Tag: india

Review: Time Travellers: Secrets and Spies

Written by Sufiya Ahmed
Illustrations by Alessia Trunfio
Published by Little Tiger

I really enjoyed Time Travellers:  Adventure Calling so was eager to read the second book in this exciting series of historical timeslip adventures:    Secrets and Spies.

Suhana and best friends, Mia and Ayaan, are exploring Edinburgh during the Easter holidays.  As it is raining, they head in to the Museum of Scotland where they meet a tour guide who tells them about the origins of the East India Company and shares that items taken are now part of a collection in Edinburgh Castle.  Visiting the Castle, the three friends see an Indian sword with a tiger head and an amulet holder, but then Suhana’s phone alarm rings … and the friends find themselves spinning backwards through time … and into another time travelling adventure …

This time, the team find themselves in 1799 Seringapatam, India with a new mission:  to save a young princess.   Finding themselves inside a fort, they climb the walls to see thousands of tents, cannon guns and war elephants:  the fort and Sultan’s palace is under siege by troops from the East India Company. 

When they are disturbed by a young soldier, they find an ally in Imran who takes them to the royal palace where they see Sultan Tipu and learn of his resistance to the invaders, but is someone prepared to betray the Sultan and his family for their own greed?  Can the time travellers complete their mission and save the princess before the fort is breached by those intent on ending any resistance to Imperial Rule?  And, will the team return safely home to share this forgotten history with others? 

This is another brilliant adventure with plenty of fast-paced action, danger and discoveries as the children work together to save the young princess and get her to safety as they are confronted with the exploitation, disrespect and violence of the East India Company towards the Indian people.  Bengal tigers, secret passages, betrayal, and daring escapades make this a thrilling read as well as one which teaches readers about British colonialism in India. 

I really enjoyed the strong friendship which has developed between Suhana, Mia and Ayaan which makes them a great time travelling team.  The friends are courageous and determined, and are prepared to take risks to complete their mission which leads to both danger and discoveries.  They all show respect for the beliefs and culture of those they meet which is in stark contrast to how the Indian people are treated by the colonial powers forcibly expanding into their country.

There is a wonderful section at the end of the book which gives more information about the British Empire and colonialism as well as sharing more information about Tipu Sultan and one of his ancestors who played an important and heroic role in the Second World War.

This is another fantastic adventure in this time-travelling series which is perfect for children of 8+ to both enjoy as an exciting adventure and to learn more about important aspects of our diverse history which are not well known. 

Thank you to Little Tiger for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari

Written by  Dev Kothari
Cover Illustration by Tara Anand
Published by Walker Books

Set in contemporary India, Bringing Back Kay-Kay is both a superbly gripping mystery and a deeply moving and hopeful testament to the strength of sibling bonds in the most desperate of times.  Heart-warming, heart-breaking and utterly brilliant from start to finish.

Lena has been enjoying some welcome attention from her parents whilst her much-favoured older brother, Kay-Kay, has been away at summer camp in Goa; she even wishes that he would stay away for longer.  But when her parents arrive back from the train station with the news that her beloved brother is missing, she is devastated.  The local police think he’s just another runaway, but Lena is convinced that they are wrong.  Unable to bear her parents’ pain and the idea of living without Kay-Kay, Lena sets out to investigate her brother’s disappearance … and to bring him home.

So begins a dual journey of discovery as Lena painstakingly and determinedly pieces together clues leading up to Kay-Kay’s disappearance, as she retraces his steps across India, and as she gains insight from speaking to those who know him.  But this is also a journey which reveals a side to her brother which he has kept hidden from his family:  secret hopes and dreams and a fear of not living up to the weight of expectations.  Can Lena discover the truth behind her brother’s disappearance?  Will she be able to bring Kay-Kay back, or will she too late to save the brother she needs?

Without you, Kay-Kay, there’s no sun, no warmth, no light. I will find you – my brother, my friend. I will find you and bring you back.

This story is written from Lena’s viewpoint, with direct address to her brother, which I found incredibly emotive as it gives such a painfully beautiful insight into their relationship, especially as she faces her own truths and discovers her brother’s secrets.   The deep, unbreakable bond between the siblings sings from the pages of this story, and makes Lena’s journey to find Kay-Kay absolutely gripping and, at times, almost unbearably tense.  Lena’s pain at the loss of her brother is palpable, but she shows such incredible strength in finding the courage to keep going and never give up hope even when those around her do.

I absolutely loved the poetry that is included within the story which I must admit brought tears – so incredibly powerful and heartfelt.  I also really liked the setting in contemporary India and enjoyed learning more about this vibrant country from the train journeys to the culture and food and drink. 

An evocative, emotional and exhilarating mystery with family and sibling bonds firmly at its heart.

Thank you to Lorraine Keating and Walker Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.