Ebook Aru Shah and the Song of Death A Pandava Novel Book 2 Pandava Series Roshani Chokshi 9781368013840 Books

Product details Age Range 8 - 12 years Grade Level 3 - 7 Series Pandava Series (Book 2) Hardcover 304 pages Publisher Rick Riordan Presents (April 30, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 1368013848

Aru Shah and the Song of Death A Pandava Novel Book 2 Pandava Series Roshani Chokshi 9781368013840 Books Reviews

• Aru Shah and the Song of Death is an extremely fun follow up to End of Time. I had a great time reading this one! Let me tell you why.
  
  First, there is something to be said about reading Middle Grade books. They don’t have the emotional turmoil of teenage angst, AND the main characters are fearless. I mean, if I had to face ancient gods, I hope I would also be the same.
  
  Aru and Mini are back, as the spunky and heroic pandavas. This time, they’ve added two additional characters that are pretty fierce in their own right Brynne and Aiden. The stakes are a bit higher, the adventure just as deadly, and with another looming deadline. This time? It’s not just the world they’re saving, it’s also their fate as the chosen ones.
  
  I love Aru and Mini already. I think that their dynamic together is one perfect for this age group. And while they’ve really connected and made that partnership something strong, Roshani decided to throw another two in the mix. But Brynne and Aiden’s relationship is just as strong! It was really fun to see how the progression of these four turned out.
  
  I won’t talk about specifics, because of spoilers, but MAN THAT PART AND UGH MY FEELINGS.
  
  Roshani’s writing can adapt. I’ve read her previous books, and no matter what, I can connect to them. The humor within the pages of this book are so like Roshani in person, but it also made me feel like it was me in Aru’s shoes.
  
  What I appreciate most about this story is the discussion of family and friends. We don’t always have a perfect and loving family. We don’t always have a great support system. But, when you find your group and you make them your own? Well, what Aru has? That’s what I love the most.
  
  *Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*
• Aru Shah is back and ready to kick monster butt!
  
  Well. More or less...
  
  In the second book of the Pandava Quartet, Aru Shah and the Song of Death, we join Aru and her soul-sister/bff Mini as they track a thief through the Night Bazaar, only to find themselves face-to-face with Brynne, who is also a Pandava. When all three girls are accused of the theft, they have ten days to track down the real thief and restore the stolen goods--and their good names--to the gods. Oh, and they have an additional, non-Pandava member of their quest Aiden. As in, the same Aiden who is the new, cute, popular boy at Aru's school. As in, the same Aiden who just moved in across the street from Aru. As in, the same Aiden Aru's first words to were a nervous word-vomit of "I know where you live!". Yeah, that's not awkward at all...
  
  This second adventure is just as fun as the first, with amazing chapter titles, hilarious pop culture references (Seriously, is there an award for "Most Creative Use of Song Lyrics in a Novel"?), and a wonderful tale of friendship and found-family! Ms. Chokshi's writing is hypnotic, her descriptions alternately gorgeous and hilarious, and her stories are captivating as they effortlessly blend mythology with reality. Aru Shah is a great series for the whole family, for the young and the young at heart, and you don't want to miss a single moment of Aru's adventures as a Pandava in the Otherworld. Pre-order or request at your library today!
• Special thanks to NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book! This, however, does not reflect the opinions in my review.
  
  I was an avid reader of Rick Riordan when I was in my teens and, while I’ve largely outgrown the Middle Grade genre, I still dip my toes in for the sake of my job as a librarian. Rick Riordan’s new imprint, called Rick Riordan Presents, aims to delivers stories about cultures not often portrayed in traditional publishing, or what has been known to be called “own voices” authors. The first to be published under this name was Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time. I picked it up eagerly the previous year and it was as delightful as I thought it would be.
  
  I was eager to read the next installment and I was thrilled to learn that I had been given the privilege to read a galley! I expected more fun, hijinks and nerdy jokes with the sequel and it certainly didn’t disappoint! The very first chapter starts off with a bang and manages to draw all readers, young and old, into the story from the first few pages. From there, we get the typical fast-paced fun adventure that is the hallmark of any Rick Riordan Presents book. The main characters were fun to read about, as they are stuck in that awkward phase of not really a little kid anymore but not quite teenagers, either. Their emotions and actions reflect that and, as an adult, it’s really fun reading from the prospective of Aru and her friends- especially considering that they’re trying to not only navigate pre-teenagerdom but also save the world. I feel like many middle school readers would greatly relate to her aspirations, interests and desires.
  
  While I love the fun stories, one of the best things that Chokshi does as a writer (in both Middle Grade her and YA series) is create memorable characters that aren’t just a card-board cutout stereotype and she does this SO well with Aru, Mini, Brynne, and Aiden. While we learned quite a bit about Aru and Mini in the first book, this one - naturally - focused more on the third Pandava sister and her best friend. But the introduction and characterization was done in such a way that we weren’t just GIVEN the character and immediately given their history. Both Brynne and Aiden evolve over the course of the novel and, at one point in the story, I found myself getting frustrated with the lack of history we were given, or WHY they acted in a certain way. It made the eventual payoff, when we DID learn about their histories, all the sweeter. Chokshi knows characterization and how to get a reader to connect emotionally with a character!
  
  Lastly, I think one of the most important parts of this book is that it’s giving readers unfamiliar with Indian folklore a crash course in it, and in a desirable and fun way. MOST important, though, is that it’s giving brown kids, kids who’ve hardly ever seen themselves represented in books, a chance to see people like themselves shine. They’re seeing that they can be a hero, too. Children read – and not just young white boys. Books like these are important for diversity and giving EVERY child a chance to read a book where they don’t have to pretend that the hero looks, talks, prays or even saves the world like they do is so, SO important. This is why I will always be a dedicated reader to Riordan and to Rick Riordan Presents publishing. I’m proud to add this book to my local library’s collection.