The graphic novel adaptation of the fantasy adventure by Roshani Chokshi, inspired by the great Hindu epics she grew up on.
Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?
One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru's doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don't believe her claim that the museum's Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.
But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it's up to Aru to save them.
The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?
Review:
Well, this was tons of fun! It reminded me that I never came back and read more books after book 1! And I’ve heard such amazing things about this series too. I remember feeling like the book was lacking something when I read it. Almost too much mythology and action takes place in the first volume, if that’s possible and not enough character development.
Yet, in a graphic novel where everything happens so much faster, everything seemed to almost work better….I feel like the story was meant for this format. Aru Shah and Mini are such superheroes. They belong in bright, bold panels. The way they defeat each task feels like something that just works in a comic book setting. That, and the artwork in here is just so on point!
I want to go and check out the rest of the series now. I can see this book brining more readers to the books. I can also see fans of the books being pleased with the adaptation. They did such a good job.
If you’re looking for a fun, high action, girl power adventure, look no further. Again, there isn’t a ton of character development or back story. But, I have a sense that that is coming in more installments. And I definitely was reminded that I need to get to those installments, sooner rather than later. I give this one an 8/10.
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