In Mahajan’s debut kids’ book, vacationing sisters encounter a mystery in India.
Twins Tara and Meera, 14, of New Delhi, aren’t identical. Tara is “a little princess” fond of clothes and accessories, while tomboy Meera prefers mystery novels and basketball. Together, they travel by bus to Dharamshala, home of cousin Samir, his younger sister, Deepa, and uncle Jeet Singh, a senior officer in the Secret Service. On the way, at Kangra, Meera notices a man in fluorescent green shoes with a distinctive buckle, but she must then reboard the bus. In Dharamshala, a guesthouse has been ransacked, a French tourist has gone missing and valuable idols are being stolen from temples. On a stroll, Meera glimpses a young monk, about 7 years old, with a shaved head and a maroon robe, but he moves quickly out of view, occasionally reappearing to her. In a tree, Samir finds a blue backpack containing a white powder, similar to talcum, which might be cocaine. After a birthday party, the children are joined by Samir’s friend Anurag. Although young Deepa is fascinated by television, Meera, Tara, Samir and Anurag prefer to solve the puzzles related to the disappearance, the thefts and a possible connection to an American named Greg. The story, set entirely in India, is a fine introduction to mystery for young readers, sustaining interest without the intensity found in YA staples such as the Harry Potter series. The characters are a balanced mix of athleticism (Samir), curiosity (Anurag), disinterest (Deepa), self-interest (Tara) and introspection (Meera), and their relations with family are positive. As events progress, the kids carefully collect evidence and use observation and reasoning to reach conclusions. Technology doesn’t save the day: A cellphone may be used for an Internet search, or it might be out of signal range, forcing reliance on other resources. Although Uncle Jeet plays a role in the investigation, the children, when at risk, take responsibility for extricating themselves from danger. Aside from a few distracting word mix-ups—e.g., “snooze” for noose, and “cookie” for kooky—the tale moves along nicely, with a satisfying ending that features a nifty spiritual twist.
Beginner mystery, light on menace, for young sleuths in the making.
Pub Date: May 13, 2014
ISBN: 978-1482821468
Page Count: 174
Publisher: PartridgeIndia
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An enjoyable picture book that addresses important issues in a kid-friendly way without being preachy.
Willenbrock’s heartwarming debut picture book is the autobiographical story of how she came to share her home with a special shelter dog.
Told from the perspective of Marshall, Willenbrock’s dog, this tale tells of his unpleasant life in the home of a dog hoarder, where food for the dogs was so scarce that they fought each other at mealtime. In one of these fights, Marshall’s front leg was broken and his face was badly bitten. When animal rescuers finally found out about the animal hoarder and took the dogs away, Marshall was in such sorry shape that they didn’t know if he would make it. He ended up losing his damaged front leg and his face remained badly scarred, yet he describes the compassion of the humane society workers who helped him learn how to walk and run on three legs. He meets his new “mom” (owner) and adjusts to a life of freedom with her and her other dog, Mooshy. Though life is good, Marshall is insecure and nervous about how other dogs and people will react to the fact that he has only three legs and a big scar on his face, but he’s pleasantly surprised by the kindness of others. Heimbaugh’s realistic colored-pencil illustrations help bring Marshall’s story to life. Due to wordiness and the use of some bigger words—celebrity, socialize, limitations—this book will most likely work better as a read-aloud with school-age children. It also lends itself to discussions about the humane treatment of animals and discussions about bullying.
An enjoyable picture book that addresses important issues in a kid-friendly way without being preachy.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0615666259
Page Count: 40
Publisher: The Marshall Movement
Review Posted Online: Oct. 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unanswered questions and heavy-handed writing drain intrigue from this not-so-spooky story.
Three friends unravel old secrets lurking beneath the surface of a picture-perfect town in this young adult mystery.
Fallon and her best friend, Blair, live in the town of Whitford, a “sort of old fashioned” place where “everyone knows everyone else.” Nothing ever goes wrong there, except for local 16-year-old girls’ penchant for drowning in Whitford Pond on their 16th birthdays. That is, nothing ever goes wrong until Blair, Fallon and their new friend Lila start investigating the drownings as part of a history project. Soon after the girls paddle out to the spooky island at the middle of the pond where its victims are buried, Fallon discovers that she’s related to the pond’s first victim: Elizabeth Mason, who was engaged to the prosperous son of the town jeweler before her supposed suicide in 1750. By poking around the town historical society and badgering Fallon’s lively grandmother, Nana, the girls realize that something sinister lurks beneath Whitford’s bucolic surface. It’s only when the trio heads to the fourth floor of Whitford’s public library in search of A Genealogy of the Noble Families of Whitford: A History that they realize their quest is putting them in danger. Blair and Fallon’s friendship feels comfortable and credible, although the addition of “exotic” Lila seems like a strained plot device rather than a real-life event. Indeed, much of the plotting is convenient rather than clever; the girls’ discoveries primarily result from pushing Nana to give them information or snooping around Nana’s house—and the developments that aren’t related to Nana are foreshadowed so heavily that they come as no surprise. Another distraction: Every time that the inhabitants of Whitford scream or emphasize a turn of phrase, Fredo uses capital letters. They’re are unnecessary, for example, when Fallon says, “I JUST HAD THE BEST IDEA EVER!”
Unanswered questions and heavy-handed writing drain intrigue from this not-so-spooky story.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 172
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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