From the title itself, this book grabs your attention. It is a fun, witty read.
11-year-old
Lokanayaki Shanmugam aspires to be
a cricketer and play on the local cricket league in a team called Temple Street
Tankers, but they have a boy-only condition, so she cannot play on the team. She
starts a petition to change this situation. Does it succeed?
From its vivid portrayal of characters and some
serious issues in Indian society, while using light-hearted language to bring
out the importance of breaking societal conventions and standing up for one’s rights. Set in Chennai or Madras (as it was then called), the
story has a very Tamil flavor but is universal at the same time. I laughed out
loud on several occasions.
I recommend it to anyone looking for a slice-of-life, coming-of-age read.
I loved this book because of several
reasons. The big one is Mini Srinivasan’s reputation as an award-winner for kids makes
anyone interested in reading her next book.
Essentially, the book revolves around a boy in Pune, India, the title
suggests, with two grandfathers. Amol,
the main character’s name, loves both his grandfathers and considers them his mentors. One of his grandfathers is flamboyant, and one is steady and sober,
but both love him to bits.
It is a delightful blend of humor and a book that aims to teach you a lesson. It is essential reading in a country where a lot of
senior citizens need support from society—a book for all ages and backgrounds.
I
loved this book for three reasons. First, it is so well observed in terms of Indian
and Mumbai city daily life and all the usual ups and downs that happen. Second,
it features a female spy and one with a lot of sass and spunk, to be sure. I love the sincerity and honesty she shows in the book. Third, the main character, Samira Joshi, is
exactly the kind of person you root for.
The book revolves around her dream to
be a spy, her training at a spy school or institute, and the fact that her middle-class parents don’t support it. How does she overcome her challenges? His simple and captivating book is one you
don’t want to miss.
Fresh language and
appealing concepts make this YA debut novel a winner.
Spying runs in the Joshi genes. Her great-grandmother was famous for sticking her nose in everyone’s business. Her grandmother had a flourishing side-business of tracking down errant husbands and missing servants. Her parents are elite intelligence agents for RAW. Yet, they want their only daughter to become a doctor. When she sees a college friend being trapped by a pimp, Samira does some spying of her own, and discovers the existence of a secret sisterhood of teen spies — The Spyders.…
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 a light-hearted and heart-warming read, the book also covers some
difficult themes 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.
Above all, thisis about finding your own people and accepting
who you are.
