Control the Shift-Meera Rajagopalan

Book: Control the Shift
Author: Meera Rajagopalan
Publisher: Self Published

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

Do you think that change can be overwhelming?

Why on earth should everything change so fast for me alone? When 12-year-old Kalai switches from her government school to a posh CBSE school, the changes hit her hard and fast. Along with family troubles, she finds out that Public Enemy Number One, aka Aanveshika, has also shifted into the school. As if that weren’t enough, she has to raise an impossible sum of money for a challenge she set with Public Enemy Number 2, in a fit of rage. Along the way she finds a hidden talent and an unexpected ally. Will she control the shift, or will the shift control her?

Meera’s writing is simple, but hits you in just the right places. The concept of change, as seen through the eyes of a young adult is wonderfully written and the angst and the anxiety of it all is nicely captured. As you read the book, you are transported to your own days in school to those lunches and the awkward moments. What I loved in the book was that the plot is kept simple and Meera explores learning disabilities, social equations and the impact of the lives of parents on the lives of the children. Another thing that I really loved was how Meera incorporated the need for counselling for children, and how we need to destigmatize the same. The small passages prior to start each chapter, linked to one subject each, have been cleverly drafted and set a nice tone for the story coming ahead. The climax has been written in a very interesting manner, and presents such a nice way to show that change is not always to be feared. Sometimes it can bring about something nice for you. One thing that I would like to commend in the book was the play with the phrases and the quips that Meera builds into her writing.

The characters in the book are wonderfully crafted and I liked that they are presented in a very relatable manner which would appeal to the young adult audience that the book caters to. Kalai’s character has been written in detail and the familial aspects of her life are slowly revealed, and form a critical aspect of the plot. Her fight with her own demons and the resistance to change has been described in detail. The entire journey shows the development of her character arc very nicely. Aanveshika’s character also very nicely written, and I really liked that the play around her name was incorporated into the plot and provides a nice comic relief. Talking about names, the name of the group that Kalai is a part of was also very creatively written,

Overall, a wonderful recommendation if you are looking to read something light and fun. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

The Sanyasi Who Became a King-Sonia Chatterjee

Book: The Sanyasi Who Became a King
Author: Sonia Chatterjee
Publisher: Srishti Publications

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

Have you heard about the mystery of the Bhawal Raja?

May 1909: Ramendra Narayan Roy, the second King of the Bhawal estate, dies under mysterious circumstances in Darjeeling. Twelve years later, an ash-covered sanyasi resembling the deceased King is seen. The King's family rejoices, but his wife, Bibhabati, refuses to accept the man as her husband. With support from the British government – which does not want the man to reclaim his lost power and wealth for selfish reasons – she demands proof! Was the Sanyasi a fraud? If he was the real King, then whose body was cremated in Darjeeling? What role did Bibhabati's brother play in this mysterious death? The Sanyasi Who Became a King is a true murder mystery set in pre-Independent India that highlights the intricacies of raw emotions, relationships, power, money and betrayal.

The book is a well-researched and detailed account of the story of the appearance of Ramendra as a Sanyasi, twelve years after his death and how a long legal tussle ensued to decide whether the Sanyasi was the King or not. The book is quite well researched and the descriptions of the appearance and the entire legal fight have been written in quite detail. What I liked in the book was that the with each page, the story keeps turning and you keep guessing whether the Sanyasi was the real King or not. The writing is gripping and you are engrossed in the story as you try and unravel this mystery through time. Another aspect that stands out in the book was the fact that the entire identification process is made and unmade multiple times, so much so that you start questioning your own thought process after some time. While there are quite a few points that standout in the book, what did not work for me was its length. While the research and writing is good, the length and the repetition of incidents sometimes made the story drag at a few places. The storytelling could have been a bit crisper if a few repeated scenes could have been edited out. The story closes on a good climax, and the entire tussle is brought to a wonderful close!

The book is recommendation to anyone looking to read a nice non-fiction. The book scores a 4.44/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!

Murder in the Jungle-Sutapa Basu

Book: Murder in the Jungle
Author: Sutapa Basu
Publisher: Perky Parrot (An Imprint of Niyogi Books)

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

What if you could be a detective for a summer?

Evil is stalking the jungle. As tiger after tiger vanishes from Nagarhole Wildlife Reserve, despite sophisticated digital and human eyes on the ground, DFO Vinay Mishra and his team of forest officials are left puzzled. Also, what is the role of a Nawab, who is obsessed with history, in the midst of this mystery? Faced with this Murder in the Jungle while on their summer vacation, young Kabir, Tara, Vicky, Ishi and their white hamster, Ripper, get into their best investigative mode. Can the five Mystery Hounders combine their online and on-ground detective skills to solve the mystery? Will they be able to track the crafty criminals, expose their nefarious plans, and save the DFO’s reputation—as well as the threatened tigers? Can they live up to their motto of ‘Together we hound mysteries to ground!’?

Murder in the jungle is a wonderfully written story that will appeal to children who love reading stories about detectives. Sutapa’s writing is simple and engaging which would keep the readers turning the pages. Another aspect in books for children is the ability to hold their attention as well as educate them as well. This book works wonderfully on that aspect. Sutapa explores the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and touches base upon Project Tiger and the idea of conservation of the flora and fauna around us. Reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s writings, I found the concept of the book similar but apt to the plot that she developed. The book is very contemporary and I liked that she has integrated AI as well into the story which could pique the interest of the readers, making them look it up and learn more about it. The climax and the reveal were executed nicely and it kept me hooked right till the end.

The characters in the book have been sketched quite nicely. The characters of Kabir, Tara, Vicky and Ishi are relatable. Having kids in the story with different ages helps widen the relatability factor. Having each of them develop an interest in different aspects was another wonderful way of connecting with the young readers.

Overall, I thing that the book could be a wonderful way to introduce books at a young age that informs, entertains, and educates at the same time. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!