The Poison Waves

May 22, 2023
When 10-year-old Parsippany, N.J., native Kinjal witnesses his mother stretch out her arm “like it was a fire hose being rolled out” to redirect a bee midflight, he sets out to investigate the origins behind this bizarre occurrence. Upon recalling a similar story from Thakurmar Jhuli, a collection of South Asian folk and fairy tales that Kinjal’s father occasionally reads to him and his science-loving twin sister Kiya, the siblings track the book down to a locked trunk in the basement. Once they free the tome, it summons a chaos monster that dognaps the tweens’ beloved pet, as well as two winged horses, which land in the yard to whisk Kinjal and Kiya to the realm of the Sky Kingdom in pursuit. There they meet Princess Pakkhiraj, who informs the pair that the kingdom’s bees are dying and that they must uncover the cause, or unfathomable harm will come both to the kingdom and Earth. DasGupta (Rosewood) launches an energetic new series with a strong environmental focus in this Bengali folktale–inspired fantasy adventure, which teems with action and humor. Fluid b&w illustrations by Tang (the Faeries’ Promise series) depict fantastical sequences throughout. Ages 8–12.

September 1, 2023
In this second entry in the Secrets of the Sky series, sister and brother Kiya and Kinjal are called upon once again to save the Kingdom Beyond Seven Oceans and Thirteen Rivers. A few weeks after the conclusion of The Chaos Monster (2023), the fourth grade twins find themselves being summoned by Princess Pakkhiraj, leader of the flying horses in the Sky Kingdom. She wants them to save the water pari, winged mermaid residents of Pari-desh, by finding the source of a mysterious problem that is affecting the water and the health of all its inhabitants. Because Kiya and Kinjal were able to save the bees of the Sky Kingdom, and thus the whole ecosystem, "since everything in the natural world was connected to everything else," Princess Pakkhiraj believes they can do it again. After some investigating, the twins track down the source of the issue, which is rooted in science and the impact of pollution, allowing STEM-focused Kiya to shine. Filled with jokes that lighten the seriousness of the central issues, this page-turning fantasy is a must-read. Many elements of the story are rooted in Bengali folklore, particularly the folktale collection Thakurmar Jhuli. Tang's delicate artwork shows both the kids' ordinary home in Parsippany, New Jersey, and the many wonders they encounter. A funny and engaging sequel that seamlessly meshes Bengali folklore and environmental justice. (author's note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

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