The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Storyline

The Great Alone is set in the last frontier, in the wilderness of Alaska during the 1970s. Ernt Allbright,  a POW from the Vietnamese war, was a changed man when he returned home to his family. Something probably broke inside him. After moving through multiple cities, he reckoned that perhaps Alaska could be his sanctuary. So he moved his bag and baggage with his family to Homer, Alaska. A place with daunting terrain and harsh weather. A place where isolation can be as dangerous as the brutal weather, if not more. This new beginning turns out to be a big nightmare. The long winters can completely wreck a person with an already fragile state of mind, which is what happened with Ernt.

It exacerbated Ernt's PTSD, bringing forth his worst side, leaving Cora and Leni alone to endure its consequences. The only solace for them was the community that stood by them through thick and thin. Regardless of this, Leni made some bonds for life there and also found her soulmate in Matthew.

My Thoughts

It was my third book by Kristin Hannah. The Nightingale and The Four Winds blew me away and drove me to read The Great Alone. It rightfully turned out to be an extremely compelling read. However, it was a challenging one to wade through. With a lot of trigger points, it can be taxing for some. Numerous incidents of domestic abuse and violence depicted in the narrative were unnerving and problematic so to speak. 

Most of the characters are well-etched out. There is an immense growth in Leni's character, from an awkward teenager wary of the new place to a confident adult not shying away from tough decisions. My issue was with Cora's character, who despite multiple red flags turned a blind eye to Ernt's violent behaviour. She even justified it to some degree, something which even Leni could not understand. Her submissive and pliant demeanour was beyond my comprehension. I was unable to relate to it and found it irrational. Despite this, the mother-daughter bond is beautifully portrayed, where both always had each other's back. The writing is exceptional, which draws you in, in a way that everything seems to unfold right in front of your eyes. The portrayal of the white Alaskan landscape chilled me to the bones. Being from a tropical country, I can only imagine harsh Alaskan winters and the challenging life led by Alaskans. Only a glimpse of it made me grateful for my fairly easier everyday life. Winters with endless nights can be cruel, where darkness can engulf the person. In the heart, The Great Alone is a poignant tale of love, loss and survival. 

Rating - 4.5/5

Recommend - Do read it!

 

Pages & Co - Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James

Storyline

Matilda or Tilly, as she is better known, is an eleven-year-old who lives with her grandparents next to their bookshop, Pages & Co. Tilly's mother left her in the care of her parents when Tilly was a baby and went missing. Tilly loves getting lost in the world of books and her best friends are the characters from various books. Despite that, she yearns for adventure and excitement in her otherwise mundane life. A chance encounter with two girls who resemble her favourite characters, Anne from Anne of Green Gables and Alice from Alice and the Wonderland in the bookshop, leaves her baffled. Soon she discovers that she belongs to a privileged group of book readers who can book wander. Tilly came from a long line of book wanderers. She could travel inside the books without causing any damage to the story. The mystery around her mother's disappearance intrigues her and, thus she begins her quest to find her mother.  

My Thoughts

Growing-up middle-grade fiction was my go-to to escape into the magical world of books and fictional characters. After a rather long time, I got back to it, thanks to my little one. Tilly and the Bookwanderers took me back in time and made me nostalgic. Such were the stories that started me on my reading journey. I book wandered with Tilly to her favourite books. Having said that, I wish all of it was true and there was some way I could bring to life my favourite characters. Anna James has created an incredible world in and around books. The first half of the book unravels gradually and is all about establishing the plot. It sets the pace for more adventures to come for Tilly and Oskar. Tilly's character is well fleshed out. She is spirited, impulsive and adventurous. The Author has cleverly incorporated two of the most loved classic characters, Alice and Anne. She has preserved their original characteristics. 

Tilly and the Bookwanderers reminded me why I fell in love with the books in the first place. Immersing myself in the world of books was the only way I could let my imagination fly and go wild. 

"The books we love when we're growing up shape us in a special way, Tilly. The characters in the books we read help us decide who we want to be."

"Books can change minds and change worlds, open doors and open minds, and plant seeds that can grow into magical or even terrifying things"

It is a must-read for every middle grader and for that matter anyone who enjoys this genre. Another plus for me, my seven-year-old thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Illustrations - 4/5

Engagement Factor - 4/5

Overall Rating - 4/5

Age - 8-12+

 

The Storyteller of Casablanca by Fiona Valpy

 

Setting

The Storyteller of Casablanca is set in the Moroccan port city of Casablanca. It is one of the largest financial centres in Africa. In the early 1900s, it came under French rule. During World War II, Casablanca was the melting point with refugees from all over Europe. It served as a stopover for refugees on their way to Britain and America, trying to escape the war. 

Storyline

It is a dual timeline book. One timeline focuses on Zoe in 2010. She with her husband moved to Casablanca on a posting, seeking a fresh start. With her marriage on rocks, Zoe was trying to break through her continuous cycle of grief. When she chances on an old journal in the attic of her home, she gets pulled into the life of Josie, a thirteen-year-old girl. Josie lived in the same house as Zoe during the second world war. She with her family had moved to Casablanca on their way to the United States. They undergo constant daily struggle to find passage to America. With the war and the threat of Nazis looming, Josie tries to adapt to life in Casablanca. So does Zoe, along with trying to come to terms with her loss. 

My Thoughts

Fiona Valpy has remarkably managed to do justice to both the timelines. Zoe and Josie are two characters belonging to completely different periods and stages of life. Yet the common thread that neatly ties them together is the alluring city of Casablanca. The author has brought Casablanca of the 1940s to life with her exquisite writing making it easy for me to envision the place. I could feel the spirit, the sights and the sounds of Casablanca. The unsaid grief of Zoe and her struggle with it was palpable. Even though the author has recounted Josie's story in epistolary style but at no point, it appears bland. Instead, Josie's story comes alive in front of you by the way she articulates her thoughts.It is definitely worth a try. 

Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Worth a try

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Setting 

The Four Winds is set in the time of severe drought in the mid-west and southern states of the United States. The drought centred in the states of Texas, Oklahoma and parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas. During World War I, farmers were encouraged to grow wheat and corn. With the rise in prices and demand, farmers ploughed more and more land to grow wheat. With the onset of drought in 1931, crops began to fail. Years of no rain and intensive cultivation of marginal lands led to massive erosion of the topsoil. During the Dust Bowl period, severe dust storms called Black Blizzard swept across the Great Plains, sometimes carrying the topsoil to as far as New York City. The Dust Bowl led thousands of families to abandon their farmlands and migrate westwards towards California. The drought further intensified the effects of the Great Depression. 

Storyline

The Four Winds follows Elsa Martinelli and her children during the Dust Bowl era in Texas. After being neglected by her own family all through her childhood, she craved familial love. Once she got a loving family of her own, she protected and fought for it fiercely. Following a period of good crops, a long spell of drought came. With it came relentless dust storms. Dust smothered everyone, choking the breath out of them. Elsa realized that the very land that was their lifeline was gradually killing them. To save her children from this eventuality, she took the tough decision of moving west for the promise of a better future. But there also, she endured disappointment and rejection. The migrants were ill-treated by their own countrymen. Still, Elsa persevered and continued to fight for her family despite all the hardships. 

My Thoughts

The Four winds is an emotional rollercoaster that pulls on your feelings. It was an exhaustive read for me which many a time brought tears to my eyes. I have never read about the Dust Bowl before, so this book was also more of a learning experience for me. Kristin Hannah has created a masterpiece in The Four Winds that shakes you from your core. The plight of farmers and their families would shatter your heart. This book illustrates that empathy and kindness are the two most important things in the world. A little kindness makes the world go around. In Elsa, she has created an exemplary character who is synonymous with grit and resilience. I became so invested in the character that it was almost as if I was living Elsa's life. The description of the dust storms and the Black Sunday was so vivid that I could taste the dust in my mouth. This history lesson is a must for everyone. 

Rating - 5/5

Recommend - A must!

Remnants of a Separation by Aanchal Malhotra

 

The year 1947 is a landmark year in India's history. It is when India got its long-sought independence from the British regime after a tyrannical rule of almost 200 years. This freedom entailed the sacrifices of millions of people. Some well-talked about and some unknown that got lost in the pages of history, nonetheless as important. But as is nature's way, every good thing comes with a price. The Britishers left us with a parting gift in the form of Partition of the country, the huge price for freedom. The country was divided along religious lines to form the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India. It was not only the division of land but also of people, families, friendships, emotions. What followed was one of the darkest times in Indian history. Next few months after the partition saw large scale violence and a mass exodus of people from both sides of the newly drawn border. 

In Remnants of a Separation, Aanchal Malhotra has accomplished in bringing to the fore the pain, grief and suffering of the refugees. She dug deep into the dark recesses of the forgotten past and found tales of tribulations and resilience, tales of standing tall in times of adversity and of hope. People had to flee from their homes in the dead of night leaving everything behind. From their worldly possessions to their lives and much-loved homeland, everything was left behind. All they managed to carry along were few bare necessities and some items of sentimental value. The author has tried to use these tangible objects to stir the suppressed memories and unravel the past. 

"But, unknowingly in some cases, transference of such memory does occur into alternative means of recollection, for instance, into inanimate objects. Belongings that were taken across the newly created border at the time of the Partition carry with them the memory of that migration, however subtly, however unexplored. The object, thus, serves as a catalyst for memory, a trigger for remembering as well as a portal into the past."

After the partition, during this migration, people carried with them valuables, hidden within folds of clothing, utensils, objects of no apparent value except the sentimental one. All of them had some kind of material memories. These are the memories that attach themselves to and live in the objects which when retrieved brings out a plethora of emotions. 

In Remnants of a Separation, the author has managed to record and preserve the oral history which is usually passed from generation to generation. The oral history and memories are in danger of getting lost. With time, the new generation is losing touch with their origins. Such books are needed to ground us. She has given it a personal touch by including anecdotes from her own family. A must-read for one and all.

Star Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Must read

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

Storyline

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur picks up twelve years after The Henna Artist. Lakshmi, the former henna artist is now married to Dr Jay Kumar, the physician at Lady Bradley Hospital in Shimla. She is now the director of Lady Bradley Healing Garden. Malik, her former assistant is now a 20-year-old educated man, who on Lakshmi's request has joined the Facilities Department of the royal palace in Jaipur under the mentorship of Manu Agarwal. The drama unfolds when the balcony of the most ambitious and newly constructed Royal Jewel Theatre crashes. The blame falls on the shoulders of Manu Agarwal. When Malik finds some discrepancies in the construction material billing, he begins to question the scrupulousness of Ravi Singh, the architect of the theatre. The rest of the story is in flashback about all the events leading to the day of the crash. The story also revolves around Malik and Nimmi's love. Nimmi is a young widow from the hills. She blames Lakshmi for sending away Malik to Jaipur. After her initial mistrust of Lakshmi, she slowly warms up to her when she witnesses Lakshmi's kindness. When the tragedy strikes, Lakshmi rushes to Jaipur to support Malik and her friends. 

My Thoughts

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur continues the narrative beautifully after The Henna Artist and does not slacken the pace even once. It builds on the strong foundation set in the first book. Even though Laksmi remains the guiding force, Malik's character emerged strongly and is well-nuanced. Despite the private education he received at the behest of Samir Singh, he remained grounded. He may have had his shortcomings but, loyalty remained his most noteworthy trait. To begin with, the young widow, Nimmi's character appeared to be unappreciative. But then that was probably her insecurities manifesting themselves in her demeanour towards Lakshmi. Alka Joshi has managed to put in words the rich and diverse Indian culture vividly. She has also done justice to the period the book is set in, by bringing to fore the widespread corruption in the society, the adamancy of the privileged to maintain the social hierarchy and the evident gap between rich and poor. I wanted to learn more about Radha, Lakshmi's sister but found that missing here. Maybe the third book would provide greater insight into her life and her equation with Lakshmi. The book has left me wanting more. So looking forward to the third book in the series. 

Star Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Do Read!

Beyond the Olive Grove by Kate Hewitt

 

Setting

In 1941, Greece was invaded by the Nazis. It was divided and occupied by Germany, Italy and Bulgaria. In 1942, the resistance movement began and grew stronger over the years. Battle of Gorgopotamos or Operation Harling was a World War II mission in which the Gorgopotamos viaduct was blown up with the help of Greek Resistance groups. This was done to sabotage the flow of supplies to germans through Greece. 

Storyline

After losing her daughter in a stillbirth, Ava was consumed by grief. In such times, her husband - Simon was unable to give her the much needed emotional support. Soon her marriage began to fall apart. She decided to move to a house in a tiny village called Iousidous in Greece. The house had been uninhabited since Second World War, belonged to her grandmother and bequeathed to her. Ava had gone there to find answers for herself. Instead, she got sucked in the mysterious past of her stern grandmother. In 1942, during the German occupation of Greece, Sophia Paranoussis, a hardworking young girl in Greece believed that keeping her head down would keep her family safe. She never viewed herself as brave and heroic. But one encounter with a stranger turns her life around and she became part of the resistance movement, albeit a reluctant one. 

My Thoughts

Beyond the Olive Grove is my second book by Kate Hewitt. But this one did not match up to the high standards set by The Edelweiss Sisters. As is the case, with most of the split timeline books, one tends to get more invested in one time period than the other. For me, it is usually the past that holds the charm. But here, the present timeline drew me in. I was curious to know, how Ava was going to dig into her grandmother's history when no one was willing to talk about that period. I enjoyed the character arc of Ava from a grieving mother to a woman handling her pain in a dignified way once things got back into perspective. People may have different ways of dealing with pain. That does not make our sorrows greater than theirs. Neither does it make them insensitive. I was unaware of the resistance movement in Greece during World War II. Learning about the blowing up of the Gorgopotamos viaduct was interesting. 

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

 

Setting 

Luck of the Titanic is set on the Titanic, the largest ship afloat at the time. The Floating Palace carried some of the wealthiest people of the world along with hundreds of emigrants. It housed every luxury possible- restaurants, swimming pools, gymnasiums etc. In April 1912, it began its maiden and ill-fated voyage. On 10th April, it started from Southhampton on its route to New York City. Four days later, disaster struck when it collided with an iceberg near Newfoundland. Titanic carried an insufficient number of lifeboats which made it impossible to save everyone. Furthermore, the crew untrained in the evacuation process launched half-full lifeboats that left most passengers to fend for themselves. Also, third-class passengers struggled to find space in lifeboats as preference was given to first-class passengers. More than 1500 passengers and crew perished when the Titanic sank. 

The Chinese Exclusion Act, effective from 1882, was a United States federal law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese labourers. It was repealed in 1943. 

Storyline

After being turned away from boarding the Titanic, Valora, a British-Chinese decides to sneak in and stay as a stowaway. That too in a first-class cabin! She had two objectives. One to reach America in search of a brighter future and the other to look for her twin and acrobatics partner, Jamie. She had a plan in place. All she needed was to convince Jamie to perform with her and to impress the fellow passenger and part-owner of Ringling Brothers Circus with their acrobatic tricks. Along with this are the side stories of April Hart-the next big thing in the designing world, Bo and Val's sweet love story and of Jamie's Chinese friends.

My Thoughts

The main reason why I picked this book up was because of its premise. I was always fascinated by the Titanic, so a book set on it was something I was longing for. Stacey Lee's evocative and authentic description of the Titanic brought it alive in front of me. I could feel the plush Persian rugs of the first-class cabins and the crowd and smells of the third-class. She has done justice to both the story and the premise. 

It is not only a story about Titanic. But it is also a tale of sibling love, prevailing prejudices, finding one's identity and striving to realise one's dreams. 

"Don't spend too long looking behind you, or you'll miss out on what's ahead."

All the characters are very relatable and realistic. The sibling dynamics between Val and Jamie is beautiful and the banter between them is enjoyable. Valora dared to dream a better future for herself and her brother in America. Despite her madcap ideas, what is appreciable was her resolve to achieve her dreams. I couldn't stop myself from rooting for her and Jamie when they performed the tricks in front of the owner of Ringling Brothers Circus. Val is the most positive character I have come across lately. Her verve and energy are infectious. She refuses to bow down to anything and absolutely nothing deters her. 

"Life is a balancing act, and the better you get at juggling, the better you get at living."

Though I was aware of the ship's fate from the very beginning, I was still hoping against hope for a happy ending for Val and Jamie. The last few chapters are an exquisite piece of writing. The terrifying atmosphere of sinking cruise liner is well-captured. 

Star Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Oh Yes!

Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale

I seldom read the same genre back to back. I always prefer to read a light book after a heavy one. Milk Teeth seemed to fit that bill perfectly after my last historical fiction.

Setting

Milk Teeth is set in the 1990s in a housing society in a suburb of Mumbai. It was when Mumbai was still Bombay. When life was much simpler and uncomplicated.

Storyline

Ira Kamat and Kartik Kini are childhood friends who are neighbours in Asha Niwas in Matunga. Their mothers are more like sisters than friends. Ira idolises Kartik and also has a secret crush on him. Several years later Ira is a conscientious journalist trying to highlight the incompetencies of the municipal corporation. She is forthright and believes in honesty in her work as well as her relationships. Kartik who has returned home after several years has a complicated disposition. It has multiple layers to it. He is dealing with his issues which leads to lies and deception. Their families decide for their alliance which they agree to. Alongside, is the story of Asha Niwas which is about to go for redevelopment with no consensus among the residents over it.

Viewpoint

Milk Teeth pertains to changing urban and social fabric of Bombay. It's the story of the perpetual struggle of the middle class for living space in Bombay. It's the transition from Bombay to Mumbai. Along with it, the shift in the nature of relationships from childhood to adulthood. Milk Teeth is a book worth reading. At places, nostalgia would hit you. It would remind you of all the childhood games. All in all, a well-narrated book that has its heart and soul in right place.

Star Rating - 4/5

Recommend -Yes

The Woman at the Gates by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger

Setting

The Women at the Gates is based in Ukraine during World War II. Prior to the Second World War Ukraine was under Soviet occupation. The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists was a political organization fighting to achieve Ukrainian independence. During the 1940s, it split up into two factions - a moderate one led by Andriy Melnyk and a more radical one under the leadership of Stepan Bandera. In 1941, when Germany with its allies invaded Ukraine, some Ukrainians viewed the Nazis as their liberators and believed that with their assistance they will be able to establish an independent Ukrainian state. 

Storyline

In 1941, Antonia a university professor in Lviv in Western Ukraine was also a part of the clandestine Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, fighting to preserve her country's culture and traditions. She along with other members published a newspaper called Our Nation's Voice in defiance of the Soviet regime. When Germany invaded Ukraine, they collaborated with the Nazis against the Soviets. But instead, they fell right into the hands of an enemy from another's. After hiding and running from the Nazis and Soviets for a long time Antonia and her sister's family were eventually apprehended by Nazis and thrown into the labour camp.

My Thoughts

The Woman at the Gates would resonate with the reader as Chrystyna has borrowed from her own family history and experiences to weave a story of struggle, hardships and loss. Real-life events add authenticity to her narrative. Antonia's character is of a strong-minded woman who wants to have an independent identity for her country away from the ever-changing political landscape of Ukraine. She endured everything thrown at her but stood strong in her beliefs and came out as resilient as ever and a survivor. This book gave me an insight into Ukraine's struggle for independence and a new perspective about World War II. My concern with the book was that it was extremely slow and there are a plethora of characters whom you can easily lose track of. It took a lot of time to build up the story and I did struggle with it. All in all an informative read.

Rating - 3/5

Recommend - Maybe! (If you are interested in Ukraine's history)

 

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Storyline

In 1791 London, Nella an apothecary carries forward her mother's legacy by continuing to run her apothecary shop for women's maladies situated on 3 Back Alley. After suffering betrayal by the man she loved, she changes her path and starts dispensing poisons along with the medicines. She began to help women in a similar predicament to hers by providing them with means to get rid of their problems. From a barren wife to a jilted woman, she helped them all. She meticulously made note of every tincture she had ever dispensed. The second timeline is in the present time when Caroline after being cheated on by her husband embarks on a trip to London alone. The trip was to be a tenth anniversary celebratory trip for them. But it turned into a trip of self-realization and discovering her own identity. On a whim, she goes mudlarking and discovers an old apothecary bottle in the Thames. Thus began her journey to uncover the origins of the bottle and along the way finding her true passion.

My Thoughts

Usually, in a dual timeline book at least one of the storylines is captivating enough and holds your interest. But somehow here, none of the stories grabbed my attention. Nella's story of a female apothecary living in late eighteenth-century London had immense potential but the story didn't pan out as it should have. It dragged so much that after a point I was struggling to finish the book. In the other timeline, Caroline's discovery of the bottle and later her subsequent discovery of the apothecary itself was nothing short of a miracle. What astounded me was how just one google search led her to the article related to a 200-year-old bottle. Talk about the accuracy of the Google search! Furthermore, she could locate the apothecary store itself that was standing intact in the middle of London nearly 200 years later, hidden from everyone. I was unable to draw any parallel between the two stories. I would not recommend the book.

Rating - 2/5

Recommend - Skip it!

 

Island in the East by Jenny Ashcroft

 

Setting

The book is based in the island country of Singapore and spans from 1897 till after the Second World War. Singapore was an important British colony and a major allied base in south-east Asia. During World War II, it became Japan's prime target in its bid to capture south-east Asia. After the invasion of the Malay peninsula in December 1941, Japan proceeded to attack Singapore. Ultimately, on 8th February 1942, Japanese troops landed in Singapore. The battle continued for the next seven days and eventually led to the fall of Singapore and the largest British surrender in history. All the British and Australian soldiers and citizens were sent to Changi prison 

Storyline

The story unfolds in dual timelines of 1897 and 1941 in Singapore. In 1897, identical twins Mae and Harriet travel to Singapore from India with a scandalous past for new beginnings. Their benefactor wants one of them to marry David Kelley. While Harriet takes an instant dislike to David, Mae tolerates him bearing in mind their future. Both the sisters fall for the same man, Alex Blake and the sisterly rivalry comes to the fore. Mae turns bitter as despite being identical, Harriet hogged all the male attention. This soured their relationship too. When Harriet rejected David's proposal for marriage, he turned vengeful. It prompted a chain of events that led to heartbreak and betrayal. In 1941, Ivy-Mae's granddaughter suffered from nightmares after she nearly died, buried under the rubble after a bombing. She got posted to wartime Singapore much against the wishes of her grandmother. Mae had lived for a year in Singapore, a fact she had hidden from her granddaughter. With the Japanese invasion of the island country imminent, Ivy falls in love with Kit, an Australian officer. As she builds new relationships in Singapore, secrets from the past unravel. 

My Thoughts

After reading umpteen number of World War II fiction based in Europe, I wanted to read a book about World War in South-East Asia. Island in the East is essentially a love story with the backdrop of the Second World War. Jenny Ashcroft has managed to seamlessly bridge the two timelines. Both the periods hold your attention equally. She has crafted complex characters with passionate love stories. Harriet/Mae's story has intense love, betrayal, heartbreak and sacrifice. Ivy's love story begins during the war when so much uncertainty prevailed. I got emotionally invested in both the stories. She has evocatively described the endless summer, intense heat and humidity of the island nation. The vivid description of the Fall of Singapore and the appalling living conditions of the inmates of Changi prison are well done by the author. A moving tale of love that I highly recommend. 

Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Go for it !

The Bewitching of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes

 

The story follows Aveline to a cottage in the countryside not far from where they lived, for her summer holidays. The only thing she found alluring enough for her in the village of Norton Wick was the circle of stones called The Witch Stones. While exploring the circle of stones she came across an enigmatic girl, Hazel. Suddenly, her boring vacation became intriguing and thrilling. Aveline becomes suspicious when Hazel starts acting strange. Bizarre things start occurring that had no logical explanation other than a supernatural one. When Aveline's friend Harold arrives to spend a few days, that's when things become slightly twisted. 

This is the second Aveline Jones book after The Haunting of Aveline Jones. The author has taken his time to build an eerie atmosphere before taking the story forward. Despite its slow start it picks up pace in the second half and turns into a fascinating and spine-tingling tale of witches and magic. Britain's supernatural history of stone circles and witch trials has been brilliantly blended into the story. The author has not used a plethora of characters to unnecessarily complicate the story. With the minimum number of characters, he has spun a perfect spooky mystery for the middle graders. I am going to pick up the first book and looking forward to the third in the series. 

Illustrations - 3/5

Engagement Factor - 4/5

Overall Rating - 4/5

Age - 8-12+

The Girl in the Striped Dress by Ellie Midwood

 

Setting

During the Second World War, Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp was located in occupied Poland. Throughout the war, around 1.3 million people were sent to the camp, mainly Jews, ethnic Poles, Roma and other political prisoners. Most of them were either gassed or died of disease, starvation, beatings, exhaustion or execution. This is where the story of The Girl in the Striped Dress takes place. 

Storyline 

In Germany 1947, Frank Dahler a former kommandofuhrer at Auschwitz concentration camp was under trial before Denazification Tribunal for war crimes. He brings along his wife Helena, a former inmate of Auschwitz, as his witness. Helena has the appearance of a meek woman who is dependent on her husband. She narrates the heart-wrenching and poignant tale of her life at the concentration camp. When she was minutes away from being gassed, a stroke of luck saves her and she is sent to work in Kanada detail under the command of Frank Dahler. Surrounded by inhumanity and barbarity, Frank’s acts of kindness nudges Helena towards him. Love blossomed where there was seemingly no place for it.

My Thoughts

Once in a while, a book comes along your way that breaks your heart. The Girl in the Striped Dress is one such book that broke me from within, tore me apart and left me shattered. It is a gut-wrenching book. Such brutality and ghastliness are beyond my comprehension. I have read enough books about the holocaust but when you come across a book like this, you truly begin to understand the horrors of the holocaust. The details of the treatment meted out to the inmates made me squirm. Ellie Midwood has distinctly outlined her characters. She has left it on readers to conclude whether it was true love or the “Stockholm Syndrome”(a term which wasn't coined yet) for Helena. The narrative does not falter at any point and you are thrown right into the Auschwitz Camp, next to Helena where you can smell the death all around you. Even after finishing it some time back, this book still haunts me and would continue to do so for a long time to come. A book worth reading. 

Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Please do read!

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

 

Setting

India in 1921 was under British rule. All over the country, there were struggles to gain independence. Gandhiji had launched the Non-Cooperation movement with the aim of self-governance. It was an essentially peaceful and non-violent movement with widespread hartals, refusal to pay taxes, boycotting foreign goods, government educational institutions etc. Use of handspun fabric khadi was encouraged. King George V sent Prince of Wales on his behalf as the ambassador of the British Empire to thank India for the role it played during the First World War. Indian National Congress(INC) resolved to boycott the Prince’s visit. 

Storyline

The book follows the exploits of Parveen Mistry during Prince of Wales visit to Bombay. In the times when higher education for women was frowned upon, Parveen is one of the first female lawyers of India. She is a supporter of Indian independence. When the Prince of Wales visits Bombay, there is unrest all across Bombay leading to rioting. Parveen also is a reluctant audience to the welcoming parade for Prince. She watches it with her friend Alice Hobson-Jones at Woodburn College. When the body of a Parsi student, Freny Cuttingmaster is found on college premises, Parveen resolves to bring the guilty to justice. Freny was the same girl who had approached her a few days earlier for legal consultation. 

My Thoughts

The Bombay Prince is the third book in the Parveen Mistry series. It can be read as a stand-alone book. Parveen is shown to balance her religious and family values well with her quest to solve the mystery. Sujata Massey has given an informative insight into the Parsi customs and traditions, blending them beautifully in the storyline. The story keeps you engrossed along with delineating the social, cultural and political environment of the 1920s. Having said that, I feel The Bombay Prince does not have an as strong narrative as the first two books in the series. Parveen appears to be more cautious in this. Overall an entertaining cosy mystery that I would highly recommend. 

Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Yes

A Mystery at Lili Villa by Arathi Menon

 

A Mystery at Lili Villa follows the escapades of three cousins Tam, Arj and Mira in the small town of Elathoor, Kerala. Tam is spending her summer vacations with her cousins at her aunt and uncle’s house, Lili Villa. When a burglary occurs at their house, the cousins decide to play detectives and figure out the culprit themselves. They draw a list of suspects and go around the town gathering clues and figuring out each one’s alibis. 

The author has maintained a simple flow in storytelling without adding too many unnecessary complexities. I loved the setting of the small town of Kerala where almost everyone knows everyone in a close-knit community. The children are endearing and the author has managed to make their personalities stand out. The way they go about crossing out suspects from their list while having fun along the way would interest the kids. The use of monikers instead of proper names for the characters adds to the fun element. Since food is a big part of our Indian culture, the Kerala food glossary at the end was a great addition. I feel illustrations would have added to the appeal of the book, which was missing. Though the book is aimed at middle-grade readers, I feel it is more suitable for young readers. Middle-grade readers prefer their mysteries a little more complicated. My 6-year-old had a good time reading it.

Illustrations - 0/5

Engagement Factor - 4/5

Overall Rating - 4/5

Age - 7-10+

Hilde Cracks the Case - Hero Dog by Hilde Lysiak

Hero Dog is the first book of the series Hilde Cracks the case. It is a book written by a kid for kids. Hilde Lysiak has been the inspiration for the Apple+ TV series Home Before Dark. It is part of Scholastic’s Branches line for early readers. It can be the stepping stone into the world of chapter books for your child. 

Hilde, a nine-year-old lives in a small town called Selinsgrove and has created a newspaper for her hometown. She considers herself a serious reporter and is always out and about in search of cases to report. Hero Dog follows Hilde a perspicacious investigative journalist, trying to solve the break-in on Orange Street with the help of her big sister Izzy. Some cupcakes and pie have gone missing and someone is trying to sabotage the Selisnsgrove bake-off bonanza. Hilde interviews the residents of Orange Street and notes down the clues in her notepad.

The writing is simple engaging enough for a 6-year-old to comprehend. The illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff adds to the charm of the story. Clues and suspects are neatly summarized at the end of chapters which makes kids feel that they are also part of the mystery. 

My 6-year-old loved the book and totally lapped it up. Now she is asking for the next one! 

Illustrations - 4.5/5

Engagement Factor - 4/5

Overall Rating - 4/5

Age - 5-6+

Belonging by Umi Sinha

Setting

The story is set in colonial India from the late 1800s till after the First World War. It was the time when India was under British rule. In 1857, Britishers saw the first major uprising against them, which we also refer to as the first struggle for India's independence. 

Storyline

The story is told from three perspectives of people belonging to three different generations of the same family. Cecily, in the 1850s, when she was travelling to India from England to get married to a much older Army officer posted in India. She also recounts her struggles of getting accustomed to living in a new country. Most of Henry's story is about his motherless childhood during the 1860s and later his troubled marriage with Rebecca during the 1880s. Henry's daughter, Lila's story is about the loss she suffers in her childhood and later her life in England. 

My Thoughts

Belonging is a multilayered book and not an easy one to read. Several times I had to keep the book aside to comprehend all that was happening in the lives of the protagonists. I like to read about India under British Raj as it was the dark times in our history. But reading about a British family in India was something new for me. It gave a glimpse of the British lifestyle during the Raj. Although the story is about a British family living in India, it does not stereotype the Indians. Henry and Lila both had an innate attachment towards India which was endearing. The three POV's could have been disastrous but the author has handled them well. They contribute to the flow of the narrative instead of disturbing it. The story is engaging and will ensure that you keep turning the pages. I honestly didn't see the twist coming at the end. Also, the epistolary style of writing adds to the beauty of the story. Cecily's letters to her sister and Henry's diary entries take the narrative forward. I would love to read how Lila's life continued in India. 

Rating  - 4/5

Recommend - Yes

 

The Rainbow by Carly Schabowski

 

I just can't seem to get enough of World War II fiction. There are so many haunting war stories waiting to be told and heard, each teaching something new in its wake. The Rainbow by Carly Schabowski is one such book that would remain with you long after it ends. 

Setting

Most of the story is set during the Second World War in Poland. Poland was one of the first countries invaded by Germany in 1939 that led to World War II. By 1941, the whole of Poland was under German occupation. Polish people suffered great atrocities at the hands of Germans. Jews were singled out and exterminated. Around 90 per cent of Polish Jews were killed during the holocaust. Many Polish men and boys were conscripted into the Wehrmacht forcibly. 

Storyline

This is a dual timeline book. In 2015, Isla chances upon an old newspaper article that makes her question everything she knows about her grandfather. Seeing her grandfather in a Nazi uniform shocks her and leaves her feeling betrayed. It sets her on a quest to find the truth behind it all. She travels to Poland to find the answers. While looking for her grandfather's life story, she ends up finding a heart-rending love story at its heart. A story of love and sacrifice. 

My Thoughts

The Rainbow gave me a different perspective on the war. Being set in Poland and told from the viewpoint of a Polish man forcibly conscripted in the German army was a unique and appealing premise. It was difficult to find fault with Tomasz even when he betrays his compatriots unwillingly. Instead, you end up feeling his helplessness, his love for Zofia and his pain. The way Isla stirred up old memories in her grandfather and persuaded him to turn pages of a long-forgotten chapter of his life was extremely poignant. The fact that the author Carly Schabowski took her grandfather's story as an inspiration for the book proves the fact that more such tales need to be told. 

 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Setting

Nightingale is set in the time of World War II in France. During the German occupation of France, it was divided into Occupied Zone and Free Zone. Nazis requisitioned everything of value, took over homes to house their officers. Jews were ostracised and sent to concentration camps. This gave birth to the French Resistance movement. Resistance planned and coordinated attacks on Nazis. They also aided Allied forces.  

Storyline

The book follows two sisters who were poles apart. Vianne Mauriac, the elder one, was more restrained and homely, while Isabelle was an impetuous and rebellious nineteen-year-old who was not afraid of taking risks. With France run over by the Nazis, Isabelle runs off to join the resistance. She assumes a new identity and runs numerous daring missions right under the noses of Germans. Contrarily, Vianne believed in keeping her head down, while waiting for her husband Antoine's return from the war. For her, the primary concern was to keep her daughter Sophie safe. With time she realises that she can also help in saving other children. She imperils herself to hide the children who else would have been sent to the labour camps.

My Thoughts

After reading umpteen number of books about World War II, there is one thing I have learnt, war is not only about men. Soldiers are not the only heroes of the war, heroes are also the women and children left behind who show exemplary courage. We tend to overlook the crucial role played by women in the war. During the war, valour is not only about facing the enemy on the front. But also keeping the family together and persevering in adverse circumstances. Vianne had to make some tough and undesirable choices. But she does not let that break her spirit and stays tenacious. I was especially impressed by the way the author has shown Isabelle's character growth. In the beginning, she is shown as an immature girl who is not the least mindful of how her actions might affect her family.  From an annoying girl, she soon matures into a woman who does not hesitate in risking her life to help others and who believes in freeing her country from Nazi clutches with gusto and great verve. The last part is especially is an emotional roller coaster that moved me to tears. Immaculate storytelling by Kristin Hannah will tug at your heartstrings. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story that shows the resiliency of the human spirit. 

Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Not to be missed!