Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This read exactly like a Rick Riordan book which is great because he’s an incredible storyteller, but also means that this wasn’t different enough to really stand on its own without a comparison. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!!
I had a lot of fun reading this! I wasn’t expecting to want to continue the series, but I’m really looking forward to reading more adventures with Aru, Mini, and Boo.
I had a lot of fun reading this! I wasn’t expecting to want to continue the series, but I’m really looking forward to reading more adventures with Aru, Mini, and Boo.
excellent and smart and so so much fun and it's heartwarming and made me feel a lot of things. this is so good, i absolutely love this and i want to read on in this series immediately.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Highly lovable protagonists make enduring a story you've heard many times before a worthwhile experience.
3.5 if I could. I loved seeing Indian culture (and even a bit of Filipino culture!) take center stage in such a widely-distributed book. I'm excited to see where this series will go, and I loved the relationship between the two main characters. And I'm almost glad I didn't know much about the mythology, because that ignorance kept me turning the pages.
I was always intimidated by Indian mythology, but I think that's because kids' introductions to Greek/Roman mythology existed and I was able to gain a beginning understanding of them at an early age. Similarly, this book can provide an accessible starting point into this world.
That said, my biggest issue with the book was the tone. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be hip and funny with this book, and I wasn't sure if it was an attempt to replicate the humor in the Percy Jackson series. I'd looked forward to the dictionary entries at the end, but the way they were written had me rolling my eyes thanks to how over the top they were.
I wanted to like this more than I did, especially because its representation is so important to me, but the tone issues won't stop me from continuing the series. And I do think they'll endear the book to a middle grade audience.
I was always intimidated by Indian mythology, but I think that's because kids' introductions to Greek/Roman mythology existed and I was able to gain a beginning understanding of them at an early age. Similarly, this book can provide an accessible starting point into this world.
That said, my biggest issue with the book was the tone. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be hip and funny with this book, and I wasn't sure if it was an attempt to replicate the humor in the Percy Jackson series. I'd looked forward to the dictionary entries at the end, but the way they were written had me rolling my eyes thanks to how over the top they were.
I wanted to like this more than I did, especially because its representation is so important to me, but the tone issues won't stop me from continuing the series. And I do think they'll endear the book to a middle grade audience.
Fun and funny, but a bit dizzying
Chokshi is a wonderfully fun and inventive writer with a childlike spirit that begs to be used for writing books for kids. Aru Shah feels like a real girl with real problems and hilariously authentic reactions to herself and the chaos around her. But I'm only giving this read three stars because I found myself getting some whiplash and getting a little exhausted as the story progressed. There was a whole lot of rapid jumping around, a whole lot of characters being quickly introduced and then left behind, and I couldn't help but find myself skimming parts in order to finally get to the climax. I think the mythology and folklore here is definitely interesting and is absolutely worthy of an exciting middle grade series, but I wish we could have spent more time with a narrowed down cast of characters in order to really get to know them and appreciate their importance. Of course, this is the perspective of an adult reader. I think kids will find this book immensely entertaining and funny, and in the end, that's really what it's all about!
Chokshi is a wonderfully fun and inventive writer with a childlike spirit that begs to be used for writing books for kids. Aru Shah feels like a real girl with real problems and hilariously authentic reactions to herself and the chaos around her. But I'm only giving this read three stars because I found myself getting some whiplash and getting a little exhausted as the story progressed. There was a whole lot of rapid jumping around, a whole lot of characters being quickly introduced and then left behind, and I couldn't help but find myself skimming parts in order to finally get to the climax. I think the mythology and folklore here is definitely interesting and is absolutely worthy of an exciting middle grade series, but I wish we could have spent more time with a narrowed down cast of characters in order to really get to know them and appreciate their importance. Of course, this is the perspective of an adult reader. I think kids will find this book immensely entertaining and funny, and in the end, that's really what it's all about!
Really enjoyed this middle grade novel from Riordan's new imprint. Would be great for a middle grade book club. I loved learning about mythology while also following the heroines. Really good depiction of children with realistic thought processes. I am eagerly awaiting the second in the series.
I'm mad it took me so long to pick this one up! It was such a fun and engaging read!
Aru Shah and the End of the Time is one of the original Rick Riordan presents books and introduces middle grade readers to Hindu mythology. It follows main character, Aru Shah, who lives in a museum with her curator mother. Unfortunately, Aru has a difficult time making and keeping friends. When a group of her classmates visits the museum, Aru tries to prove that the museums Lamp of Bharata is cursed even though she's not supposed to light. She unknowingly releases the Sleeper who freezes time and then it becomes Aru's job to save them all by finding the five Pandava brothers from the well-known Hindu epic poem the Mahabharata.
What Worked: This was a fun and engaging read. As someone who is not as familiar with Hindu mythology, Chokshi did a MARVELOUS job pushing me to expand my cultural knowledge. There is an accessible guide in the back that I utilized frequently to stay on track with the introduction of the various gods and goddesses. The story is action packed and filled with so many various twists and turns. My favorite part of this story was probably the character development. Aru has a difficult time fitting in and making friends. Through her journey, she meets another character by the name of Mini who pushes Aru to do a lot of self reflection. Aru isn't always a likeable character and she has a bit of a reputation; however, I appreciate that Chokshi gives her the opportunity to grow and develop. It mirrors the same challenges and growth that a lot of middle grade readers will see in themselves. I also appreciated the growth that we see in the relationship between Aru and her mother. It's clear that Aru feels alone in the world since doesn't know much about her father and her mother is absent due to expeditions. Fortunately, there is a section of the book that focuses on her absense and how it causes Aru to feel. Additionally, the reveals in this book are jaw dropping! I wasn't expecting the true identity of the sleeper and it made the novel that much more intense.
What Didn't Work: This was such a good read so there wasn't much that didn't work; however, I did find the beginning to be a little slow. There were also some scenes that felt all over the place.
Overall, this was such a good introduction to the series and I'm excited to continue one with Aru and the rest of her friends.
Aru Shah and the End of the Time is one of the original Rick Riordan presents books and introduces middle grade readers to Hindu mythology. It follows main character, Aru Shah, who lives in a museum with her curator mother. Unfortunately, Aru has a difficult time making and keeping friends. When a group of her classmates visits the museum, Aru tries to prove that the museums Lamp of Bharata is cursed even though she's not supposed to light. She unknowingly releases the Sleeper who freezes time and then it becomes Aru's job to save them all by finding the five Pandava brothers from the well-known Hindu epic poem the Mahabharata.
What Worked: This was a fun and engaging read. As someone who is not as familiar with Hindu mythology, Chokshi did a MARVELOUS job pushing me to expand my cultural knowledge. There is an accessible guide in the back that I utilized frequently to stay on track with the introduction of the various gods and goddesses. The story is action packed and filled with so many various twists and turns. My favorite part of this story was probably the character development. Aru has a difficult time fitting in and making friends. Through her journey, she meets another character by the name of Mini who pushes Aru to do a lot of self reflection. Aru isn't always a likeable character and she has a bit of a reputation; however, I appreciate that Chokshi gives her the opportunity to grow and develop. It mirrors the same challenges and growth that a lot of middle grade readers will see in themselves. I also appreciated the growth that we see in the relationship between Aru and her mother. It's clear that Aru feels alone in the world since doesn't know much about her father and her mother is absent due to expeditions. Fortunately, there is a section of the book that focuses on her absense and how it causes Aru to feel. Additionally, the reveals in this book are jaw dropping! I wasn't expecting the true identity of the sleeper and it made the novel that much more intense.
What Didn't Work: This was such a good read so there wasn't much that didn't work; however, I did find the beginning to be a little slow. There were also some scenes that felt all over the place.
Overall, this was such a good introduction to the series and I'm excited to continue one with Aru and the rest of her friends.