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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Rick Riordan introduces his new imprint with Aru Shah and the End of Time, author Roshani Chokshi's adventure through Indian mythology.
Aru Shah is a 12-year-old Indian girl who has a hard time fitting in at school, so she... embellishes the truth... to keep up with her wealthy classmates. The thing is, they all know she lies, and she's become a target of derision over it. She lives with her archaeologist mother in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, and tells her friends that there's a cursed lamp in the exhibits. Naturally, they show up, demanding her to prove it. Ignoring her mother's advice to never touch the lamp, Aru lights it and unwittingly releases The Sleeper - an ancient demon - who's going to awaken the Shiva, the god of destruction, if Aru can't make things right in time. After discovering that Aru is the reincarnation of one of the legendary heroes, the Pandava brothers, she sets off on a mythological adventure where she'll learn more about herself and her mother than she could ever have imagined.
I was so excited to read Aru Shah, especially after finishing Sayantani Dasgupta's brilliant The Serpent's Secret a couple of weeks ago. Indian mythology is an area I've never read much about, and it's time that was remedied. Aru is on a quest to save her family and friends, and she's not alone: she's got a Pandava sister she meets on the way, and a disgraced god-turned-pigeon to guide her as she seeks out the weapons that will stop the Seeker. There's great world-building, with humor and a sense of wonder as Aru meets gods and goddesses she thought existed only in myth; the character development is great for people unfamiliar with Indian mythology, as each god, goddess, and demon gets enough of an explanation to keep readers in the story. There's a glossary at the end to help readers with the origin tales of Indian myths featured in the book.
You know who to give this to: the Percy Jackson/Kane Chronicles/Magnus Chase/Riordan readers who love world mythology; the kids who read Serpent's Secret and wanted more? Now you can give them Aru Shah and tell them that Rick Riordan Presents has Mayan and Korean mythology coming up next. Aru Shah and the End of Time has starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Kirkus.
Aru Shah is a 12-year-old Indian girl who has a hard time fitting in at school, so she... embellishes the truth... to keep up with her wealthy classmates. The thing is, they all know she lies, and she's become a target of derision over it. She lives with her archaeologist mother in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, and tells her friends that there's a cursed lamp in the exhibits. Naturally, they show up, demanding her to prove it. Ignoring her mother's advice to never touch the lamp, Aru lights it and unwittingly releases The Sleeper - an ancient demon - who's going to awaken the Shiva, the god of destruction, if Aru can't make things right in time. After discovering that Aru is the reincarnation of one of the legendary heroes, the Pandava brothers, she sets off on a mythological adventure where she'll learn more about herself and her mother than she could ever have imagined.
I was so excited to read Aru Shah, especially after finishing Sayantani Dasgupta's brilliant The Serpent's Secret a couple of weeks ago. Indian mythology is an area I've never read much about, and it's time that was remedied. Aru is on a quest to save her family and friends, and she's not alone: she's got a Pandava sister she meets on the way, and a disgraced god-turned-pigeon to guide her as she seeks out the weapons that will stop the Seeker. There's great world-building, with humor and a sense of wonder as Aru meets gods and goddesses she thought existed only in myth; the character development is great for people unfamiliar with Indian mythology, as each god, goddess, and demon gets enough of an explanation to keep readers in the story. There's a glossary at the end to help readers with the origin tales of Indian myths featured in the book.
You know who to give this to: the Percy Jackson/Kane Chronicles/Magnus Chase/Riordan readers who love world mythology; the kids who read Serpent's Secret and wanted more? Now you can give them Aru Shah and tell them that Rick Riordan Presents has Mayan and Korean mythology coming up next. Aru Shah and the End of Time has starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Kirkus.
This was okay, some parts were really funny but there were definitely parts that just felt like they DRAAAGGGGGED forever. The book would have been amazing if they cut 10% of the useless stuff out and stuck to plot points
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“The problem with growing up around highly dangerous things is that after a while you just get used to them.”
This book read like magic. I don’t normally clique with middle grade books, but Aru Shah and the End of Time is such a fun adventure you can’t help but love it!
Aru lives with her mother attached to the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. Aru is a bright and veery imaginative girl who struggles to fit in at her private school. While on spring break, fellow students from her class visit her at the museum and in an attempt to impress them lights the forbidden Lamp of Bharata. She unknowingly awakes the Sleeper and everyone around her is frozen in time. Aru meets her pigeon guardian and informs her she is one of the 5 Pandava brothers destined to save the world and all of mankind from the Sleeper. There have never been women reincarnations of the Pandava’s so I thought this was really empowering to see. She meets her fellow Pandava sibling in Mini, a sharp girl who is a tad neurotic. After learning which god is their father and with holy weapons in hand they set off on their crazy adventure to save the world!
First, I want to say how much I loved learning more about the Indian culture and Hinduism. Roshani Chokshi makes it interesting and fun to learn about. It makes me want to research the culture and mythology. The diversity in this book is SO NEEDED!!
Aru was such a delightful main character. She was witty, quick, fresh, and very imaginative which has gotten her in trouble more than once. I really liked her matter-of-fact-tone and the blunt ways that she explained things. She is a fantastic heroine and I think the audience this book is intended for will really connect with her. Especially with her struggles in connecting with her classmates and her home life.
I’ve read Roshani’s YA books, and even though the tone of the book is geared towards middle grade audiences, Roshani’s gorgeous writing style really shines in this book.
“There’s a café along the Seine River where you can hear the stars come out before they dance in the night sky.” UGH, SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
Roshani connects the reader with her characters and the story just sucks you in! The cultural references made me chuckle more than once—I’m looking at you Instagram algorithm!! Roshani also incorporated important themes into this book surrounding family life, trust, friendship, social acceptance and forgiveness.
All in all, this was a great middle grade debut for Roshani and fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series will love this book with it’s similarities with gods/goddess, hero’s/heroine’s, magical weapons and trials, and a mission to save the world.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via Netgalley. The quotes above weretaken from an ARC and is subject to change upon publication.
This book read like magic. I don’t normally clique with middle grade books, but Aru Shah and the End of Time is such a fun adventure you can’t help but love it!
Aru lives with her mother attached to the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. Aru is a bright and veery imaginative girl who struggles to fit in at her private school. While on spring break, fellow students from her class visit her at the museum and in an attempt to impress them lights the forbidden Lamp of Bharata. She unknowingly awakes the Sleeper and everyone around her is frozen in time. Aru meets her pigeon guardian and informs her she is one of the 5 Pandava brothers destined to save the world and all of mankind from the Sleeper. There have never been women reincarnations of the Pandava’s so I thought this was really empowering to see. She meets her fellow Pandava sibling in Mini, a sharp girl who is a tad neurotic. After learning which god is their father and with holy weapons in hand they set off on their crazy adventure to save the world!
First, I want to say how much I loved learning more about the Indian culture and Hinduism. Roshani Chokshi makes it interesting and fun to learn about. It makes me want to research the culture and mythology. The diversity in this book is SO NEEDED!!
Aru was such a delightful main character. She was witty, quick, fresh, and very imaginative which has gotten her in trouble more than once. I really liked her matter-of-fact-tone and the blunt ways that she explained things. She is a fantastic heroine and I think the audience this book is intended for will really connect with her. Especially with her struggles in connecting with her classmates and her home life.
I’ve read Roshani’s YA books, and even though the tone of the book is geared towards middle grade audiences, Roshani’s gorgeous writing style really shines in this book.
“There’s a café along the Seine River where you can hear the stars come out before they dance in the night sky.” UGH, SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
Roshani connects the reader with her characters and the story just sucks you in! The cultural references made me chuckle more than once—I’m looking at you Instagram algorithm!! Roshani also incorporated important themes into this book surrounding family life, trust, friendship, social acceptance and forgiveness.
All in all, this was a great middle grade debut for Roshani and fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series will love this book with it’s similarities with gods/goddess, hero’s/heroine’s, magical weapons and trials, and a mission to save the world.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via Netgalley. The quotes above weretaken from an ARC and is subject to change upon publication.
PROTECT MINI AND HER EPI-PEN AT ALL COSTS OR ELSE
2022 Reread:
I’m rereading the books for when the last one comes out in April, and OH MY GOSH I LIVE THESE CHARACTERS.
The mythology made more sense to me this time, but I’m going to look for books on Indian and Hindu mythology so I can really get it next reread.
I would die for Aru and Mini. I love them so much. They are both such well developed characters, and Mini’s anxiety is really well written.
2022 Reread:
I’m rereading the books for when the last one comes out in April, and OH MY GOSH I LIVE THESE CHARACTERS.
The mythology made more sense to me this time, but I’m going to look for books on Indian and Hindu mythology so I can really get it next reread.
I would die for Aru and Mini. I love them so much. They are both such well developed characters, and Mini’s anxiety is really well written.
Listened to this with my middle schooler and it was SO ENJOYABLE for both of us! I love a good female hero!
What an AMAZING read! Fast-paced, great sense of humour, tons of mythological AND popculture references, and a truly interesting female lead, - what more to ask for?
I'll admit that my knowledge about the mythology behind this story is at a minimum, but it is still an entertaining adventure to follow, and it's hard not to love. I want more!
I'll admit that my knowledge about the mythology behind this story is at a minimum, but it is still an entertaining adventure to follow, and it's hard not to love. I want more!
Jeg har nu læst første installering i serien om Aru Shah for tredje gang, og jeg er stadig lige så begejstret som første gang, jeg åbnede bogen. Den kan virkelig noget helt særligt, og er magisk, lidt på samme måde som Rick Riordans værker, dog med Rukshana Chokshis eget præg og stemme, så man ikke er i tvivl om, at det er et selvstændigt værk, der nok minder om Percy Jackson, Magnus Chase og de andre fra Rick Riordans univers, men stadig er helt sit eget.
Tempoet er højt, og der sker noget hele tiden, så man aldrig keder sig; humoren er fantastisk, og der er rigeligt med referencer til både andre værker fra populærkulturen, men også samfundstendenser fra 2018, hvor bogen er udgivet. Det er samtidig en påmindelse om barndommens uskyld, der så småt er ved at forandres til de kvaler, der hører ungdommen til; Aru og Mini er i en alder, hvor mange ting forandrer sig, selv hvis de havde været fri for de prøvelser, de her bliver sat over for, og det er et fint undertema at kunne snakke om de følelser, der hører netop de år til.
Sproget er flydende og let, og rammer målgruppen spot on; den må være et sikkert hit hos fans af Rick Riordans serier.
Indien er et stort land med mange myter, og en bog som denne kan naturligvis ikke rumme dem alle. For én som mig, der endnu er relativt grøn i netop denne del af den indiske kultur, er det rart at starte med en "light"-udgave af noget, der i sin fulde størrelse rummer meget mere og er super-kompliceret, og det kan være fint at starte ud i det små for så med tiden at gå på opdagelse i andre aspekter af noget, som man garanteret kan bruge mange timer på at udforske.
Aru Shah vil for mig stadig være anbefalelsesværdig, og er man endnu ikke kommet i gang, har man meget godt i vente.
Tempoet er højt, og der sker noget hele tiden, så man aldrig keder sig; humoren er fantastisk, og der er rigeligt med referencer til både andre værker fra populærkulturen, men også samfundstendenser fra 2018, hvor bogen er udgivet. Det er samtidig en påmindelse om barndommens uskyld, der så småt er ved at forandres til de kvaler, der hører ungdommen til; Aru og Mini er i en alder, hvor mange ting forandrer sig, selv hvis de havde været fri for de prøvelser, de her bliver sat over for, og det er et fint undertema at kunne snakke om de følelser, der hører netop de år til.
Sproget er flydende og let, og rammer målgruppen spot on; den må være et sikkert hit hos fans af Rick Riordans serier.
Indien er et stort land med mange myter, og en bog som denne kan naturligvis ikke rumme dem alle. For én som mig, der endnu er relativt grøn i netop denne del af den indiske kultur, er det rart at starte med en "light"-udgave af noget, der i sin fulde størrelse rummer meget mere og er super-kompliceret, og det kan være fint at starte ud i det små for så med tiden at gå på opdagelse i andre aspekter af noget, som man garanteret kan bruge mange timer på at udforske.
Aru Shah vil for mig stadig være anbefalelsesværdig, og er man endnu ikke kommet i gang, har man meget godt i vente.