The Magic of the Lost Temple
Sudha Murty
2015
Penguin
pp. 203
There are few Indian writers who I have come across who write stories for children that are so engaging that you can’t put them down even as an adult. I loved Sudha Murty’s writing and I can understand why the nine year old at home was jumping around with glee after having read it. She is a fantastic writer. I love the story. The mystery is engaging. But what I love is the non preachy manner in which she has hidden pearls of wisdom for the children. Everyday habits that can be developed for health and hygiene, the value of helping others and treating everyone with respect and dignity are so subtly put that you would not even realise that this is something being presented as an ideal to achieve. In such a polite tone the story tells a young child to wait to grow up before learning some of life’s lessons.
Sudha Murty
2015
Penguin
pp. 203
There are few Indian writers who I have come across who write stories for children that are so engaging that you can’t put them down even as an adult. I loved Sudha Murty’s writing and I can understand why the nine year old at home was jumping around with glee after having read it. She is a fantastic writer. I love the story. The mystery is engaging. But what I love is the non preachy manner in which she has hidden pearls of wisdom for the children. Everyday habits that can be developed for health and hygiene, the value of helping others and treating everyone with respect and dignity are so subtly put that you would not even realise that this is something being presented as an ideal to achieve. In such a polite tone the story tells a young child to wait to grow up before learning some of life’s lessons.
I am also in awe of the idea of having a young adventurous female protagonist who the family encourages to fall, get dirty in mud, not be scared of trying out new things. It is a must read for all young readers. If you have a pre-teen who is not an avid reader and would like him/her to develop interest in reading, I think this would a be a good start. Irrespective of which city, town, village you live in, there is something in it that every child would relate to. Enjoy!