Smitten

by Ranjit Lal

When fifteen-year-old Samir discovers that he’s got new neighbours, he’s horrified: he’s left certain ‘secret documents’ in their flat, which should not be seen by anyone — and especially not by a cute girl his own age like Akhila Handa! But to Samir’s surprise and relief, Akhila is amazingly sporting about them, and pretty soon their friendship blossoms as Samir gets to know the family: the bouncy boxer dog, Akhila's younger brother Sumit, who is ‘a bit slow’, and their strangely withdrawn mother. And most of all, her jolly, affectionate father who dotes upon his daughter.

Dotes, perhaps, a little too much...
Samir slowly comes to realise that all is far from well in the Handa family, and an incredible and terrible suspicion begins to form.

Smitten is a story that dares to talk about sexual abuse within the family. It is a story of love, and its opposite. Of bravery and cowardice. Of tough decisions and loyalties sorely tested.

With characteristic lightness and sureness of touch, Ranjit Lal tackles one of the great taboos in Indian society. A must for every school library and bookshelf, the book includes discussion points and questions to facilitate conversations in the classroom or at home.

Genres: Young Adult

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2015

Reviews

[Gautam Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smitten starts like a kids novel, with the protagonists in their early/mid-teens. Samir Gill, a lonely boy targeted by bullies, sees a change in his life when he meets his new neighbours- the Handa family comprising of Akhila (a rather sweet girl slightly older than him), her younger brother Sumi with underdeveloped mental faculties, her mother who is in a state of depression, her step-father, and a very playful dog. Her step-father dotes on her and Samir is amazed to see a parent’s love that he has never seen from his own parents. But is that all there is to it? Or is there something sinister lurking beneath?

What starts like Enid Blyton eventually enters Mahesh Bhatt territory. Spoiler: The subject of the book is child sexual abuse. The story becomes a thriller of the type which Mahesh Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt, Mohit Suri, or Abbas-Mastan would have made (with much younger protagonists). This becomes even more evident when the story moves to a hilly town in Himachal Pradesh (a favourite of such filmmakers), and the real nature of the step-father slowly comes to light. Add in a burgeoning romance between the young teens, and you have a good romantic thriller- which addresses an extremely serious and neglected issue.

The book is quite short and crisp and manages to hold your interest throughout its pages. Just keep it out of reach of young children. Suitable for readers 16 years and above.

[Ashita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way the book started like a kids’ novel I never thought it would open into something so deep. Absolutely loved the book because it brought forth an issue that is hardly ever talked about that is domestic sexual assaults.