Tanaz BhathenaRezensionen

Rich world with lots of magic and political intrigue.

This book is so good that this author is now on my automatically check out from the library list.

I really enjoyed this book to start, however, I did not finish it because it felt like the story was being dragged on longer than it should have been. This is my personal opinion, it felt like there was more information than I could handle in reading a story. Not really my type of book, but there may be others who will enjoy it.

It was a great story but I was hoping it would be longer for more world building. The magic system wasn't explained very well or explained why there was a negative side to using magic. It would make for a good series if it had been given a chance but overall I still enjoyed reading this book.

I enjoyed it

A well-executed and fairly standard YA fantasy romance. The characters, pacing and plot are quite satisfactory and make for an enjoyable read, if not particularly memorable. The world-building felt laboured, particularly with regard to language and the glossary was inadequate (usually I'm a fan of such things but half the time the word I was searching for wasn't even present). Definitely would recommend this to a teen wanting a readable fantasy. Thank you to whatever nice publisher it was who sent me a free copy for review.

Specifics:

Book: Hunted by the Sky

Author: Tanaz Bhathrna

Published: 22nd June 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

LGBTQIA pro literature: Yes

Publisher: penguin Books

Series: The Wrath of Ambar #1

Pages: 374

My rating: 4/5


Blurb:

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks happen disappearing for years. In fact it is this very mark that led to her parents' murder at the hands of king Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding in order to protect her own life. So, when a group of rebel women called the 'Sisters of the Golden Lotus' rescue her, take her in and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.

Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, but Cavas will do anything to save him. Sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl - Gul - in the capital's bazaar. As the chemistry between them grows undeniably, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances bring Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar fort - a world with secrets deadlier than their own.

Inspired by medieval India, this is the first in a stunning fantasy duology by Tanaz Bhathena, exploring identity, class struggles and high-stakes romance against a breathtaking magical backdrop.

Review:

It's the most refreshing fantasy that I got to read this year. I finished it in a day and I am so glad I picked it up.

I love magic and when a desi touch was added to the never ending fantasy reads on my tbr, I feel like I am ready to take more on again.

Hunted by the Sky is a very well written story about a girl named Gul who seems to be the only hope to restore order between the folks that have magic and the ones that don't ( dirt-lickers as they call them). In her journey, she is helped by a lot of people pushing her towards the right direction but it's only her will and choices that will lead her to acclaim the prophecy which she was apparently born to fulfil.

The premise is alluring and the characters are strong. The writing is very smooth and relatable probably because of the use of desi words. The book is fast paced which was expected since it's a YA Fantasy but that is also helped with the amazing twists that hit us from time to time.

The introduction of new characters is not confusing at all. Infact, it happened at the right times and in the right ways. We get to know the story from two POVs. One of Gul and the other is of Cavas, the protagonists.

Having read a lot of fantasies, I couldn't help but recollect a few scenes from the Grisha trilogy, Harry Potter and serpent and dove. I also couldn't help but link the story to a lot of dramatic scenes seen in the bollywood movies like the meeting of Gul and Cavas to a scene in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. But, that only made the book more interesting for me.

I cannot stop myself from imagining this story being picked up to be a movie with someone like Deepika or Anushka Shetty as Gul.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly. My only disdain is that I didn't go through a range of emotions while at it. I didn't form an emotional connection with the characters or the story.

The book, being the part one of a duology also ends on a cliffhanger and a lot of unanswered questions. While it gets me anxious, I also cannot wait for part 2 to be out.

I rate the book 4/5 stars.

Spoiler alert:

The subtle surprises and shocks that the author gives us through out the story are mind blowing.

The ones that kept me wanting more were: Cavas being a seer which I totally called when I learned about them, Juhi being an ex-wife of the king Lohar being tortured by him, Latif being a spirit and the biggest of them all, Major Shyla being the daughter of Queen Megha!

I am also really intrigued by Pashu King Subodh being alive and the new city of Tanaz showing up. I have so many questions and I really want to know who the real father of Cavas is. I can't help but wonder if it's Latif.

Coming to the characters:

Gulnaz: Our protagonist lost her parents at a tender age of 14 for being born with a star shaped birthmark as there is a prophecy which mentions that the king's rule will be overturned by a girl born with such a mark. He takes it upon himself to capture such girls and drain them out of magic and kill them. Gul's parents die trying to save her. (Major Harry potter vibes) Gul has always had trouble on controlling her magic but her desire to get revenge helps her learn to wield it. She is a very driven and motivated woman who sees her goals and tries to do everything she can to achieve them. She is also very passionate and loving which is obvious by her reactions to other girls being killed or taken away for being born with a mark.

Cavas: The stable boy who's father is sick with tenement fever is doing everything he can to keep his father alive. He is nudged by his father to get Gul into the palace. He hates the Magi folks because of the discrimination he receives and is unable to muster the courage to accept the fact that he is half-magi when he finds out about it. He is what you could call an ideal son. He would do anything for his father which does not change when he finds out that his father is not his birth-father at all.

Sisters of the Golden Lotus: Formed by Juhi, the sisters protect all the girls and women in need. The first two members are Amira and Kali, both with birth marks leading to them being tortured and rescued by Juhi. They continue to rescue and train helpless or abandoned girls, with or without magic and provide them with a home. They play a vital role in helping Gul reach her potential and also help her escape her in the end. Juhi and Amira are caught in the process and I really hope they won't see an end in part 2.

What I liked about it:

1. Amazing fantasy with a unique desi touch
2. Good writing with a good pace
3. Fast read
4. Strong female characters
5. LGBTQIA pro literature
6. The character development is great
7. I want a star tattoo already!
8. It has a map!

What I did not fancy:

1. A lot of unanswered questions
2. Ends with a cliffhanger
3. I couldn't connect with the book emotionally

"Of Light and Shadow" by Tanaz Bhathena is a magical fantasy novel set in a world inspired by ancient India. The story follows Roshan Chaya, a brave bandit leader seeking justice for her people, and Prince Navin, an outsider to the throne. Their unexpected encounter leads to a thrilling adventure filled with political intrigue and a touch of romance.

Bhathena's storytelling is captivating, with well-rounded characters and a richly imagined world. The magic system is unique, and the cultural elements add depth to the narrative. While the plot is exciting, some parts felt a bit predictable, and the pacing could have been faster.

The author's perspective as a Zoroastrian adds a fresh angle to the story, and the nods to real-life Indian bandits give it an authentic touch.

Overall, "Of Light and Shadow" is a delightful fantasy, weaving adventure, humor, and romance into a memorable reading experience. If you're a fan of magical worlds, charming banter, and enemies-to-lovers tropes, this book is a perfect choice.

4.5 Stars. This had that transportive quality you crave from a fantasy with the magic and atmosphere, but there were elements that grounded it in recognizable reality as well with politics driving the conflict, haves abusing their power and have nots struggling for the most basic life necessities, the more realistic aspects of this story all the more interesting when you discover the author pulled from some actual historical figures in India.

The secondary characters were well-crafted, villagers and villains alike were multi-dimensional, thought clearly put into their emotions and motivations.

Roshan and Navin spark from the moment they meet but thankfully it did not feel like insta-love, I liked that their relationship progressed at a reasonable pace, they got to know each other while plotting against each other, earned trust and suffered setbacks in that trust.

I’m so glad this went with alternating POV’s so we could be in both Roshan and Navin’s heads as they dealt with each other and with their significant family baggage, the weight on her shoulders to be a leader, and the weight on Navin to prove to others and more importantly to himself that he isn’t just the waste of space spare heir, he has something to contribute. They both held my interest really well, I especially loved that they were big on strategy, constantly thinking their way through situations rather than barreling in without a plan, intelligence is always by far my favorite weapon.

I received this book through a giveaway.½

Thank you to LibraryThing and Penguin Random House for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I really liked this! I had a bit of a rough start with it. I felt confused at the very beginning but honestly most of that was on me. Terms and words I didn't understand and I got a little frustrated flipping to the back all the time. (But that is entirely on me.)

I just really liked this book? I like that Roshan and Navin's romance begins with forced proximity then leads to betrayal before finally becoming a fake dating trope. Which after a few chapters just became them genuinely falling for each other. I liked that at the end they just committed to these two people from different walks of life just bonding and learning to understand each other. It was cute. (I also like that the sex scenes are off screen. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a good spicy scene here and there. But a lot of books overdo it and half the book ends up filled with it. Even some of my favourite books do it.) I really enjoyed the real world inspiration for this book. The world and culture felt genuine and fleshed out.

I just found the book a lot of fun and very compelling to read. I found myself wanting to finish it to see what happened next. I do think at times the pacing was a bit off which sometimes made the reading experience jarring. But I still think the rest of it was pretty strong to push past that. (I also just want to add that I really enjoyed the dynamics of the clan and a lot of the villagers too.) This book does not shy away from gory depictions of violence and I think it works here. Very good book I'm interested to read their other books.

4/5 stars.

I won this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and my copy arrived on 16 June 2023. Disclaimer: I am an adult who also enjoys YA, and I try to keep that in mind when reviewing.

OF LIGHT AND SHADOW is a wonderfully lush read. Bhathena layered details and plot points well. There were small bits of character information that came up later in ways I didn't expect, and Roshan was an engaging protagonist: good but not flawless, interesting but not 'over the top', and very relatable.

I do wish the glossary was a little more complete, though, and I almost wish this book had been split in two so we could get more information about how things that are set in motion near the end will unfold. I also think there could have been more detail and depth with the Shadow Clan: for having over forty members, we only hear of a handful of them by name, and some of those don't even get much attention.

This takes place in the same world as HUNTED BY THE SKY and RISING LIKE A STORM, but you don't need to read them beforehand. I recommend them, however, and this one (as well as Bhathena's other two books). Bhathena creates intriguing worlds and scenarios and brings them to life with relatable characters.

Many levels of action and intrigue in this 'enemies to lovers' tale. Roshian constantly feels self-inflicted pressure to lead and save the oppressed. Guilt over the death of her Baba is the driving force behind much of what she does. When a raid, one of an ever-increasing number of them her gang makes to feed poor villages, nets a drunken prince, it's the beginning of a journey that finds both using their magic on each other, first in adversarial ways, but eventually in more interesting ones. Add in Prince Navin's unusual paternal heritage, the utter evil of some charged with governing the impoverished villages, plus lots of action, and you have a very satisfying story.

Book Title: Hunted by the sky
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Format: Kindle

My Thoughts:
Of late I have been really liberal in my choice of choosing the books. Maybe, due to COVID times, books are really helping me out to scrap off the pressure. At this juncture, I have been reading a lot of non-fiction and Fantasy genre books. This book ' Hunted by the sky ' by Tanaz Bhatena did not disappoint me. The book is a perfect choice for the readers who are more onto fantasy fiction mixed up with mythologyhistory. It was way back a decade ago when I first read The Shiva Trilogy and after that, it is observed that myth-fiction has been the happening genre in Indian authors. Likewise, though not an Indian author, but this book by Tanaz reminded me of those fantast fiction ones.

In this book, what I really liked is the story. Normally, the story is taken a back seat but the narration is always the best when it comes to such fantasy fiction. Likewise, here I really enjoyed the fantasy world creation. This book, 'Hunted by the Sky' is inspired by medieval India and is very overwhelming. The readers can easily be lost in the wonderful world created by the author in the story. The descriptions were so rich and amazing, especially the food descriptions. It is no doubt that the reader reading would actually feel hungry.
The mythology and the history mentioned in the story is captivating and amazing. The mystery and the magic world and the subplots related are very well described.

A quick look into the story
The book, Hunted by the Sky, set in a medieval India-inspired fantasy world. The story begins with a murder. The protagonist, Gul watches the murder. Being helpless, as her parents are slaughtered by the king’s warrior, Major Shayla, who has been assigned to hunt down girls born with star-shaped birthmarks—like Gul, just watches the mayhem. Girls with such birthmarks are to be killed as there is a prophecy that those girls will kill the king.
Meanwhile, Gul is rescued by an underground sisterhood that trains her to learn and use magic. She swears she will take revenge against Shayla and the king. Then Gul meets Cavas, an ordinary boy who works in the palace stables and helps Gul pose as a member of the queen’s staff. Gul’s vengeance might bring down a king, but it could also destroy the kingdom and everyone she has come to care about.

What to expect from the story?
The story has all emotions including compassion and vengeance.

Who can read the story?
This fantasy story is a treat to YA ( Young Adults ), children, and fantasy genre lovers.

My take on ¬the characters
The characters are probably the best part of the book. They all manage to create a good and able impact on the readers. I particularly liked the way the character of Gul is written. Also, the King's character is one of the most entertaining once.

How good is the Author's writing
Author Tanaz is known for interesting narrative skills. This my first book of hers, and I absolutely liked her narration and writing style. Though the book is a work of fantasy fiction mixed with culture and mythological aspects, the story seems to be engaging and entertaining.

Language, Grammar & Vocabulary
The language used in the story is simple and non-complex. Also, the vocabulary and other Grammar elements used are rich and uncomplicated. Because of the simple yet fascinating language and storytelling the book can be read by readers of any age.

How entertaining is the book?
With a fascinating story that oscillates between cultures and characters, the story of ' Hunted By The Sky' by Tanaz is extremely entertaining. It is not so often that readers like me who are inclined mostly towards realistic fiction find fantasy fiction an entertaining genre. I will look forward to reading other books from Author Tanaz.

About book title and the book cover
The book title 'Hunted by the sky' is intriguing and enchanting. The cover image of the book is a picture of a young woman draped in silk and jewels with a courageous look on her face. The tattoo on her shoulder is very captivating.

Final Verdict
An extremely entertaining fantasy action story

Rating: 3/5

I listened to this book and it was read by different people for the different characters. It was just too slow. The setting in Saudia Arabia was interesting and the details of different ethnicities such as Indians living there was intriguing but I just didn't feel like finishing.

Totally charming and emotionally satisfying.

Nothing ground-breaking or amazing is presented, merely an adorable romance with a couple of non-white kids told in alternating points of view. The characterization is solid, the pacing perfect, but the dialogue is weak at times. Overall, the book's strengths outweigh its flaws by a wide margin and I highly recommend it.

A big fat thank you to MacMillan who kindly sent me a copy of this book for review.

Hunted by the Sky was one of my favorite fantasies of last year and I was very excited when I received the advance copy from the publisher. I’ve been in a bad slump for a few weeks now and trying to keep my mind off reality by binging cdramas, but finally decided that it was time to catch up with my arcs. And what better way to get out of my slump than a highly anticipated desi fantasy.

I will be honest, my memory is very bad these days and I couldn’t remember too much of what happened in the first book. So it took me a bit to get into the groove of the story, but I also got slightly bored in the first fifth of the story. There were quite a few training montages and lots of harsh internal monologuing, which made the pace a bit slow and not very engaging. But once the turning point comes (mentioned in the blurb), the story finally picked up the pace as well as intensity, finally engaging me deeply, with a drive to know more. The writing is otherwise wonderful as expected from the author, perfectly capturing the feelings of rage, despair, doubt and all other myriad of emotions in the various characters. However, I did expect that we would get to know more about the world beyond Ambar and maybe even meet other royals and people, but unfortunately the author sticks to one kingdom only. Not that it took away anything from the existing story, it just could have been more expansive and interesting.

It also took me a while to warm up to Gul and Cavas again. The story starts a few months after the end of the first one, and their relationship is already changed. They are both very mentally strong and loyal people, but it seemed like one would drown in his own desire for revenge and the other in her fear of killing innocents. I still believed in them individually as well as together, and their combined magic was fascinating to watch, but I still felt it wasn’t explored enough because they were separated for most of the book. However, the separation also enabled them to fight harder for their survival as well as start believing in each other more, which I really liked, so I guess that was perfect for the plot.

But their interactions with the side characters were my favorite part of the book. There are many of them, each with their own eccentric personality, their own flaws and motivations. It was fun to Juhi and Amira again, their imprisonment terrible to experience but it does nothing to dampen their fierceness. We also get to know new characters like Subhog, Esther, Sami and many other women as well as specters who are lively and fun. I also enjoyed seeing Amar in a completely new light, and just watching everyone experience his thoughts and his honor and hope for a bette future.

In the end, this was a good sequel/finale for this duology. I especially liked the ending because it neatly wrapped up the story, there was enough foreshadowing for the climax which made it more satisfying, and we also get to see a glimpse of the future which was interesting. There were some great action set pieces and wonderful character moments, making this a series I would definitely recommend - especially if you are looking for a new kind of chosen one story by a POC author.

Definitely a 4.5.

I was initially pretty disappointed when I got rejected for the ARC, but I guess that ended up being a good thing because I had one less book to feel guilty about for missing the release date. And then I was pretty excited to get to it because all my friends loved it so much and now I know exactly why.

This book is so fast paced that it starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. The plot does have some quieter and somber moments where the characters get to show their softer or vulnerable sides, but otherwise this story is relentless and we as readers are on our toes for most of it, wondering eagerly what’s gonna happen next. The prose is easy to follow, just how I like it and I got through it in just a few hours.

And coming to the desi elements, this world was so steeped in them that I was completely lost and absolutely gleeful about it. The medieval India based kingdoms, their customs and traditions, the gods and goddesses bearing so much similarity to Hindu mythology, the delightfully described food and clothes and setting - it was all utterly perfect. But ultimately what really made me emotional was the abundant use of mostly Hindi language vocabulary - sometimes explained, sometimes not - and I just loved the author for doing that.

Gul and Cavas are such amazing characters to follow. Gul is defined by what happened to her parents and wants revenge, prophecy or not; on the other hand, Cavas is shaped by the prejudices of this world which keep his father ill and himself unable to do anything but survive despite being capable of so much more. They can feel like impulsive teenagers at times, but we also understand where they are coming from and root for them every step of the way. And right from their first meeting, their destinies feel connected and I think the author captured that push and pull between them very effectively. The story is also about them coming to think beyond themselves and concentrate on the big picture, and take actions for the sake of the greater good.

There are many other side characters here and I really enjoyed every one of them. Whether it’s Juhi with her strategic mind and motherly concern, Amira with her sharp tongue, Kali with her soft strength, Xerxes with his secrets, Amar with his mysterious actions in the shadows, Malti with her delightful disposition or ultimately Shayla with her pointed cruelty - every single character leaves a mark on us and I can’t wait to see what happens to each of them further in the story.

In the end, this was an action packed YA fantasy based on a medieval India filled with gods and magic, with a chosen one trope executed very well, an excellent ensemble of characters, and a story that wraps up nicely while leaving enough breadcrumbs that we crave for the sequel. If you are an ownvoices desi reader and haven’t read this yet, I promise you are missing out.

teen fiction (suspense/romance. main character is an Indian Zoroastrian going to school with other "outsiders" in Saudi Arabia under the restrictions of the religious police in addition to the hurtful rumors spread by her classmates; potential trauma triggers: assault, physical/emotional abuse, date rape drugging)
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to settle into this story at first because the setting seemed so different, but very quickly it became all-too familiar (though with extra scariness and suspense because of the higher stakes for women in Saudi Arabia).

Contains spoilers!!!

A girl, Gul,born with a star birthmark on her arm is destined to be the saviour of a group of people, though she doubts her self. Her magic, which includes being able to talk to animals, does not seem very strong to her.
She meets a stablehand, Cavas, who does not know who he is at the time of their first meeting, but it is important that the two of them stay together.½

Zarin has a reputation as a troublemaker, a girl who doesn't act properly, and who draws too much attention from boys. She appears fierce, indifferent, intimidating, even as malicious gossip circulates at school. The book opens with her death in a car accident with the only boy she probably genuinely loved. Through alternating perspectives of Zarin and her classmates, readers see beneath the reputation, to the pain and heartbreak that has formed her. Disturbing and haunting.

In this young adult debut set in Saudi Arabia, where the law forbids romantic relationships outside of marriage, two teens fall in love, with tragic consequences.

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: an Indian girl, a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a troublemaker whose romantic entanglements are the subject of endless gossip among the girls in her school. "You don't want to get involved with a girl like that," they say. So how is it that Porus, a Parsi boy, has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of the highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is called into question.

I had this audiobook on my phone from some year it was offered with Audiobooksync. Wow. I find it very haunting.

The first chapter reveals Zarin and Porus dying in a car accident. They hold hands as they drift upwards and look down upon their families as they cry over their deaths. The religious police appear to be asking a lot of questions. The rest of the book tells their story from different perspectives. Zarin tells what it's like to have people talk about her--she's someone you don't be friends with because she's a "girl like that." She smokes and goes on dates. This behavior seems fine except she lives in Saudi Arabia where good girls lower their eyes and never look a male directly in the eye. Others assume she does things with boys she shouldn't, which she doesn't. She lives with an abusive aunt and an uncle who allows the abuse. Zarin's parents are both dead; she has an inheritance from her father that the aunt and uncle take care of. She lives a very unhappy life where no one truly knows her--everyone judges and says that she is bad.

Mishal offers another perspective. She and Zarin compete in English for the highest grade, so Zarin is smart. Mishal seems obsessed in some ways with Zarin. Mishal has an anonymous blog where she gives accurate gossip about everyone at school. Her brother dates Zarin through the beginning of the novel, so Mishal listens in on his conversations, which allows her to know what is going on in the school. His friends are not nice boys. I don't know what my opinion is of her other than she doesn't seem to take responsibility for what she knows.

Farhan tells of his privileged life with money, believing he can do whatever he wants and his father will take care of it. He abuses girls.

Porus met Zarin a few years ago and is re-united with her. He is the only person who can see who Zarin really is. He takes a lot of abuse because she puts up a lot of walls and responds with anger to people as a self-defense. He does whatever he can to show her that he will always be there for her. He and his mother are close; his father died of leukemia a few years ago, so he takes care of his mother. He's a loving, good man.

This is not a feel-good novel. There's no epiphany; characters don't learn a lesson and advance as characters. It's a tragedy. It's also captivating because you want something good to happen. The society will irritate you because the women are always to blame for anything that happens--even if abused by a male. The religious police are always a presence, reminding the reader that there are consequences for behavior they do not condone. It's realistic fiction from a country where women hold little value as humans. Zarin and Porus's deaths change nothing.The end could be hopeless or hopeful, depending on your point of view. I found myself telling people about the book because I couldn't get it out of my head--it lodges in because you want to help and change things. Be prepared to have it linger in your life.

An extremely satisfying story. Both Susan and Malcolm could have slid into caricature and make this funny. Instead, they're full of depth, complicated and extremely likable. Supporting players are both realistic and interesting as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read the author's first one soon.

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommend: Yes
Level: High School

This fantasy is inspired by medieval India and is full of complex systems of magic, prophecy, warriors, and fated romance. The story takes a lot of the YA troupes I enjoy and puts them together in a beautiful setting in new ways. While this book did also have a lot of first book in a series problems (lots of world building makes for a slower pace with all the action at the end), I enjoyed finding out about the magic systems and getting to know our main characters, told in their alternative dual POVS. Gul watched her parents' murder as they tried to protect her from the king who executes all born with the star birthmark after a prophecy foretells one with that mark will be his downfall. She is adopted and trained as a warrior my fierce women working against his oppressive rule. But when she comes of age, she defies their caution and sneaks into the palace with the help of a boy she just met to try to assassinate the king. Cavas reluctantly helps Gul and the two are soon bound together as they try to keep their secrets while fighting for justice. Gul can "whisper" to animals but also has uncontrollable death magic that explodes when she loses control of her emotions. Cavas doesn't think he is a magi but find he can speak to beings that are like ghosts back from the dead. The magic system has a lot of layers and I think this book just gives us an introduction of what it can do. I found it hard to follow at points, but appreciated how it was so inspired by the religions and mythology from this region. The setting was detailed vividly and it was a welcome change from the European medieval settings you see too often in fantasy. I look forward to reading more in this setting as these characters are given a chance to do more in following books.

I received this book through the Early Reviewers program - what a refreshing, relevant read! As a Greater Toronto Area native, I loved seeing our neighbourhoods represented in this book, and have a greater appreciation for the challenges of being in a family separated by immigration. A sweet coming of age story that I look forward to sharing with the early teen readers in my life.