English
MG
Politics
Oppression
Racism
Internment
Rebellion
SEL
Activism
Government Surveillance
Immigration
Shanthi Sekaran
summary
Did I pick up this book expecting a great read? Sure did. Did I expect it to blow my mind in the way that it did? Absolutely not. I love it when that happens. 12 year old narrator Muki lives a pretty chill life. His family lives in a pretty diverse neighborhood on the island of Mariposa, but they’re not wealthy. Muki’s parents run a small shop, and have just invited his Paati (grandmother) to live with them. When she arrives from India, Muki’s life turns upside down in more than one way. Soon, there’s alarming rhetoric on the news about Butterflies and Moths, and how Moths will soon be relocated off the island.
The Samosa Rebellion is entirely unique, but I could liken it to a MG Internment by Samira Ahmed, a YA book about a similar dystopian topic that rings familiar of certain asinine politicians that we may or may not have just voted out of office (I’m sorry to bring that up, believe me I don’t want to).
Muki soon learns that his family members and family friends are way more badass than he realized, and that the neighborhood is quickly swept into a full-scale rebellion. Moths, as you may have guessed, are immigrants. This book shows Muki beginning to understand how blending in isn’t always the answer, and that courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear but rather acting alongside that fear. It’s fabulously written with plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. Perfect for your future revolutionary.
This book was kindly sent by Harper Kids, but all opinions are my own. It will be released on 09/21!
Shanthi Sekaran
Shanthi Sekaran is an Indian American educator and novelist[1][2] known for such books as The Prayer Room[1] and Lucky Boy.[3][4][5][6] Sekaran is an Adjunct Professor at the California College of Arts and St. Mary’s College of California, where she teaches creative writing.[7]
