The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #1)

by Sayantani DasGupta

[tweetybugshouse]

This wonderful middlegrade novel was very entertaining and will appeal to 12 year olds as Kiran is just like most 12 years she embrassed by her parents and fears what others think of her.  Like many children who are raised by parents who are culutrally different from her classmates. Kiranmala is embarrassed by being dressed as an Indian Princess every year for Halloween and the snake pit around her house.  

I like when a book envelopes me in a new culture that i don't know much about such as the case in the many references to Bengali fairytales.  I almost think i need a copy just so i can be even more intuned with the story.  I may not know what a rakkhosh is but still got goosebumps whenever one was encountered in the story.  I think this book will open up your child eyes to another world beyond the one they interact with everyday.  Give them a bit of push to learn more about Bengali and the fairy tales.  

This is a great start to a new series and i am eager to see what lies in the future for Kiran and her culturally different family.  What will Kiran do now that she knows she truly is an Indian princess? Also i really loved the variety with the riddles and puns and think my favorite side character was tuni the bird.  Pick, up the Serpents King in late February.