The Samosa Rebellion

by Shanthi Sekaran

Critically acclaimed author Shanthi Sekaran makes her middle grade debut with this timely and stunning novel in which a young boy and his friends must rescue his grandmother from a relocation camp after their country’s descent into xenophobia. Perfect for fans of  The Night Diary  and  Front Desk . Before his grandmother moved from India to the island of Mariposa, Muki Krishnan’s life was good. But now? He has to share his bedroom with Paati, his grandmother, who snores like a bulldozer and wakes him up at dawn to do yoga. Paati’s arrival coincides with even bigger changes in Mariposa. The president divides citizens into Butterflies —families who have lived in Mariposa for three generations—and Moths , who, like Muki’s family, are more recent immigrants. The changes are small at first. But then Muki and his friends find a camp being built to imprison Moths before sending them away. Soon after, his Paati is captured and taken there. While devising Paati’s escape, Muki discovers that a secret rebellion is underway, and as he digs deeper, he realizes that rescuing Paati will be the fight of his life. * Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year *

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Fantasy, Juvenile

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

Shanthi Sekaran was born and raised in California, and now lives in Berkeley. Her recent novel, Lucky Boy, was named an IndieNext Great Read, an Amazon Editors' Pick, and a Best Book of 2017. It was also the Penguin Random House "One World, One Book" selection for 2017. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Huffington Post, Mutha Magazine, and The Rumpus. Her first middle grade novel, The Samosa Rebellion(Harper Collins), comes out in Fall 2021. When she's not writing books, she writes for the NBC drama, "New Amsterdam."

Reviews

[Charlie Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shanthi Sekaran is a local SF Bay Area writing legend, and this is her first ever middle-grade novel. The Samosa Rebellion is set in a fictional island nation, whose government starts separating people into butterflies (people whose grandparents were born there) and moths (people who've been there for less than three generations.) Soon the moths are being sent to special internment camps, as a prelude to being deported to random countries. Mukhi and his friends have to team up after Mukhi's grandmother is sent to a camp, and this requires a lot of sneakiness --- luckily, Mukhi's family figures out how to smuggle secret messages inside of (you guessed it) samosas. This book combines a fun Goonies feel (kids sneaking around and getting into scrapes) with a serious message about anti-immigrant bias. It's one of the most interesting dystopias I've come across in ages, and I highly recommend it for anyone with kids. As an adult, I found it a really fun escape with a lot of heart and some kick-ass characters.

[Fanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

➵ this book got me out of a reading slump with how it depicted a young rebellion against a xenophobic rhetoric and how activism meets adventure in Mariposa where immigrants are being other-ed by aggressive narratives fuelled by a saddening analogy of 'outsiders' being moths and those with longer roots being butterflies with former sucking all the nectar out of this fictional island country that holds a timely resemblance to not just a single nation but to a large part of the world.

↣ listened to the audiobook on scribd ↢

[b. ♡]

incredibly moving story set on the fictional island of mariposa where the government has begun stripping away the rights of “moths” (those who are first or second generation migrants to the island) in favor of the “butterflies” (those who can trace their ancestry generations back on the island)

Sekaran weaves a complicated tapestry that deals with topics like xenophobia, racism, “relocation” camps, deportation, and revolution

her child characters are wonderfully vibrant and each has a distinct narrative voice that greatly pulls the story along

i was most impressed by how Sekaran portrayed the heart-wrenching ultimatum of protecting your family or saving your community, and how those two concepts can often be in direct conflict in a time of revolution

the relationships Sekaran developed between family members, friends, and even strangers were so beautiful and made each emotionally impactful moment hit that much harder

highly recommend

[Ms. Ballister · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me longer than it should have, considering I liked it a lot and can’t really think of any criticism worth mentioning! I’ve been busy and not reading as much as usual. I’m giving this book 5 stars in the middle grade / younger YA category — it’s not necessarily one of my favorite books of *all time* but I loved so much about it. The characters are multidimensional and like-able, there’s a varied cast of secondary characters, it’s jam-packed with relevant powerful messages and symbolism, the setting is vibrant and interesting, and the author brings everything to life with thoughtful, descriptive, even beautiful writing.

[Binxie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, this just didn't grab me. I didn't even finish it. A worthwhile effort showing how the migration of people from all over the world add richness to the fictional country Mariposa, but it fell short on capturing my attention. I can't see where kids will pick this up on their own or read it even when assigned.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book when I was randomly browsing and it was the cover and the title that made me want to check it out. So colourful and what do delicious samosas have to do with rebellion of any kind?! The blurb intrigued me with its mention of xenophobia as the theme, something I had not associated with the look of the book!

It turned out to be a very nice read that centres around fighting against being othered in an adopted country that has come to be home.
Muki has always considered the fictional country of Mariposa where he was born and has lived for 12 years, his home. He has friends and has recently started going to a new school and with his parents'shop doing ok, life is good.
When his paati (grandmother) comes from India to live with them, he not only has to share his room with her but also get up pre dawn to do yoga when he would much prefer to stay in the corpse pose and sleep! These small irritants pale when a secret plan of the government to segregate the inhabitants of Mariposa into butterflies (those whose roots in the country go back generations) and moths(those who are relatively recent immigrants) comes to light.
Muki is shocked to discover the existence of a detention camp for the moths from where they will be shipped off to various other countries. This is so that the 'nectar' in the form of jobs/opportunities will all go to the butterflies.
When his paati is taken away as part of this plan, Muki and his friends plan to rescue her even as his parents start their own rebellion by concealing messages in the samosas they fry up and gathering a network of moths.

The question of identity and who belongs in a place is explored from the pov of 12 yo Muki and his friends. The confusion and fear they face at being told they are outsiders when they have only been in Mariposa all their lives leads to them questioning the right of the authorities who are deciding this and whether the image of the moths they are propagating is even true. Survival becomes the goal in the midst of the propaganda and unfair tactics and the kids and their parents have only their determination to not lose their homes to sustain them.

The book was peppered with Tamil words and that was very nice to see. A very important issue in this age of globalisation has been well explored and the story has enough action and adventure to appeal to the age group it has been written for. I have been enjoying middle grade fiction these days as there is such a variety in the genre and this was no exception.

I particularly enjoyed all the facts about butterflies that are included - collective noun for butterflies is kaleidoscope! - there is a lot of symbolism with butterflies which give the place Mariposa their name so they appear everywhere in the story. Also, the samosa is ubiquitous! So many are made and eaten and talked about that I wanted some too!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was very well written. The author’s use of metaphors and similes really added to the description and feel of the place. Muki lived on Mingus Avenue. I have such a vivid picture of his neighborhood in my mind, I feel like I saw it on TV. I know what Mingus Ave. looked like (narrow streets and small, close together homes above people’s businesses, and butterflies everywhere) sounded like, (the creaking of the clothesline’s that stretch from the upper window of one building to another as the clothes are brought in, the sounds of awnings being opened...) felt like (the sunshine, the wet, almost daily rain) and smelt like (the fresh baked pastries of the various shops, the spicy curry and chai tea.)

I thought that this book was rather heavy for a MG read. If the main character was a few years older, this would have been an incredible YA novel; I just worry how it will be accepted with the MG crowd. Especially the younger side of that age range. However, Muki was the hero of this story, and kids love when kids are the heroes. I don’t think that this is a book that, when my kids were in the MG age range, they would have picked up on their own to read. Or if they did, they would have quickly set it down. BUT, as a read aloud, they would have sat and listened to me reading it to them and probably would have really enjoyed it. This is definitely one that, as a parent, I would want to discuss with my kids after they read it.

There is also a lot of comedy interwoven with the seriousness. I laughed quite a bit. The author did a great job with balancing the two. She also did a great job at explaining such a serious topic to children in a way that is easy for them to understand. It’s an important book that ultimately taught that 1. A place benefits from having many different people. . 2. It is important to stand up for what you believe in. 3. Even as a child, you can make a difference in the world.


Thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Children’s Books publishing company/ Catherine Tegen Books for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #TheSamosaRebellion

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muki Krishnan is the son of Indian immigrants who moved to the wealthy fictional island nation of Mariposa well before Muki's own birth. Muki has always identified as Mariposan, so he's caught by surprise when the island's seemingly amiable president decrees that the citizenry is to be divided into "butterflies" (those whose family have been citizens of Mariposa for more than three generations) and Moths (those whose families immigrated within three generations or less). Moths, the president decrees, are to be removed from Mariposa following accusations that the poverty of the lowest classes of Butterflies is caused by the influx of Moths moving in and "taking all the jobs" (and certainly not because of the uber wealthy 1% of Butterfly elites who also manage to occupy the top governmental and industrial roles). After learning that his parents are part of an island wide secret resistance movement, Muki quickly becomes a rebel himself while simultaneously working with and befriending the most popular girl in school...who also happens to be the daughter of the president's right hand military man.

Overall the book is fast moving and engaging with plenty of useful

[Israa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. This book was absolutely much deeper and more meaningful than I had anticipated. I was initially interested in how it portrays Indian culture, found that it features Hindus and not Muslims, and honestly, the fact that this book did not match my initial expectations is great! The whole world needs to read this book, especially with the anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric we have in the media. The themes of diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and immigration really shine through. I love the metaphor of comparing people to moths or butterflyies when looking at skin color is an excellent way to portray this difficult topic to children. I love how clean and peaceful this book is. The adventure and plot kept me hooked. Of course, the descriptions of stuffed foods like samosas, dumplings, empanadas, and fortune cookies are always welcome, but the role they played in rebellion and revolution was brilliant. I am already recommending this book for a mandatory reading list at our school, as soon as it is published. Thank you for a happy ending!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Muki Krishnan lives on the (fictional) Mariposa Island with his parents, who immigrated there from India before Muki was born so his mother could take a job in a research laboratory. Since his grandmother, Paati, misses the family so much, she moves to Mariposa as well, so that she can watch Muki when his mother is busy and his father is working long hours at the takeaway shop he runs. Muki has a scholarship to the prestigious Marble Hill Preparatory Academy, which is a one hour subway ride away from where he lives in Oceanview. There is only one other Indian student in his class, Raju. While their mothers are friends, Muki would rather hang out with his friend in the neighborhoo, Fabi, and is not sad that he is paired with Tinley Schaedler for a project. Unfortunately, her father is a general supporting the president, Birch Bamberger, who has decided that "Mariposa should be for Mariposans". Immigrant families like Muki's, no matter how long they have lived in the country, are considered "Moths", whereas the original families (who came from other places) are "Butterflies", and feel that even though the country is wealthy, "Moths" are taking resources away from the people who really deserve them. Muki and his friends even find a camp that is set up to hold detainees from different countries, which is exactly what it turns out Bamberger wishes to do. When this hits the news, resistance groups start to form, and Muki's family is very interested in this, especially when Paati is taken and detained in a camp. Muki is not supposed to have anything to do with Tinley, but the two have become friends while working on their project and keep seeing each other, especially since they find out about others in Tinley's household who don't support the initiative to remove people. When Bamberger starts to round up people, will Muki and his family and friends be able to help stop him?
Strengths: Muki's experiences as a second generation Mariposan mirror those of many people in the US. The family moves so that the mother can get a good job, but the father's credentials don't follow him, so he has to find other employment. They live in a neighborhood that is primarily other immigrant families. Muki gets a scholarship, but doesn't feel entirely comfortable in his fancy school where there are few people who share his background. The government's attempts to round up people are aided by tiny spy cams called "dragonflies", which make this almost futuristic and dystopian. The government forces are called Crickets because of their uniforms, and the end up being not quite as evil as one would suppose. The revolution unfolded in a rather simple and bloodless way, but this makes it more accessible to younger readers who might want to know about revolutions but aren't quite ready for the devastation of some real ones.
Weaknesses: I kept wondering if Mariposa was a real place, and if this was historical fiction because the descriptions were so vivid.
What I really think: This was a bit more like The Mouse That Roared (although not as satyrical) or Medoza's Sanctuary than Athaide's Orange for the Sunsets. I wish there had been a definite statement that Mariposa was entirely fictional. This reminded me a bit of Agosin's I Lived on Butterfly Hill where the story is set in Chile of the 1960s, but the names of political leaders are changed.

[Sh S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in hopes of co reading with my 10 year old son. The first 3 chapters were so promising and really gravitated me towards the story, the characters, the mix of first gen immigrants going through with society assimilation. It encouraged me to talk to my son about different things as it relates to Indian culture (I loved the grandma or paati meeting at the airport - the touching of the feet etc)

However things took a really odd turn when the author brings up the moths vs butterflies concept. While I understand the intent was to show how something such as a moth can be misunderstood, the main character Muki had to accept that he is a moth and should be proud of being one (even though it’s a label handed down by a fascist president) vs. a butterfly which was to indicate first settlers with at least 2 grandparents born on the island (and if an adult doesn’t clarify - whites only). There are also some other troubling themes that can cause more harm to a child reading this without explanation of some adult concepts esp to non-white children- e.g. why does this story need a white savior? - the revolution could not be successful without the general for example or Lee being the only moderate? Another interesting turn of events was the rift between muki and Raju - both born on the island - one grew up rich (Raju) and the other (muki) grown up middle class. Muki makes it a point to call Raju out saying no matter how hard he tries or believes he is a butterfly - he will always be a moth.

Overall - I still do think the writing is really well done but there are some adult themes in the book that can be misleading to a child if not explained with context.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very early on I struggled with this book. Not because it wasn't entertaining. Not because it was middle grade. But something felt off to me. It didn't take me long to frame what that was.

I have read some very good books for young readers. with this my brain was having a hard time getting around the fact that while the lead character is twelve, nothing about this novel feels like it is actually written for closer to that young adult category which is what I expect when the protagonist is in middle school. There is a middle ground. A good example I can think of this is "The Best At It" which I read earlier this year. IT had a younger tone with a middle school character but because of the subject matter that was a mix of personal discovery and a quirky cast it didn't throw me off.

however, this deals with the issues of racism. Of very serious matters like deportation, classism, interment camps. IT isn't your normal adventure-spy-fantastical novel that allows space for frivolity. It went beyond a 12 year old saying 'poop' as a curse when no adult was around. there was a 'ms. pistachio' and 'box turtle', a general nicknamed 'doggy'. There was also a plethora of parents throwing children into dangerous situations and 'spilling all the beans' with very little resistance.

All these over the top tosses to silliness were likely intended to make the topic more palatable for young readers. And I agree. Books on these topics given the state of the world are important for very young readers unfortunately. But I don't think the framework presented with trying to age up a character without the dialogue and naming served either younger or middle-older readers very well as this in turn seems like it would make a lopsided lens of a role model.

SO while it attempted to tackle very serious things, the tonal whiplash between content and dialogue and naming made me put this in middle of the reading road.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sekaran makes an interesting choice in setting her story - which has plenty of overlap with conversations both past and present about nationalism, immigration, racism, in-groups/out-groups, etc -in a fictional place. In some ways I thought it worked in allowing the invented terminology to be thematically consistent (government drones are called dragonflies, immigrants are moths while those with longer-term roots are butterflies) not to mention tying into Muki's presentation at the end, but it sometimes made things seem almost too simplistic, and the worldbuilding didn't seem to expand quite enough - time period, for example, was somewhat murky and confusing, and the choice to use nut/legume names for certain characters came off as goofy and almost oddly satirical. Overall the managing of the themes themselves, also seen in Salazar's Land of the Cranes, Cisneros's Efrén Divided, and Yang's Front Desk, was capably done, and Muki comes off as a readable, winning narrator. Might be a good companion read with historical fiction such as They Called Us Enemy, Cuba in My Pocket, When the World Was Ours, or I Lived on Butterfly Hill.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muki lives on the beautiful island nation of Mariposa named for the native butterflies that live on the butterfly-shaped land. He and his best friend are scholarship students at the prestigious (read rich) Marble Hill Prep school. Muki’s parents run a store famous for their samosas. Shortly after Muki’s grandmother immigrates from India, rumors start spreading about a new initiative to divide the nation into moths (those whose grandparents were not born in Mariposa) and butterflies (those who have been living in Mariposa for generations). Not surprisingly, moths tend to have darker skin than butterflies. After Muki’s grandmother is taken to a detention camp for moths – presumably to await deportation – Muki and his friends join the revolution. A thoughtful commentary on anti-immigration sentiments and their very real consequences.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book for its setting. I remember looking up book reviews, author talks, and maps after reading this book to find the island of Mariposa only to find that the book may not be based on a real location. However, because of the vivid story, the setting felt very real. The butterflies in the novel reminded me of my favorite read when I was a kid, The Things with Wings by Gregory Holch. Then there was the added element of the comparison of people as butterflies and moths as though being an immigrant to a country made you a nuisance or an "other". The rest of the story was just so innovative and imaginative in its craft. This is a great middle grade read, especially in this day and age.

[Joshika Chande · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book. Although it was intended for middle schoolers, it definitely didn’t read like that. It covered difficulty topics of xenophobia and racism through the moths/butterflies and it was beautifully done. I understand that this book was intended to introduce these themes to a younger audience, more specifically, the importance of speaking up and acting against unjust rules, but there were a couple of things that just seemed… dangerous. Like when Mukhi straight up would not listen to his parents or any adult which led to a series of serious consequences. I think that mentality can be dangerous, especially in situations as discussed in this book. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book.

[Meera Sriram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Mariposa, a fictional island country run by a xenophobic leader, the story revolves around Muki, born in Mariposa to immigrant parents from India. When the president is on a mission to filter out the "outsiders," Muki's grandmother is taken away and encamped. Muki joins his family to resist and rescue his grandmother. Activism meets adventure, and food, family, and friendship get thrown in the mix for an engaging read that manages to tackle serious topics skillfully. Shanthi's clever treatment to portray a nation rooted in racism for the intended age group is extraordinary. This book will open up many conversations around nationalism, immigration, and deportation among preteens.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little bit to get hooked but I’m so glad I stuck with it. The overall theme of the beauty in migration is so powerful. The main character and his family are at risk of being relocated to a foreign country as their home country of Mariposa begins removing the newer generation of immigrant families. Muki and his friends find themselves involved in a rebellion, started by their parents, and end up as crucial players. This book would be great for discussing immigration and the contributions of immigrants with students and children.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kind of hit home but in a reversed sort of way. I can imagine the children of Native Americans and how they felt when their families were removed from their homeland and placed in "camps" (ie. Reservations). I will never understand how one group thinks they are better than another group. What a great story from the perspective of the children involved. Some who thought they couldn't be friends with a certain kid because of wealth and status. This book shows you that you can stand up and fight for what you believe in. Muki and his friends are making a difference.

[Surbhi Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked this book for. Grade 4 book report for my daughter as I felt , as an immigrant, the story seemed relevant. And boy was I right!!! This book simply tells the complications of immigrants and though some people believe immigrants don’t belong in their migrant countries…. We are all immigrants…. Even those who can trace their roots to generations have migrated there at some point. Just like butterflies and birds, we all migrate as humans and go where we can find or hope to find a better life for us and our loved ones. Remarkably written. Kudos!!! 👏🏻👏🏻

[rowan ꩜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow. This was stunning. I had never read a book by this author and thought her writing was amazing! The book touches on topics like anti immigrant policies and anti immigration nationalism as well as racism and classism. Also, the power of family and the hope and strength the mariposas (butterflies) bring🦋🦋🦋🦋 definitely recommend!!

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade allegorical novel, set on a fictional island called Mariposa, about a family (and a community) fighting back against a xenophobic government. Audio narrator is excellent (I alternated between ebook and eaudio).

[BiblioBrandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh, the first 90 pages of this book were just amazing. I loved the writing, the setting, the characters (especially Paati!) , and the plot. But then it just became too heavy handed and the conflict is resolved in such a simplistic way that I ended up not loving it. Muki is such a great character and I appreciated this look at nationalism, immigration, and racism. For younger readers this might be a good introduction to those themes. For fans of They Called Us Enemy and I Lived on Butterfly Hill.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some plot points weren't believable (the adults let Muki in on their secret rebellion plans way too easily; other situations also resolved too easily), but I loved the premise of the book and the commentary on xenophobia taken to dystopian extremes.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers important topics of immigration, racism, and xenophobia in a fictional setting. Well-written with likeable characters, especially Muki and his family. At times I felt the message was a bit didactic and heavy-handed, almost simplifying complex issues too much.

[Raahil Mohammed]

the title name is the same as the food we eat in India

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very long. Good underlying message but having rebels this young in such dangerous situations was not believable to me.

[Mandy Genge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful middle school book about finding your voice and fighting for what is fair and right, as an individual, a family, and a society. Solid read!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful allegory and story about standing up for what is right in the midst of adversity.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful