Wednesday 5 October 2022

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun - Varsha Shah

Varsha Shah's debut has all elements of a crackling read. A page turning adventure about a boy and his friends work hard to tackle corruption and greed.

Gist:

Ajay has always lived on the railway platform. He doesn't know who his parents are but he knows what he wants to be a journalist. He is fascinated by the world of news and together with a group of friends brings out a printed edition. But then Ajay quickly discovers that in his quest of news, danger is lurking around the corner and he will need the help of his friends before it gets too dangerous.

My review:

  • The setting of the railway platform is truly amazing. Mumbai trains are an intrinsic part of the city's identity and Shah does a good job of panning out the story in the initial pages.
  • The story is beautifully laid out and the character of Ajay is etched out well. Love Shah paints a flawed character rather than picture perfect and allows the reader to accompany him on his learning curve. 
  • The story moves very fast is very pacy, great for young readers.
A great read. Have already bought copies to gift!