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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This one had such high reviews and looked so fascinating to me that I just had to read! What I found was that while the adventure was well-done, the 12-y.o. characters behaved like 8 y.o. characters and that was difficult for me to take in - especially because there were so many pop culture references that no 8 and few 12 y.o.s would know. With references to Die Hard, The Matrix, and Friends, but then also talk about frozen boogers, I had a hard time with the character believability. I have a child in 7th grade and a child in 3rd grade. The characters in the book act younger than both of my kids.
The adventure? The culture? The fun? A+ on all of it. My only hang up was the characters. For that reason, it gets 3 stars from me.
The adventure? The culture? The fun? A+ on all of it. My only hang up was the characters. For that reason, it gets 3 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Man, I am on an audiobook ROLL this summer. This is a fun pick for students who like the Percy Jackson books. Aru thinks her mother is just a museum curator, but she discovers that she is hiding a whole side of Aru (you know, the side where her father is a deity). The story is very female empowering and packed with action and humor. Highly recommended for middle school readers.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Age: 3rd-8th grade
Fantasy: Indian Mythology
This book had everything I needed in it: an epic quest, emerging powers, action, humor, intrigue, epic battles, and a mysterious villain. There's even an animal sidekick in the form of a disgruntled pigeon. The one-liners actually had me loling and Aru Shah is an incredibly well-written protagonist with depth of personality and room to grow in the series. I will absolutely recommend this to fans of Harry Potter and Rick Riordan but Chokshi allows this book to stand out with her comedic element.
Fantasy: Indian Mythology
This book had everything I needed in it: an epic quest, emerging powers, action, humor, intrigue, epic battles, and a mysterious villain. There's even an animal sidekick in the form of a disgruntled pigeon. The one-liners actually had me loling and Aru Shah is an incredibly well-written protagonist with depth of personality and room to grow in the series. I will absolutely recommend this to fans of Harry Potter and Rick Riordan but Chokshi allows this book to stand out with her comedic element.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good story featuring two girls as the "heroines" (the word they repeatedly use). A good way to learn a bit about Indian legends.
"Aru Shah and the End of Time" is perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Neil Gaiman. Chokshi's use of imaginative imagery, complex world building, and relatable, wry humor makes Aru's journey a perfect fit for adventurous middle grades readers. If you've read a book in the Percy Jackson series, you know what to expect-- ample cliffhangers, clever puns, and pop-culture references. But also expect some refreshing diversity. Chokshi does to Hindu mythology what Riordan did to Greek mythology, and it is beautiful. Also, can we just talk one more time about how gorgeous the cover art is?)