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thelibraryskeeper 's review for:
Aru Shah and the End of Time
by Roshani Chokshi
I read the first of the Percy Jackson books last year and immediately fell in love with the modernization of the Greek myths, so naturally when I heard Rick had chosen selected authors to write their own traditions in similar style, I was on board. I think its great that he acknowledged there would be better authors than himself to write these stories and I am so excited to read all of the forthcoming books (Aru Shah and The End of Time, Storm Runner, and Dragon Pearl are the ones for this year).
I think Aru is a perfect main character for the age group these books are aimed for (middle grade). When Rick introduces the book, he writes: "Aru Shah is hanging out in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, where her mom works. Autumn break has started, and Aru is pretty sure it's going to be a boring day. Yikes. She is SO wrong." and boy is he right. Aru is totally unprepared for everything in her young life, she lies to make herself seem cooler to kids at school and in general she is just your average kid, only not at all. She discovers that she is a Pandava descended from the likes of gods! I love how real Aru is throughout the entire book though, she cries when stuff gets hard and isn't afraid to admit she doesn't really have it all going on.
Aru's Pandava sister has allergies and while on the surface seems more prepared than Aru, isn't at all. This book deals with the issues we have all been through or seen others deal with in school: the bullies, trying to fit in, and being a little different than the others around us.
In addition to the really quality main characters, the way Hinduism is presented is absolutely amazing. I have degrees in Religious Studies (during which I taught Introduction to Religion and Religious Studies) so this was not the first time I have done reading concerning the Hindu religion. But I LOVED the way Roshani writes the gods into their roles in this book. Its just the right amount of explaining (and the glossary of Gods was HILARIOUS) and witty humor. I think its even better that this book is aimed at middle grade readers because they can use Aru as a way to understand a culture they might otherwise never be exposed to, or perhaps Aru shows them a new and fun way to look at the stories and characters they grew up with.
I can't wait for the next books in this series and the books from the rest of the Rick Riordan imprint.
I think Aru is a perfect main character for the age group these books are aimed for (middle grade). When Rick introduces the book, he writes: "Aru Shah is hanging out in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, where her mom works. Autumn break has started, and Aru is pretty sure it's going to be a boring day. Yikes. She is SO wrong." and boy is he right. Aru is totally unprepared for everything in her young life, she lies to make herself seem cooler to kids at school and in general she is just your average kid, only not at all. She discovers that she is a Pandava descended from the likes of gods! I love how real Aru is throughout the entire book though, she cries when stuff gets hard and isn't afraid to admit she doesn't really have it all going on.
Aru's Pandava sister has allergies and while on the surface seems more prepared than Aru, isn't at all. This book deals with the issues we have all been through or seen others deal with in school: the bullies, trying to fit in, and being a little different than the others around us.
In addition to the really quality main characters, the way Hinduism is presented is absolutely amazing. I have degrees in Religious Studies (during which I taught Introduction to Religion and Religious Studies) so this was not the first time I have done reading concerning the Hindu religion. But I LOVED the way Roshani writes the gods into their roles in this book. Its just the right amount of explaining (and the glossary of Gods was HILARIOUS) and witty humor. I think its even better that this book is aimed at middle grade readers because they can use Aru as a way to understand a culture they might otherwise never be exposed to, or perhaps Aru shows them a new and fun way to look at the stories and characters they grew up with.
I can't wait for the next books in this series and the books from the rest of the Rick Riordan imprint.