Secrets of Zynpagua: Birth of Mystery child
By Ilika Ranjan
Mystery: Adventure: Fantasy
Age: 9-11
Reviewed by: Anika
Secrets of Zynpagua: Birth of Mystery Child – This is the third book in the Secrets of Zynpagua series which is written by Ilika Ranjan. We have covered the first book and the second book in the August and September newsletters. At the end of the second book, the mermaid kidnaps Radhika and takes her to the Pacific Ocean where she gets the demon planets to bless her unborn son. She and Radhika are taken in by a colony of old people who live in the sea. Her son was very powerful because even though he was not born he could speak and sing. Whenever he sang he would cause a lot of pressure on the eardrums of the others and their ears would start to bleed. Meanwhile, back at Zynpagua everyone was worried. They sent many people to search for Radhika but she was not to be found. They also had got to know that Pajaro - Leo’s mother was alive and she would be crucial in saving the people from the mermaid’s son. The book then talks about how Leo, Anika, Vivian and Lady Carol try finding Pajaro. They face many hurdles and get many clues and at last they find Radhika. By then the mermaid’s son had been born and he had started liking Radhika and wanted to marry her but was thwarted by Fredrick. They escape from the mermaid’s son and learn from Venus that Radhika would be the one who would be able to defeat him. The book ends with a prophecy. The story will be continued in the fourth book The Serpent’s Shadow’.
Vishnu Purana
By Bibek Debroy
Hinduism
Age: +13
Reviewed by: Anika
Vishnu Purana: We had written many Purana reviews. We have decided that we will include few of those reviews in each newsletter. I am going to share a part of my Vishnu Purana review. The Vishnu Purana is the third purana in the list of Mahapuranas. It is a satvik purana, a purana that glorifies Vishnu. It is medium sized and has twenty-three thousand shlokas which are divided into six sections. The last section is shorter than the rest. It was composed by Sage Parashara. It was a very interesting Purana and had many stories. I liked all of them so much I could hardly decide a favourite. I finally found a favourite and it was so interesting. It was a story that I didn’t know about. If you want to know little more about the Purana read my Vishnu Purana review.
The Adventures of Stoob: Testing Times
By Samit Basu
Fiction: Adventure
Age: 8-12
Reviewed by: Anika
The adventures of Stoob: Testing times – This is a hilarious book written by Samit Basu. It talks about a 10-year-old boy named Stoob who is feeling delighted that he will be moving to senior school next year. That however was before he learnt that he would have to face incredible torture in the form of the end of the term exams. He is even more shocked when two of his best friends Ishaani and Rehaan become all studious and stop having fun like they used to. He got so worried that he almost resorted to cheating but stopped himself in time. To top it all his other best friend Prithvi tells them that he was going to cheat. It was up to Ishaani, Rehaan and Stoob to stop him. It is the first book of his that I have read and found it really hilarious. It describes all the torture and worry Stoob had to go through during his exams in a hilarious and funny way. It was very interesting and I loved reading the book. I have re-read the book thrice.
The Enchanted World
By Enid Blyton and Ellise Allen
Fiction: Adventure: Fantasy
Age: 8-11
Reviewed by: Anika
The Enchanted World: This series of books are interesting and funny. They revolve around five fairies and an evil troll named Talon. Talon had tried to steal the magic talismans of the Faraway Treebut Witch Whisper thwarted him and sent the talismans back to the lands from where they had come. The five fairies had to get the talismans before Talon got them because without them the Faraway Tree would die. Each of the five fairies had a special magic power. Silky had the power of light. If she concentrated hard enough she could send a powerful ray of light that could cut through almost anything and blind anyone. Petal could talk to plants and animals. She could also talk into her friends minds by concentrating hard. Melody had the power of transformation. She could transform into anything she knew well. She also had a beautiful voice that could soothe anyone and put anyone to sleep. Pinx had the power of invisibility. She could turn invisible just by concentrating. Bizzy could do magic spells. Most of the time her spells would go wrong. She called them Basic Bizzy Blunders. The books are very nice and have few hilarious comments in between that make them funny. There are seven books in the series. I have read all of the books. I loved this series.
Demigods and Magicians
By Rick Riordan
Fiction: Adventure: Fantasy: Mystery
Age: 9-13
Reviewed by: Anika
Demigods and Magicians: This book is written by Rick Riordan in which demigods and magicians meet as you can probably guess from the title. We have mentioned demigods in our August newsletter and magicians in our September newsletter. The first story ‘Son of Sobek’ talks about how Percy Jackson and Carter Kane meet to defeat a crocodile who is a son of the Egyptian crocodile god, Sobek. This story was not too great. It was okay, not too interesting. The second story ‘Staff of Serapis’ talks about how Annabeth Chase and Sadie Kane meet. They have to defeat an Egyptian god named Serapis and to do that they have to destroy his staff. This was an interesting story. In the third story ‘Crown of Ptolemy’ all four of them meet and it was up to them to defeat the evil/crazy magician Setne who wanted to become the only god and destroy all the other gods in the world. They have to work together and as a team to do this. The last story was the best. It was very interestingand I found it very nice. There were also a few funny bits so I loved it a lot. I liked reading this book.
Tintin
By Herge
Fiction: Adventure: Mystery
Age:
Reviewed by: Anika
Tintin: This is a hilarious series that has also been turned into a movie. Most people know about this series but for those who don’t the story is given below. This series talks about a young journalist named Tintin. Wherever he goes mystery seems to follow him. Along with his faithful dog Snowy he manages to solve many mysteries. In the book the “Crab with the Golden Claws” he is joined by Captain Haddock who accompanies him on his adventures. Captain Haddock is hilarious he keeps on giving funny comments that make you laugh hard. In the book ‘Red Rackham’s Treasure’ he meets Professor Cuthbert Calculus who is hard of hearing and misinterprets things. Between him and Captain Haddock you can’t stop laughing. I liked the movies too. I have read most of the books in the Tintin series. I loved the series a lot.
The Storm Thief
By Chris Wooding
Fiction: Adventure: Mystery
Age: +11
Reviewed by: Anvita
The Storm Thief: This book was recommended to me by my librarian, as I did not know which book I could borrow next. It is written by Chris Wooding, the author of 'The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray', and four other series. This book is fantastic, and fast paced. The plot doesn't take time to build up, and is very interesting. The way he comfortably takes you to another world without having to describe every single detail of it at the start is very smooth. The whole story goes through smoothly without any abrupt parts, and really does catch the reader's interest. The story talks about the lives of two ghetto kids, Rail and Moa, who are poor and thieves for a lady called Anya Jacana. They live in Orokos, a place whose people believe that there is no other world except Orokos. Anya Jacana sends them to steal something from creatures called Mozgas. Rail finds that the treasure contains a special artefact that is very rare. He decides to keep the artefact. Anya Jacana finds out that they have hidden the artefact and sends Finch after them. They meet Vago a golem with special powers. The head of Orokos is the Protectorate, and they got to know about Vago. Now even the head of Orokos is after them. They then realize that the artefact can help them pass through walls. It can open doors! They decide to go to Kilatas, the place where Moa was born. They take Vago with them, and then Vago escapes and gets captured by the Protectorate! Now even the Protectorate is after them for the artefact. How will they escape?
Rip Van Winkle and other stories
By Washington Irving
Fiction: Adventure: Mystery
Age: +11
Reviewed by: Anvita
Rip Van Winkle and other stories: This is a classic written by Washington Irving. It has five to six interesting stories in it. My favourite one was the story of Rip Van Winkle. Rip Van Winkle was a lazy, henpecked husband. His wife was forever after him, and scolded him whenever she could get her hands on him. He had a dog who was devoted to him and was as lazy as him. Rip loved going to the forest and hunting. One day, he went with his musket escaping his wife's scolding to the forest. He lay down for a while, when he saw a peculiar, short man trying to carry a barrel of wine. He decided to help the man and lifted the barrel. He followed the man and saw him lead Rip down a cave. There he saw many men like the little man, all laughing and enjoying themselves. When they saw the man coming with Rip they quieted down. The little man said something in a strange tongue to the crowd. He then offered Rip a sip of the wine. It tasted so delicious that Rip drank one cup after the other. He then collapsed and started snoring. He woke up after a while and looked around. He was exactly where he had met the man, though he could not see his dog anywhere. He went down the road to go back to his village. He cannot recognize the town anymore, and everyone has changed. He then realizes after asking someone that he had somehow slept for twenty years! I loved this story the best as it was funny, and not too long. It was in simple English, and the settings were described so well, that one could imagine experiencing all of what was written in it.
The Throne of Fire
By Rick Riordan
Fiction: Adventure: Mystery: Fantasy
Age: +12
Reviewed by: Anvita
Throne of Fire: In the September newsletter, we had talked about a book called the 'The Red Pyramid' in the Kane Chronicles. This is the second book in the same series. I enjoyed this book more than the first one, but not better than the third one. Apophis is going to rise in five days and swallow the Sun at the equinox, and only Ra, the Sun god has the power to stop him. To awaken Ra, they need to find three scrolls that constitute the Book of Ra that will help them do so. With the help of Jaz and Walt, their new trainees, and Bes, the dwarf god. Meanwhile, Bast decides to go and check whether Apophis' prison is secure, and leaves them behind. They find out that a man named Vladimir Menshikov is convincing the Chief Lector Desjardins, to allow him to hunt the Kane's down. Carter is told that they have to save Zia, or she will die. They decide to split, so Walt and Sadie go one way while Carter and Bes to the other. Sadie and Walt have to find the third scroll, as they have the other two, and Carter and Bes go in search of Zia. They find Zia and the third scroll but realize that Ra acts like a five-year-old kid. He is ailing, and has to be reborn. How will they defeat Apophis? I loved this book as there is a lot of adventure, and many funny parts too. It gets hilarious when they talk about Bes, the dwarf god, who scares anyone who comes in their way wearing blue Speedos, giving his enemies a ghastly grin. Also, when they talk about Ra and the behavior of the Sun God it gets very funny.
The Serpent’s Shadow
By Rick Riordan
Fiction: Adventure: Mystery: Fantasy
Age: +12
Reviewed by: Anvita
Serpent's Shadow: This is the last book in the trilogy of the Kane chronicles. This is my favourite one, as the way he solves the mystery and gives a few surprises are unique. Sadie, Carter and their friends are on a mission to Dallas, where they have to retrieve a particular scroll from the museum there, or Apophis would come and kill everyone. The do not get the scroll, but they see that Apophis is after a golden box. They manage to take the golden box safely, but every magician in Dallas is killed. They see that King Tut's shadow is in the box. Horus visits Carter and tells him that they can use Apophis' shadow to execrate him. They decide to consult Thoth on this, while Sadie learns that they could bring back Bes, the dwarf god's soul. While Sadie is doing that, Carter goes to talk to Thoth. Thoth tells them that they would need the help of Setne, a powerful magician. He would be going for his death trial that day, so they decide to take Setne's help. Setne agrees, but he has something else playing on his mind. Will he actually help them? I loved it as it talks about Setne in a sarcastic manner. He is supposed to funny, but very sly at the same time. It has many twists, and most of them were shocking. I could not even believe some of them.
Coming soon... Anika's Top 6 books of 2017!
© 2017, Anika Agarwal. All rights reserved.
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