TITLE: Trunk Call for Ajju

AUTHOR: Anjana Nagabhushana

PAGE EXTENT: 120

PUBLISHER: Puffin Books

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hello! Can you hear me?

Between working out countable and uncountable nouns with his best friend Karthik, learning to be a budding guitarist with his music teacher Miss Alva, completing his homework, and getting into trouble with his parents for building sugar-cube igloos with his Kini Maasi, Ajju was living the life of a normal eight-year-old.

And it was all going great until a baby elephant walked into his life. Molly was an eight-month-old elephant in distant Zimbabwe. What could the connection between them possibly be?

“She loved children. They gave her hope in a world that seemed like it was being dragged down the drain by angry, frustrated people.”

Wow! What a solid debut! Middle Grade has always been my favourite genre and books like these keep reminding me why! The sheer innocence that makes children, well, children is what makes Middle Grade the pure and fun genre it is!

Ajju is an 8-year-old fun-loving kid from Bangalore(Yay! We live in the same city!) who loves spending time with his Kini Maasi and building all kinds of contraptions! He loves spending time with his best friend, Karthik too. What happens when an eight-month-old elephant calf from Zimbabwe, called Molly, makes an entry into his life? Read the book to find out!

Kini Maasi has to be my favourite character in this book! Not only is she an animal lover(she runs an animal shelter too), she is that one aunt we all want to have! The one who is quirky and always thinks out of the box! I loved how hanging out with Ajju brought out the child in her!

Ajju’s love for an animal who is thousands of kilometres away and how he goes to great lengths to help collect money to aid in her treatment after she gets injured in a hunting accident goes on to show how kindness and compassion is always the default. We also get to learn quite a bit about elephants and their herds. Siddhi Vartak’s cute illustrations also deserve a shout-out!

If you are an animal lover(if you aren’t, you should be), this book is right up your alley!

Are you an animal lover too? Do you have any favourite books that discuss animals? Let me know!

TITLE: All-Time Favourite Nature Stories

AUTHOR: Ruskin Bond

PAGE EXTENT: 216

PUBLISHER: Puffin Books

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

‘I am lucky to be up here on this mountain, where the wind still hums in the deodars, the horse chestnuts fall in the autumn and the flycatchers flit among the ancient oaks.’

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE NATURE STORIES is a collection of twenty-five soulful and timeless tales about nature, featuring endearing characters and stunning illustrations.

From ‘The Cherry Tree’ to ‘Grandfather’s Feathered Foes’, each story is replete with a different sensorial experience-rustling leaves, still forests, burbling streams, chirping birds, picturesque landscapes and so much more!

Curated by Ruskin Bond, this book celebrates the magnificence of nature and his deep, abiding love for it.

“I never cease to wonder at the tenacity of water— its ability to make its way through various strata of rock, zigzagging, back-tracking, finding space, cunningly discovering faults and fissures in the mountain, and sometimes travelling underground for great distances before emerging into the open.”

I have been a huge fan of Ruskin Bond’s lush, gloriously descriptive writing style right from Middle School when we used to read his short stories during English classes! It never failed to mesmerise me how he manages to transport you to the pine forests and foothills of the Himalayas and paints a beautiful picture with his words!

From the rich fauna of the Himayalan slopes to the glistening glaciers, from the myriad variety of flowers that dot the grasslands to the fun and frolicking children, this collection of 25 stories, each with a full-page illustration by David Yambem, is the perfect portal to go to the Himalayas, all in the comfort of your reading nook!

Ruskin Bond’s immense and undying love for nature is evident in every sentence and shines through the pages! His astute observations of nature’s sounds, sights and smells which we tend to overlook is what makes him one of the best writers out there!

Here’s all you have to do: grab a copy of this book, make yourself a cup of cinnamon hot chocolate and snuggle up under the covers on a rainy evening!

Have you read any of Ruskin Bond’s books? If yes, let me know in the comments! 🍃

TITLE: My Grandmother’s Masterpiece

AUTHOR: Madhurima Vidyarthi 

PAGE EXTENT: 88

PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐💫

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

‘This is the story of how my grandmother became a famous artist. It happened somewhere between my seventh and eighth birthdays, so she was really old and also a grandmother, and I didn’t know she was an artist. And, of course, she was not famous. And then she was both, all at once.’

For Nini, Minima is just her normal everyday grandmother. So when Minima suddenly shows an interest in doing something new, Nini is not sure that she likes it. After all, a grandmother’s first job is being a grandmother, isn’t it?

Have you ever wondered if you are too old to start a hobby? Have you considered taking art classes but worried you’re old for it? Have you ever stopped yourself from doing something simply because the society thinks it’s not appropriate for your age? If you are someone who feels so and needs a push to pursue that passion of yours, all you have to do is pick this book up!

Minima, Nini’s grandmother, has a passion that was suppressed for way too long: her love for painting! So, when she gets a chance to paint and bring out this hidden talent of hers, Nini isn’t the happiest person. Will Nini turn out to be happy for her grandmother? Will Minima finally find solace in doing what she always wanted to do? Read this adorable, little book to find out!

It didn’t escape my notice how this book highlights the misogyny that’s rampant in our country even to this day, especially among the older generations. Through Nini’s grandfather, we see the perceptions of men from the older generations and I wanted to cheer loudly for Minima when she stood her ground and spoke up for what’s right!

A big shout-out to Nini’s mother for being the most supportive family member ever! Not only did she help Minima with procuring painting supplies, she also helped her enrol for art classes! She’s a true hype queen!

Tanvi Bhat’s illustrations are the perfect match for this story! I believe Madhurima and Tanvi are the best author-illustrator duo out there!

If I could sum this book up in a sentence, age is just a number! You are never too old to try something new! All you need is passion and an undying love for what you do!

Do you have any hobbies? Let me know in the comments down below!

TITLE: The World of Butterfingers – Adventure in Texas and Other Stories

AUTHOR: Khyrunnisa A and Abhijeet Kini

PAGE EXTENT: 104

PUBLISHER: Puffin Books

GENRE: Comics

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Chaotic Butterfingers, aka Amar Kishen, and his misadventures return in this collection of 3-in-1 comics. From travelling to Texas to solving a shoe mystery to getting into trouble and then saving the day–Butterfingers does it all!

Brand new baby shoes in a pile of garbage invite Amar and his friends to unravel the mystery of the missing baby.
A trip to Texas and Amar’s clumsiness take a rather unexpected turn to dizzying new heights!

Disaster strikes when Amar is tasked to run a marathon with his school principal leaving everyone with a case of the giggles.

So, drop everything and jump into this book . . . because where there’s Butterfingers, there’s bound to be fun, thrills and, of course, spills.

If I could sum up the entire experience of reading this book in one word, it would be NOSTALGIA. It reminded me of my 10-year-old self running to the newsstand in the neighbourhood at the beginning of every month to grab the latest issue of Tinkle! And needless to say, Butterfingers was one of my favourite Tinkle toons and I constantly looked forward to his clumsy shenanigans!

So, when I got a chance to read this collection of three fun-filled stories of Amar Kishen aka. Butterfingers, I flew through this book in one sitting!

For those of you who are new to Tinkle, Amar Kishen is an eighth grader whose (not-so-)famous skill is being clumsy and dropping things all the time; hence the nickname of Butterfingers!

What happens when Amar and his friends come across a pair of new baby shoes in a pile of garbage? What will Amar do on his trip to Texas? Will Amar be able to win a marathon relay to fund the replacement of broken lab equipment? Read this book to find out!

Abhijeet Kini’s classic style of illustrations is something every Tinkle fan loves and enjoys! And without a doubt, he has knocked it out of the park with his fun, quirky illustrations in this book too!

What are you waiting for? Pick this book up right away, and make sure you don’t drop it, unless you want to be called the next Butterfingers! Haha!

What is your favourite comic? Did you read any magazines as a child? Let me know in the comments and we can discuss!

TITLE: The Paper Plane Flew

AUTHOR: Bharti Singh

PAGE EXTENT: 40

PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)

GENRE: Chapter Book

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

One afternoon Mithi and her father make a paper aeroplane and send it into the sky. How far it will travel?

In this adorable chapter book, we follow the journey of a paper plane flown by a young girl, Mithi, as it travels through various towns and terrains!

Adorned with cute illustrations by Sheena Deviah, this book will definitely have you smiling from ear to ear!

Not only is this book simple and easy to understand for budding young bookworms, it also carries a deeper meaning: how everything in life comes around. Through the journey of a simple paper plane, we get to see how life comes full circle.

If you have a budding reader at home or if you want to nurture the child in you, gift yourself this book!

Is there any book that reminds you of your childhood? Let me know!

TITLE: Munni Monster

AUTHOR: Madhurima Vidyarthi

PAGE EXTENT: 104

PUBLISHER: Duckbill Books (Penguin Random House India)

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

‘She was angry too, angry inside; about this unknown person who was being suddenly forced into her perfect life. That she would have to give up her room-her bed!-and share Thamma with this-this . . .’

Mishti’s life changes when her grandmother’s cousin Munni, who has cerebral palsy, comes to live with them. Her only thought is to make her leave, somehow.

But as time goes by, Munni shows strange endearing habits and when matters come to a crisis, Mishti is no longer sure that Munni is really the monster she thought she was.

A funny moving story about a ten-year-old dealing with strange and difficult changes and disability, and above all, about love.

“What’s inclusive?”

“It means people who are different in any way— different from most of the other people, what is called the majority— should not be made to feel different. In any way. In the way we see them or treat them or in the way we do things for them.”

WOW! Where do I even begin? My eyes were glistening with tears when I flipped the last page. This books tugs at all the right heartstrings and will make you want to keep it very close to your heart, for days and years to come.

This is the story of Mishti, a fun-loving, chirpy girl and her grandmother’s cousin, Munni who is living with cerebral palsy. When Munni’s sister and caretaker passes away and Munni starts living with Mishti’s family, she begins to feel her life has been upended with the arrival of Munni. She begins to plan and plot with her friend, Riya(not the most pleasant kid) to get rid of Munni. But what happens when things don’t go according to plan? Well, they don’t, most of the time, do they? Will Mishti adjust to her new life and will she begin to accept Munni the way she is? Before I spew out the entire story, please pick this book up and know for yourself!

Being a doctor, books that showcase people with disabilities always have a special place in my heart. Cerebral Palsy is a developmental condition that isn’t often highlighted in books and it gives me immense joy that Madhurima, a doctor herself(Yay!), chose to bring to light this fairly common condition. It is often misconstrued and the condition has a myriad of symptoms which can manifest differently in different patients, which sometimes leads to these patients being treated not so well by their peers. Through Mishti’s eyes, we learn a great deal about how people tend to perceive this condition and also about breaking the stigma surrounding CP.

The tumultuous times Mishti’s family went through during a health crisis of a family member was something that deeply resonated with me and made me shed tears in buckets. The financial difficulties, the mental distress and the agony of family members is something I witness day in and day out and it made me want to jump right into the book and reassure the entire family! 🥺

Mishti’s relationship with her paternal grandmother, Thamma is bound to warm every corner of your heart! As Indians, we all have memories of spending time with our grandparents in childhood which we cherish to this day, and after reading this book, you will begin to cherish their relationship as well. I want to try Chanel No. 5 too, haha! (Read the book to find out why!)

Discussing disability is no mean feat. It requires a ton of research and accuracy. Not only has Madhurima achieved this, she has also made it palatable for readers, both young and old! Tanvi Bhat’s illustrations sprinkled throughout the book make the experience better!

If you are in the mood for a cute little book that will have you reaching out for tissues time and again, this should be your top choice! Embark on a journey of acceptance, learning, compassion and most importantly, love, with Mishti and her adorable grandmother, Thamma!

Have you read any books having characters with disabilities? Let me know in the comments below!

TITLE: Misfit Madhu

AUTHOR: Divya Anand

PAGE EXTENT: 280

PUBLISHER: Puffin Books

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Madhu is a shy middle-grade developer who spends her holidays creating her dream app, ‘School Santhe’. Soon, the app goes viral…and so does she! And why not? After all, an app where everyone at school can trade stuff is the app they’ve all been waiting for! Madhu now sets her sights on winning the GoTek young developers contest. 

But when School Santhe is used to sell leaked test papers, she’s faced with the hardest decision of her life:
a) Shut down the app that made her popular?
b) Or stay silent and become part of something…criminal?

As her dreams begin to crumble – with the entire school now blaming her for the mess her app has caused – Madhu realizes that sometimes, it’s far easier to debug an app than it is to debug your life!

Before I launch into my review(read ‘rant’), let me tell you that this is one of the most fun books I’ve read in a long, long time! After having been in a reading slump for more than a month, I picked up this cute book and boy, was I in for one hell of a rollercoaster ride, aka middle school! Haha! This is one of those books you MUST read in a single sitting, because believe me, there’s no stopping until you’ve read the last page and sighed with relief!

Madhu has always been the shy kid in class with not much to her credit, until she develops an app called “School Santhe” over the summer break which ends up going viral! I mean, V-I-R-A-L! The app which helps people trade items in school makes sure Madhu goes from being a nobody to a mini celebrity in an instant! But when has being a famous person ever been easy? The higher you climb, the farther you fall. When somebody at school starts using the app to sell (ahem, leak) question papers, things start taking a sinister turn. With a much-sought-after contest conducted by a company owned by one of her role models looming in the background, will Madhu catch the perpetrator before time runs out? Or will she have to delete the app for good?

First of all, here is the thing I love about Middle Grade books: FRIENDSHIP! Noor is the bestest friend anyone could ask for, who always stands for what is right and always, always has your back! Madhu and Noor make the perfect bestie pair and it was indeed one of the highlights of this book for me!

Being a person from the medical field, technology and coding are like Greek and Latin to me and I’m glad this book gave me an insight into the world of IT! I learnt quite a bit about cyber security and IP addresses and a bit about how coding works too! Divya Anand has managed to take something complex like coding and app developing into something super fun to read, for both readers young and old!

“Noor smiled back, and we linked arms as we entered my apartment complex, Oceanview Apartments. You’d think our apartment has a view of the ocean, but nope.”

This is the exact point in the story when I started howling with laughter! Being born and brought up in Bangalore, this was so, so relatable! Random apart complexes with even more random names which make no sense whatsoever can be found all over the city!

The Bangalore lingo used by all the students at Ideal School (yeah, sometimes schools have weird names too) took me back to my school days and it was a nice thing to reminisce, after all this while! It made my heart swell with joy when I read that the app is called “School Santhe” (“market” in Kannada, which happens to be my mother tongue too!)

This book gives you a bird’s eye view of middle school life: surprise tests, annoying classmates, competitions and contests, fun moments with your best friends, some not-so-fun moments, the mean and so-called “cool” gang, new friendships, pranksters, I could honestly go on and on!

Before I end my rant, let’s talk about the mystery element, shall we? It was indeed a well-crafted mystery that will have you guessing right through to the end, exactly the way it should be! It had me frantically turning pages and biting my lips with anticipation!

Kudos to Vedushi Sinha for the quirky illustrations that make this fun-filled mystery even more fun!

Phew, end of rant. If you’re in a reading slump and want a book that will WHACK you out of it, pick this one right away! Trade some hours for dollops of fun! See what I did there? 😉 This book is about a “Santhe” after all!

Which is your favourite book featuring geeky characters? Let me know in the comments!

TITLE: The Ghost of Malabar

AUTHOR: Soumya Ayer

PAGE EXTENT: 204

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins India

GENRE: Middle Grade

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

SOURCE: Received a copy from HarperCollins India in exchange for an honest review.

A spooky tale set in Fort Kochi, once a seaside town with a long colonial history!

Twelve-year-old Edwin blames his father, a wayward fisherman for everything rotten in his life. But when he encounters Velu his life is catapulted from rotten to outright chaotic. Velu is chatty. Velu is annoying. Velu is a ghost. The ghost of a fisherman who was slaughtered five hundred years ago by Kapitan Vasca da Gama.

Velu soon spirits himself into Edwin’s life … he follows him to school, accosts him at home, always appearing at the most unwelcome moments. Edwin tries everything to get rid of him, including rubbing garlic on himself. But Velu can’t be shaken off until the day Edwin banishes him from his life …

In the events that follow, Edwin discovers that Velu has actually helped heal his family in ways he had never imagined possible. But by this time, Velu is gone!

Will Edwin find Velu again and will Velu finally find rest after five hundred years of haunting the seaside town? Read this delightfully written and charmingly illustrated book to find out …

“Look at these waves, Edwin. They come and go, but still the ocean remains. Just like that, even if people in your life come and go, the memories remain. Appreciate the good times and learn from the challenging ones. That’s what I learned from my teacher, the sea and that’s what I’m teaching you.”

My eyes were glistening with tears when I turned the last page of this book. Who knew a book about the weird friendship between a young boy and a 500-year-old ghost would release the floodgates? 🥺

Edwin, a 12-year-old boy from Kochi, can see and hear ghosts! And much to his dismay, he’s being nagged by the ghost of a man who died 500 years ago when Vasco da Gama invaded India. And the worst part, Velu the ghost is super pesky and naughty and keeps chattering his head off! Edwin tries his best to get the ghost off his back without realising that the ghost has been helping him all along. But why is the ghost still haunting the place? Why can only Edwin see the ghost? How will he prevent his dysfunctional family from crumbling apart? Read the book to find out!

I love it when Middle Grade books discuss hard hitting topics and don’t shy away from packing the punches! Not only is this a tale filled with adventure and fun, it also deals with strained familial relationships and bullying. Bullying was something I endured as a middle schooler and I wanted to jump right into the pages and give Edwin a warm, warm hug! 🥺

You might wonder how a centuries-old ghost befriended a young boy but trust me, Velu is such an adorable goofball! 🥹 He might be a ghost but you would love to have him around and laugh at his hilarious pranks!

This book also highlights a dark period in the history of our country: how the Portuguese invaded India in the 1500s and massacred fishermen and their families alike. It’s important for young readers to know about the past, however sad, and this book does the topic justice.

Don’t we all love it when books transport us to places? This book painted the perfect picture of Kochi in my mind and now I desperately want to visit the beaches and munch on some banana chips!

A big shoutout to Isha Nagar for the adorable illustrations peppered throughout the book that add to the beauty of this poignant tale. 😌

If you’re in the mood for a heart-warming tale that will have you grabbing tissues and yet leaving a smile plastered on your face, pick up this book and go on a journey spanning 500 years along the shores of the Arabian Sea!

Which is your favourite read featuring ghosts? Let me know in the comments!