10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange WorldAuthor: Elif ShafakPublisher: Penguin UKRating: 4.5/5 Elif Shafak is one such author whose simple language pierces the heart so brutally that one cannot avoid but think of the overwhelming setting of the plot and the injustice meted out to her characters. ‘10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World’ is Shafak’s 11th novel which addresses the grave issue of sexual violence in Istanbul. Deftly dealing with the aftermath of fighting for freedom and searching for a life devoid of misery and slavery, the author uses a bold narrative to highlight the stereotypes and notions that are perpetuated in the society right…

White BirdAuthor: R J PalacioPublisher: Penguin PublishersRating: 5/5 Graphic novels were once my favourite when they used to be sold for cheap and were called as comics. Now, these novels are sold under a fancy name. White Bird is a graphic novel that is set during the time of the second world war. Narrated by Sara Blum, Julian’s grandmother, this story takes you on a visual roller coaster ride of love, hope, loss and kindness. With beautiful illustrations, crisp story-telling and less number of characters, the author deftly portrays the sorrowful plight of the Jews who were discriminated and hunted to be shot during the time of the war. The…

BreathlessAuthor: Jennifer NivenPublisher: Penguin PublishersRating: 4.5/5 This is the first book by Niven that I got a chance to read. Honestly, she has a flair for words and when she weaves them together, the stardust of magic transports the readers to a world where love and freedom are imperative and everything else is secondary. Inclined more towards being chick lit, Breathless is just wow! The narrative, the illeism, the metaphorical references, the connection between the past and the present, the characters and the plot- all make it a complete potboiler. Claude Henry is a rebellious young girl who dreams of flying in the sky like a bird. Along with her…

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep EndAuthor: Jeff KinneyPublisher: Puffin Books Jeff Kinney’s The Deep End is the 15th book in this series. Knowing that Greg never bores the readers with his jokes and hilarious comebacks, it would be right to say that when Heffleys go on this adventure, the unprecedented journey promises fun all along the way. I have not been a fan of Wimpy Kid series but I do like reading Greg’s narrative. Therefore, when this book was released, I had made up my mind to get this as I had to be with the Heffleys on their new adventure! ‘The Deep End’ begins when Greg’s family…

The Very, Extremely, Most Naughty Asura Tales for Kids Author: Anand Neelakantan Publisher: Penguin Publishers When we hear about Asuras, the stereotypical image of dark-skinned, horrendous-looking creatures appears before our eyes. That’s what the legends and folktales have taught us after all! Well, Anand Neelakantan definitely knows how to woo children with his comic narrative that lifts up the mood and also lightens the narrative.  The Asura Tales is funny, quirky and has been beautifully illustrated. The chubby and happy Asuras win your heart. But that’s not all. While you feel that Asuras might not be so bad after all, you also realize that the people around them do suffer…

OgdAuthor: Anusha RavishankarPublisher: Duckbill Publishers Anusha Ravishanker is back yet again with another nonsensical prose that is as clear as mud! OGD is a story about Messiah, who sets out on an unprecedented journey to uncover some truths and in the process discover so many other lies. Loaded with satire and antithesis, this book is one of its kind. You will need both patience and a free mind to understand what lies behind the facade of balderdash! Messiah is different; she is born with a foot in her mouth. When she grows up, her resilience and her curiosity to question everything that is not backed by logic irk the people…

Trials of Apollo: The Tower of NeroAuthor: Rick RiordanPublisher: Penguin PublishersRating: 4/5 Trials of Apollo: The Tower of Nero is the final book in the 15-book Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. This book also finds its niche among fantasy, magical realism and mythological fiction. It picks up where Lester realizes that humility is like a sweet root from which stem all the good virtues. As a God, Apollo didn’t quite fit into the empathetic shoes but his life as Lester Papadopoulos transformed him completely. His transformation plays an imperative role in the story. In Tower of Nero, we will see Apollo merging two of his chief emotions: humility and the charisma that…

Deepak Dalal conjures up an alluring world where adventure meets thrill and this gives rise to a series of events that will surely make the readers do a double-take. As a part of the Vikram-Aditya Series, the Ranthambore Adventures transports the readers to the west of India where the sand controls the land and the dry heat can often become unbearable. Amidst a visually delicious setting, Vikram and Aditya, the two protagonists, embark on an adventure to in the woods. Using different perspectives and figurative language to entice the readers, the author brings forth the problems that the wildlife of our country is facing. Vikram and Aditya are school-going boys…

Deepak Dalal conjures up an alluring world where adventure meets thrill and this gives rise to a series of events that will surely make the readers do a double-take. As a part of the Vikram-Aditya Series, the Ladakh Adventures transports the readers to the extreme north of India where the treeline recedes and the brown giants are in complete control. Amidst a visually delicious setting, Vikram and Aditya, the two protagonists, embark on an adventure to trace the culprits behind the kidnapping of their helper, Tsering. Vikram and Aditya are school-going boys who are poles apart. With a tinge of ‘Hardy Boys’ and Enid Blyton’s action-packed adventures, the author presents…

The Incredible History of the Indian OceanAuthor: Sanjeev SanyalPublisher: Puffin Books Sanjeev Sanyal’s The Incredible History of India’s Geography was quite a blockbuster amongst the young readers owing to its easy narrative and organized layout of information. It had illustrations and that added to the overall impact. His second book ‘The Incredible History of the Indian Ocean’ doesn’t disappoint either. It is an adaptation of The Ocean of Churn and it houses so much information about the History, purpose, evolution and present-day scenario of one of the biggest water bodies. The Incredible History of the Indian Ocean is a comprehensive guide that explores the discovery of the Indian Ocean, its…