Yet another gem from Bilan!
I absolutely loved Jasbinder Bilan's debut novel and so did my then 10-year-old daughter. Hooked on to her stories, we were eagerly waiting to get our hands on her latest novel and enjoyed reading it.
The story:
Tamarind is nervous. She is travelling to India to met her Indian mother's family for the first time. She was very young when her mother died and she is looking forward to learning more about her through the family. But she soon finds herself battling a thick shroud of secrecy and walls of silence. There are some clues though - an overgrown hut, a star shaped ring that glows and a strange girl who calls herself Ishta. Will tamarind get to the heart of the secret at all?
My review:
I loved Tamarind right away. Bilan gets into her head remarkably well, with her numerous questions, her unease with everything Indian and the natural curiosity that works as the trigger. The characters of Arjun and Sufia are nicely drawn too.
I also loved how Bilan gently takes the reader through difficult situations and helps them confront difficult emotions. Bereavement, changes in family structure are tough for young children and this book plays a very important role in helping the young reader understand it.
The element of magic realism is nicely handled. It is amazing to see how the magic stems from the memory of a loved one thereby grounding it in reality.
The story also plays an important role in teaching the reader about the Indian setting, making the culture more accessible to the reader.
Overall, a great story sensitively told for 10+ readers. Highly recommended.
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