STORM SINGER
by Sarwat Chadda ; illustrated by Virginia Allyn
A fierce girl finds her voice in order to fight for justice in a drought-ravaged kingdom.
This full-speed-ahead fantasy pits 12-year-old Nargis against the garudas, half-human, half-bird rulers of the magical kingdom of Bharat. After her parents are killed and she’s banished from her home in Lalpani, Nargis and her best friend, Arjuna, rescue a young injured garuda, an act that ensnares them in an epic battle against the evil usurper of the throne: Shamshir, brutal vulture garuda and traitor to the maharajah. The crutch Nargis uses (due to a leg injury sustained when she was 6) proves to be more than a physical mobility aid as she seeks the gift of her family lineage, mastering the powers of spirit singing to join deposed prince Mistral in saving their world from political and environmental dangers. Nargis and Arjuna fall in with sky pirates, rocs, and a mysterious palace singer named Chand-ka-Roshni, adding to Chadda’s central message that when united, a populace may prevail even over a totalitarian ruler who’s hellbent on returning to oligarchic ways. Snappy dialogue, fabulous beasts, moments of tenderness, and nonstop action make this a page-turning delight, especially for readers interested in Indian culture and history. The final pages suggest a sequel.
A gripping tale that’s ideal for lovers of mythological fantasies.
(map) (Fantasy. 8-12)