a boy trying to find his roots and place in the world. On each part of his journey, he encounters new people, new cuisines, and new adventures as he learns a lot about himself and the world around him. While being a light-hearted and heart-warming read, the book also covers some difficult themes that are rarely explored in ­children’s and young adult literature. It is a deeply moving testament to the unceasing desire to know oneself, the unrelenting pull of familial bonds, and the power of hope, sacrifice, and love. With his perceptive observations, vivid descriptions, and an authentic voice, the author, Vikas Prakash Joshi, weaves an immersive plot with fully realized environments and characters that are sure to stay with you for a long time. Above all, My Name Is Cinnamon is about finding your own people and accepting who you are.

The book is a wonderfully told story of a young boy struggling with his identity. I loved the concept that Vikas has built into this story. The storytelling is quite interesting and the book keeps you turning the pages as we explore the shenanigans of Cinnamon. Vikas uses two concepts that are not much talked about and weaves a story that entertains as well as informs the reader. The book covers an important perspective into a rare genetic condition, however talking about it would be a spoiler. The language is easy to understand and you are driven to find out more about the food and places mentioned in the book. What stood out for me in the story was the fact that Vikas uses Cinnamon’s innocent view of the world to tell it and uses that as a perspective to drive the narrative. Right from the bunking of Math lessons to the football games, the school kid’s idea of an ideal day is imaginative. As Cinnamon tries to find his place in the world, I liked how Vikas keeps the core element of the story for the last and doesn’t ruin it till the very end. The plot is fast-paced and easy to read. The climax has been very well written and brings the story to a fitting end.

The characters in the book have been created with minute details in mind. Having the primary character with a unique nickname is quite interesting and keeps the reader interesting into the story behind the name. Creating a family with a Bengali Mother and a Maharashtrian Father added a wonderful flavor to the story, adding another layer to the storytelling and having a part of the book set in Kolkata, the sounds and flavors of the city were a wonderful touch to the book.

The illustrations in the book are quite good and they provide some great context to the plot as you read the book and imagining the characters becomes quite easy.

The book is highly recommended for anyone who is looking for a fresh story that educates and entertains at the same time. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon or your nearest bookstore.