THE GHOST FOREST

In the third installment of the Secrets of the Sky series, Kiya and Kinjal return to the Kingdom Beyond to solve a ghostly problem.

Mere weeks after their last trip there, the 10-year-old twins, who are preparing for bhoot chathurdoshi, a Bengali holiday, find their pakkhiraj horse friends calling for their aid once again. Bhoot, or ghosts of all sorts, have been frightening the denizens of the Kingdom Beyond, the Sky Kingdom, and Demon Land. When the twins witness the pakkhiraj reacting aggressively toward these ghostly invaders, Kinjal, especially, feels empathy for the bhoot. The judgment and anger with which others treat them remind him of the ways some people in New Jersey react to his own and other immigrant families. Putting their heads together, Kiya and Kinjal realize that the groves of trees where the bhoot lived have been cut down, displacing them as well as various animal species. The brother and sister need to find the culprit in order to restore the bhoot to their homes. DasGupta once again tackles important social and environmental issues while lifting the mood of the story with lighthearted jokes and funny sibling banter. This fantasy will delight readers. Tang’s whimsical and imaginative spot art highlights the action-packed magical world. The author’s note expands on the Bengali cultural elements and folktales that inspired the work and encourages readers to learn more about environmental issues.

A spooky, fantastical, and inspiring addition to the series.