When Impossible Happens

by Jane De Suza

A poignant story of life in India during the pandemic that mixes loss, hope, and even a mystery solved by imaginative, lively, almost-nine-year-old Swara.

When the pandemic hits and India goes into lockdown, high-spirited Swara keeps up her daily chats with her just-as-imaginative grandmother, Pitter Paati, through video calls. But soon Pitter Paati becomes too ill to even call, and then Swara's parents say she has died of the virus.

Swara can't believe it. Pitter Paati would not just leave! It's impossible!

As Swara investigates the mystery of her grandmother's disappearance, she stumbles upon a neighborhood mystery as well. With help from her friends, usually-annoying brother, and clues she's certain came from Pitter Paati, Swara solves that very real mystery and, slowly, comes to terms with the truth about her grandmother.

She also realizes Pitter Paati will be with her, in many important ways, forever.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Audiobook

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 25, 2021

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had trouble getting into Swara's voice, and I think part of that was because of how "v" (short for "very" online) was used constantly. It really threw me off and I just wasn't that invested in this.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story. It deals so well with the trauma of the beginning of the pandemic and losing someone you love. The story was super engaging.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming early middle grade about 8-year-old Swara losing her grandmother during the pandemic in India. She at first doesn't believe her grandmother could be really dead. She and her grandmother shared a love of sleuthing, and Pitter Paati called her Miss Marple. Swara decides her grandmother would want her to practice those sleuthing skills when she spies strange lies in a neighboring sari shop.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s never complete darkness. You can always find a shimmer of light, some hope, some kindness. From even the worst times comes some good.”

When Impossible Happens is a gentle, but honest take on the confusing nature of loss and grief from a charmingly stubborn 9-year-old’s perspective. The story follows Swara as she navigates her life and relationships during the midst of Covid lockdowns.

Jane De Suza does a fantastic job of taking the reader through Swara’s grief and showing some of the different ways her family grieved in comparison. This book stands as a gentle reminder that death doesn’t mean we completely lose a loved one; they live on through us – sometimes in the form of knitting, sometimes in the form of an adventurous spirit.

De Suza is an obviously talented writer with an engaging and likable writing style. The book includes some really cute illustrations to help picture Swara’s neighborhood and made the book even more lovable.

[sandhya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently, at the Neev Literature Festival I picked up When the World Went Dark by Jane De Suza, which has won the Book of the Year Award for this year.

Jane's books are always wonderful reads, no matter what theme they have. This one, and the one before this, which too, I completely loved (The Midnight Years - that needs a review of its own, so won't say more; just that you must pick it up), deal with layered, complex, and difficult issues, but Jane does it with her trademark lightness of touch and sense of humour, while not minimising anything at all.

When the World Went Dark, as the name suggests, is a story of a hard time in the life of the protagonist, Swara who is almost-nine. The dangerous coronavirus is spreading, and everything goes into lockdown. Swara stays with her Amma, Appa, and her older brother Rishi who is almost-seventeen. Her favouritest person in the world is Pitter Paati (PP) her Amma's Amma, who stayed in Anand Maama's home. PP was always "full of games and puzzles" and acted out so many of her detective and crime fiction stories. In fact, PP called Swara Little Miss Marple, like the detective.
But two days into the lockdown, PP fell ill. And Swara could speak with her only on video calls. Every day they spoke and Swara sang songs over video call until one day when Anand Maama said PP was too tired to come on a call. And then Pitter Paati disappeared. HOW COULD SHE? Her Amma told her the next morning that PP was GONE. She had caught the virus and her heart was not very strong. "But Swara knew that PP had the STRONGEST, BIGGEST, KINDEST HEART EVER. They were big fat liars. All of them."

So begins the book. It is a gentle narration of a brutal truth the world has faced since the past 3 years, with a child at the centre. The story isn't all about the sad things, as VExciting things keep happening. But the sadness, the anger, the denial, bewilderment, the grief that a child feels is all too real in the book. Very few authors can do this. Tell a story from the POV of a child, a story dealing with dark truths of life, of trauma that often they might not be able to articulate.

I won't say anything more, because I want all who read this review to experience this book themselves. So many of our loved ones have succumbed to COVID and children often have a hard time when they can't articulate their feelings or get the answers they might be looking for, from their adults who might be struggling themselves, or unable to talk to a child about these things. Jane does it for us. A wonderful book that can easily be read and understood by middle grade readers onwards - yes, even adults who might be grieving, and not just over COVID related loss of loved ones - it helps deal with deep grief.

Pick it up today.

[Moumita Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

When The World Went Dark is a book by Jane De Suza where she takes us back to the lockdown days when the world stood standstill. The main character Swara, a little girl of nine, shares her story of happiness and loss experienced during the difficult times of the Corona outbreak. The story was well balanced with the right doses of humour and heartache.
I connected with Swara easily and enjoyed the journey together. What I loved most were the cute poems, in handwritten fonts that made it look real. Swara’s bond with her Pitter Pati was truly heartwarming. This story reminded me of my granny with whom I shared a wonderful bond. I felt the warmth they shared and enjoyed the conversations too. Swara’s detective work busted the burglary ring during the lockdown and descriptions of the whole incident made it sound so real.
The nine-year-olds chitter-chatter, her innocent acts and her efforts to discover the truth, kept me hooked to the story. The author's storytelling was impactful and it made me feel Swara’s pain after she lost her Paati to the deadly virus. Each character looked real; their words and actions were relatable and understandable. Swara’s innocence touched me to the core and I felt as if I knew her.
Swara’s search for truth, her detective work was interesting and equally funny, though not funny from a nine-year-olds viewpoint who lost her beloved granny and suspects her family members. Her love-hate relationship with her brother is another part that the readers will enjoy. Her handwritten notes and drawings added charm to the book. Swara’s thoughts about the elders of her family, her observations, queries, and conclusions were expressed exactly the way a nine-year-olds is supposed to be.
This is a good book for young readers and adults equally. The language was simple and easy to read and this aspect will help every reader to connect easily. The show-don’t-aspect, vivid descriptions and the author’s storytelling style from an almost-nine-year olds perspective is praiseworthy. It took me back in time and thus I enjoyed reading the story. The advice and reference at the end were highly valuable and helpful. It was a thoughtful addition. I too hope that Swara and her family’s journey will help many to connect, correct and help all to stand strong through the storms of loss and grief.
PS: Besides the story, I liked the size of the book, the paper quality and the cover graphics. I think these features matter when it comes to book reviews.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swara is almost nine, and the COVID pandemic has thrown her entire world sideways. Not only is she not allowed to set a single toe outside of her family’s apartment, but her beloved Pitter Paati has succumbed to the virus. Refusing to believe that Pitter Paati is really gone, Swara begins seeing signs that Pitter Paati is sending her messages from beyond the grave. But when those clues become more frequent and real, Swara’s imaginings no longer seem as far-fetched as they once did.

This accessible middle grade novel flows quickly thanks to its fast-paced, stream of consciousness-style writing and its variable structure. While the majority of the book is presented in a traditional narrative style, maps, lists, and diary entries punctuate the flow to give readers both a visual respite and a more journalistic approach to the storytelling. Much like the fictional detectives she and Pitter Paati like so much, Swara uses her time in lockdown to investigate what she can from the windows of her home. Luckily, Swara has support from both friends and family, even if they do not always understand exactly what is going through Swara’s mind.

Readers who lived through the COVID lockdown will immediately empathize with Swara’s feelings of loss, fear, boredom, and isolation. Even after Pitter Paati’s passing, Swara fears what will happen when the world finds its way again, especially as it might mean forgetting the grandmother she loved so well. Frequently funny and entertaining, Swara’s thoughts and commentary help her to cope with the enormity of her feelings and process what she can in an unpredictable situation. This approach can help readers to understand how others may express grief while offering a window into one girl’s heartbreaking experience. Filled with both depth and light, this middle grade story is a positive addition to library collections for young readers.

[Hwee Goh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swara is almost nine, and her favourite person is Pitter Paati, her maternal grandmother. The feeling is mutual. PP calls her Little Miss Marble, after “Miss Marple”.

PP lives in Bengaluru too, but the city is in lockdown and they only talk through their devices. She is suddenly taken ill and dies, and Swara refuses to accept this.

From her window, Swara stoically observes the world around her, even investigating these men stealing into the sari shop across the block, at night.

And there is “Ruth of the Matter”, the neighbour Swara talks to across the porch, not a single toe out of line. Except she’s a little thick and doesn’t understand many of Swarna’s turns of phrases (she really needs to read more!😄📚)

Through Swara, author Jane De Suza indulges in a simple but ingenious play with words. Good readers 7+ will love this, and slightly older readers who enjoy a way with words.

In her afterword, the Singapore-based author writes that this book came from “a personal space”, “a look at loss through the uncomprehending eyes of children, to let them know it is okay.”

“…this lockdown has taught us all that there is no point in keeping things locked away for some grand future, because we don't know what the future will be.“

A chronicle of a strange new time — now so surreal — and a memoir of people we lost and all that we went through.

📚: @times.reads

[Pj Gaumond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a children's book and the story is amazing, comforting, thought provoking and many other things. During the pandemic almost nine year old Swara loses the person she most loves in the world, her grandmother Pitter Paati to the virus. Since everyone is on lockdown, Swara insists Pitter Paati isn't deceased since she can't see her and there is no closure. In the midst of all this turmoil, Swara notices some strange happenings across the street in the commercial building with lights moving around after dark. She gathers her friends in the building to 'spy' on these happenings since no one should be there since all but the pharmacy are closed down. She insists that her grandmother is helping her through signs all around. The book shows different ways her family deals with the loss of a loved one and how they help each one. A definite must read for children going through trama of a loss as well as a really good mystery. I highly recommend and will pass this copy on to a child that needs this book. I did win this book through Goodreads. Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for this amazing book.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Covid pandemic provides the perfect setting for dealing with the topic of grief. De Suza has the family in this chapter book clearly share with Swara that her grandma has died of the virus but since it happened so suddenly and without them present, Swara believes they are wrong and that Pitter Paati has just gone away and will return. De Suza then has Swara move through various stages of grief in an authentic almost-nine-year-old way, as she first tries to discover where her grandmother is and eventually moves through anger to remembering and acceptance.

But Swara's grief, while a focus, is also a background to a very real mystery that she discovers as she stares out her bedroom window at the lockdown-empty streets below and at stores that should be closed and dark at night but aren't. Thanks to mobile phones, she and her friends (and her annoying older brother who turns out to be a great ally) manage to solve a crime and bring the criminals to justice without breaking lockdown - well, at least mostly. A great global book, set in India. More serious but at the same level as the Junie B. Jones books.

[K Gover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended: grades 3+
Topics: pandemic, mystery, loss of a loved one, turning 9, puppy, family, online learning, friends

Swara lives in India during the pandemic 2020 with her parents and brother. She tries to keep in touch with her granmother Pitter Patti who she loves. However, one day PP goes missing. Swara refuses to believe that she isn't alive. Complete with conversations about wiping down the groceries, staying in lockdown and wearing masks- this story depicts the life of many in 2020 COVID.
In addition there is a mystery happening across the street from Swara. Embracing her grandmother's love of sleuths, Ms. Marble, she observes and tries to solve the crime. Eventually she enlists her friends to help watch the store and solves the crime.

SPOILER BELOW
Some men are going into the Sari shop and getting into the jewelry story to steal millions of dollars worth of gold. Swara gets interviewed by her friend Ruth - "nothing but the Ruth" and is also interviewed on tv.

[Jeyanthi Manokaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the World went Dark
By
Jane De Suza

Can a tale of grief make you laugh? With dialogue that sparkles, Jane De Souza does it all. ‘An idea began to creep into her curly-haired head. And if you had curly hair, you’d know something about it – the ideas stay, they never get out (like chewing gum).’

When Pitter Paati – Swara’s beloved grandmother - dies suddenly of COVID, how does an ‘almost-nine-year-old’ heal? Armed with relevant research into the different stages of grief, author Jane De Souza speaks out from a space where she suffered a personal loss and needed to help her children as well, who felt bereft. Learning to cope with her own feelings, gives an emotional depth to the tale, making the voice original and authentic.

In this novel, Swara is distracted and can’t focus on her studies. She’s in denial, just like Amma who makes lame excuses for her tears, ‘It’s the smoke. It’s the chillies. Soap in my eyes. Just dust. ‘Swara imitates this reaction as her tears roll on to Amma’s head, she says, ‘It’s your hair tickling my nose.’ Until they both finally admit, ‘No. I’m really crying. It’s Pitter Paati.’

Will Swara forget her Pitter Paati altogether? ‘I’m afraid the world WILL go back to normal. And we will forget the people who are gone.’ Being happy makes her feel so VGuilty. Both sad and happy- ‘I feel shappy, Amma.’ Trying to avoid sleep, she clings to Pitter-Paati’s orange knitted doll while Appa has to carry her over to tuck her into bed yet again. She reels from ‘the see-saw of emotions' that engulf her, making her feel 'VStupider and VSorrier for herself.'

Though Swara has begged for a puppy for every single birthday, she is unhappy and insecure when she gets one. ‘I don’t want anyone else to love…finally, they all just go away.’
Then comes Swara’s acceptance. Dealing with feelings bottled up inside, ‘jostling for place in her heart,’ overwhelms her until she bangs the door shut, looks at the moon and allows herself, to really cry.

‘Staring at the moon made her feel better. In some way, it made sense. It was so quiet that she could replay in her mind, the chats that she’d had with Pitter Paati. In a way, PP was talking to her, like she said she would.’

And finally, when the family does find a way to laugh together over how Appa had sourced her beloved puppy, there is welcome relief and healing. Being resilient is all about accepting your emotions.

Jane packs an exciting crime scene interwoven with Pitter Paati's magical clues from above to help Swara solve a mystery from her window. All this, during a strict lockdown when ‘you cannot even put a toe out of your door,’ for fear of ‘a high-tech app that will make it shrivel up and fall off.’

When the almost-nine-year-old finally turns nine, she is ready to start thinking of others – their security guard, Govind Uncle gets a surprise gift from her. Something she is finally happy to ‘let go.’

The author provides tips so caregivers may encourage children to understand their emotions and deal with a loss like Swara’s. Though the title suggests that this book is heavy reading, Jane handles a weighty topic with sensitivity and her trademark light hearted touch.

[Milan Vohra · Rating 5 out of 5]

VRecommended

You'd think a book about a death set in covid times had to be dark, right? To my VPleasant delight, this book is humourous, observant and a great, big lump in the throat level poignant, but never dark. When Swara's Pitter Paati dies, Swara loses her most favourite person. I marveled too many times to count, at just how beautifully author Jane De Suza takes us through the stages of grief for an 'almost nine' year old girl. We experience Swara's denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance in a believable child- like way. I could deeply relate with her mother's struggle to deal with her huge personal loss while trying to help bewildered Swara deal with it. This book should be a must read for anyone trying to help their child make sense of loss. Just think - you could come out smiling.

[Ritu Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the world went dark is a book about a school going girl- swara who lost her grandmather during the days of lockdown.
Kids don't understand the phase of death and they keep asking questions for the people they miss the most.This is the same situation with swara inside this beautiful book.During this period,Sara and her friends discover something unusual in a saree shop which is right opposite to their building.The discovery was a theft happening and their discovery saved the sari shop.For Kids,Small things gives them happiness. This story is during the lockdown period and many of us can relate it to our kids in our homes.
Simple language with beautiful illustrations made me hooked in this book.Loved the illustrations and anyone can read this book.Its a light and quick read as the book is less than 200 pages.
Loved this crisp and short book.

[Debrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strengths:
*Really* credible, scrappy, charming, distinctive, resilient voice.
Really lets us live through the helpless, confusing, resistant, evolving experience of grief.
Lively secondary characters.
Effectively specific setting.
Captures the feeling of pandemic lockdown.
The cover is good too: it illustrates our heroine's observant intelligence, her confinement, but still her close community.

My only quibble: the book is told 96% from the POV of the protagonist, but occasionally veers into someone else's POV, which didn't feel consistent.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery stories are a lot of fun, and solving a mystery keeps the brain busy. Swara, an almost-nine-year-old, has been her Piiter-Paati's mystery-loving, crime-solving helper her whole life. Swara discovers that mysteries can keep the brain busy when her beloved Pitter-Paati "goes away" during the pandemic lockdown. Readers are given the opportunity to follow Swara on her journey of acceptance and are also given the opportunity to help Swara solve the mystery of the sari shop, which turns out to be even bigger than she expected.

[Cora Cevita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad book. It really wasn't. I just didnt like the main character. I know she was young, but she took not excepting that a loved one is dead to the max. Like, girl, ypur grandma died of Covid. Your parents arent lying. She isnt on some sort of secret mission, and she isn't leaving you clues for you to find her. I dont mean to sound inconsiderate, but she bothered me. Also, why shorten every "very" to "v."? Like, it isnt that long of a word.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me in the best ways. Told in an authentic eight-year-old point of view voice, this novel took me back to the beginning of the pandemic and gave me a new perspective of this time. I enjoyed the loving family, the friendships, the mystery, the spunkiness, and how this book dealt with death, grief, change, and loss.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set smack dab in the COVID lockdown, Swara has to adjust to staying in her home all the time and eventually to her grandmother's death. But something weird is happening across the street.

Read for Librarian Book Group

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, but it took me back to a time I don't love to think about,
yet it was so great at dealing with grief, but it wasn't the most coherent
at times...I loved this book, despite my few quipps.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the setting, India during the COVID lockdown, and the love between Swara and her Pitter Paatie. The palpable grief and disbelief of losing a loved one...but., the book just moved too slow for me, V. slowly!

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character of this book annoyed me from the start. If it wasn't so short and MCBA, I would not have finished. I gained some sympathy for her by the end so it gets two stars instead of one.

MCBA 24-25

[Kathryn Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay early middle grade story. I like how the author dealt with the death and grief from a kids perspective, however, I wasn't overly invested in the story and there were a few things I disliked. Especially using "v" instead of the word "very." That got old fast.

[Suhani · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing. It is related to corona virus

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

[Isabel Tan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character was kind of annoying she kept saying THE annoying THE... my favourite part was honestly anish cause he was so funny.

[Doni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hardly ever say this about middle readers, but this one was geared for too young of an audience for me!

[Bethany]

9yo gives it a 4.5

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and gentle take on the pandemic. Easy to read, with a young and likeable narrator.

[Sunyu Zhang]

The book was amazing!