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Secrets of the Sky #1
The Chaos Monster
From New York Times bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta comes a new series in which everything is connected to everything, and it’s up to twins Kiya and Kinjal to save it all.
When 10-year-old Kinjal hears a strange noise in the middle of the night, he grabs his twin sister, Kiya, and the two go searching in the forest at the edge of their new house. There, they find Snowy and Midnight, two winged pakkhiraj horses from the Kingdom Beyond Seven Oceans and Thirteen Rivers who have come to this dimension to seek help -- bees are disappearing, along with the nectar the pakkhiraj horses need to survive.
Whisked away to a magical realm, the twins must use Kiya’s scientific skills and Kinjal’s love of books and language. But then they discover that the disappearance of the bees is more nefarious than they thought, and the plot goes all the way to the top.
When 10-year-old Kinjal hears a strange noise in the middle of the night, he grabs his twin sister, Kiya, and the two go searching in the forest at the edge of their new house. There, they find Snowy and Midnight, two winged pakkhiraj horses from the Kingdom Beyond Seven Oceans and Thirteen Rivers who have come to this dimension to seek help -- bees are disappearing, along with the nectar the pakkhiraj horses need to survive.
Whisked away to a magical realm, the twins must use Kiya’s scientific skills and Kinjal’s love of books and language. But then they discover that the disappearance of the bees is more nefarious than they thought, and the plot goes all the way to the top.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2023
14 people are currently reading
2339 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 10, 2024
Gave up on it . It's just to boring
April 9, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ten year old twins Kinjal and Kiya Rajkumar live in Parsippany, New Jersey the same setting for The Serpent's Secret and Force of Fire with their mother and father, who runs Champak Brothers Gardening, as well as their dog, Thums-Up. Since their father is very supportive of pollinators, the family's yard if full of clover, dandelions and other flora that their neighbors kill with pesticides. They squabble a bit, especially since Kiya is more interested in science and math, and Kinjal prefers books and reading. When Kiya's friend Lola is visiting and is almost stung by a bee, their mother does something very strange-- her arm extends like a super hero's, and she whispers to the bee when she lets it go! That's just the beginning of their adventure. When Thums-Up is taken, they must travel into the Kingdom Beyond to retrieve him. They are helped by two pakkhiraj horses, Snowy and Midnight, and taken to Princess Pakkhiraj. The twins have thought that all of these were just characters in their father's Thankumar Jhuli book of stories, and are surprised to see so many of the characters coming to life. They find out that Minister Nakoo is producing and selling something called Pest-B-Gone, and the ruler of the kingdom, Raju Rontu, is not stopping him. All of the bees are dying, and if they die, there will not be nectar for the pakkhirajs or the rhakosh, and the Kingdom Beyond will crumble. With the help of Tuni, the minister bird, as well as Snowy, Midnight, and also Thums-Up (who is a pakkhiraj horse in disguise), the two must go on a quest to find a champak flower to plant. It will heal the whole kingdom, but must be retrieved from King Sesha of the Serpents. There are dangerous journeys to undertake, family secrets to be revealed, and a kingdom that must be saved from certain destruction. Are Kinjal and Kiya up to the task?
Strengths: Like this author's other work, this has a lot of fascinating Bengali folk tales worked into Kinjal and Kiya's adventures. I liked that the children were a little younger and the book was a little shorter; I think a lot of early elementary readers are drawn to epic fantasy, but there aren't that many books that cater to this need. I definitely appreciated that both parents were alive, and that they were safe in Parsippany, although as the series continues, I wonder if both of them might travel into the kingdom to regain their rightful titles! Kiya's interest in science gives her some kee insight into some of the occurrences in both worlds. As someone who has a yard that is being rewilded, I loved the message about protecting bees and stopping the use of pesticides.
Weaknesses: Middle school readers might enjoy the other two Kingdom Beyond series a bit more; the twins have a lot of supervision on their quest, and it's a fairly tame adventure with minimal scary monsters. This makes it perfect as a bedtime read aloud instead of fantasies aimed at older readers.
What I really think: I will probably pass on purchase for my middle school, but would definitely buy this for elementary schools. We are starting to see some more fantasies for younger readers, like Soontornvat's Legends of Lotus Island.
Ten year old twins Kinjal and Kiya Rajkumar live in Parsippany, New Jersey the same setting for The Serpent's Secret and Force of Fire with their mother and father, who runs Champak Brothers Gardening, as well as their dog, Thums-Up. Since their father is very supportive of pollinators, the family's yard if full of clover, dandelions and other flora that their neighbors kill with pesticides. They squabble a bit, especially since Kiya is more interested in science and math, and Kinjal prefers books and reading. When Kiya's friend Lola is visiting and is almost stung by a bee, their mother does something very strange-- her arm extends like a super hero's, and she whispers to the bee when she lets it go! That's just the beginning of their adventure. When Thums-Up is taken, they must travel into the Kingdom Beyond to retrieve him. They are helped by two pakkhiraj horses, Snowy and Midnight, and taken to Princess Pakkhiraj. The twins have thought that all of these were just characters in their father's Thankumar Jhuli book of stories, and are surprised to see so many of the characters coming to life. They find out that Minister Nakoo is producing and selling something called Pest-B-Gone, and the ruler of the kingdom, Raju Rontu, is not stopping him. All of the bees are dying, and if they die, there will not be nectar for the pakkhirajs or the rhakosh, and the Kingdom Beyond will crumble. With the help of Tuni, the minister bird, as well as Snowy, Midnight, and also Thums-Up (who is a pakkhiraj horse in disguise), the two must go on a quest to find a champak flower to plant. It will heal the whole kingdom, but must be retrieved from King Sesha of the Serpents. There are dangerous journeys to undertake, family secrets to be revealed, and a kingdom that must be saved from certain destruction. Are Kinjal and Kiya up to the task?
Strengths: Like this author's other work, this has a lot of fascinating Bengali folk tales worked into Kinjal and Kiya's adventures. I liked that the children were a little younger and the book was a little shorter; I think a lot of early elementary readers are drawn to epic fantasy, but there aren't that many books that cater to this need. I definitely appreciated that both parents were alive, and that they were safe in Parsippany, although as the series continues, I wonder if both of them might travel into the kingdom to regain their rightful titles! Kiya's interest in science gives her some kee insight into some of the occurrences in both worlds. As someone who has a yard that is being rewilded, I loved the message about protecting bees and stopping the use of pesticides.
Weaknesses: Middle school readers might enjoy the other two Kingdom Beyond series a bit more; the twins have a lot of supervision on their quest, and it's a fairly tame adventure with minimal scary monsters. This makes it perfect as a bedtime read aloud instead of fantasies aimed at older readers.
What I really think: I will probably pass on purchase for my middle school, but would definitely buy this for elementary schools. We are starting to see some more fantasies for younger readers, like Soontornvat's Legends of Lotus Island.
June 22, 2023
What worked:
Kinjal and Kiya are twins who frequently bicker as siblings tend to do. Kiya is seriously into science and is reluctant to believe anything she hasn’t seen or proven to exist. Kinjal is more imaginative and trusts his gut and inner voice more than his sister does. These personalities provide an interesting, amusing contrast when their dog disappears and flying horses show up. Kinjal learns that maybe he should pause and use his head before jumping to conclusions while Kiya learns that she may need to start trusting her brother’s instincts a bit more.
The twins’ parents are obviously keeping secrets so readers will wonder what they’re hiding. An old book hidden in the basement is full of old stories of fantastic creatures which provides a strong hint of what’s to come. However, mysteries surrounding their parents’ past go way beyond powerful beasts and untold stories as the twins slowly learn about their own hidden histories. Kinjal and Kiya are slow to accept strange abilities they seem to possess as it’s easier to believe something or someone else must be causing things to happen. The surprising incidents will have readers anxiously anticipating how things will turn out once the kids finally figure out the truth.
The plot has an environmental twist that is applicable to a real-world crisis. Bees are dying at an alarming rate and the consequences can be catastrophic. Plants need the insects for pollination and the pakkhiraj and other creatures in this book will eventually die without honey. The cause of dwindling bee populations isn’t always easy to figure out but the culprit in this plot is pretty clear. However, the characters at the root of the problem won’t willingly change their ways and the reasons behind their actions are a mystery. Kinjai and Kiya are on a quest to save the bees but nefarious characters are lurking that will complicate their efforts.
What didn’t work as well:
The transition from realistic to speculative fiction happens quickly which affects the “believability” of the backstory. The kids aren’t shocked by talking horses and Kinjal is the one who suggests they accompany the pakkhiraj back to their dimension. The sudden acceptance of the situation is too easy especially with Kiya not believing in magic!
The Final Verdict:
The overall plot is an innovative take on a familiar story template with the twins discovering their inner powers and family secrets. The focus on the importance of bees within nature is a new angle for middle-grade novels. The story lacks some detail and development so the pace should please young readers. It should appeal to nature and animal lovers and I recommend you give it a shot.
Kinjal and Kiya are twins who frequently bicker as siblings tend to do. Kiya is seriously into science and is reluctant to believe anything she hasn’t seen or proven to exist. Kinjal is more imaginative and trusts his gut and inner voice more than his sister does. These personalities provide an interesting, amusing contrast when their dog disappears and flying horses show up. Kinjal learns that maybe he should pause and use his head before jumping to conclusions while Kiya learns that she may need to start trusting her brother’s instincts a bit more.
The twins’ parents are obviously keeping secrets so readers will wonder what they’re hiding. An old book hidden in the basement is full of old stories of fantastic creatures which provides a strong hint of what’s to come. However, mysteries surrounding their parents’ past go way beyond powerful beasts and untold stories as the twins slowly learn about their own hidden histories. Kinjal and Kiya are slow to accept strange abilities they seem to possess as it’s easier to believe something or someone else must be causing things to happen. The surprising incidents will have readers anxiously anticipating how things will turn out once the kids finally figure out the truth.
The plot has an environmental twist that is applicable to a real-world crisis. Bees are dying at an alarming rate and the consequences can be catastrophic. Plants need the insects for pollination and the pakkhiraj and other creatures in this book will eventually die without honey. The cause of dwindling bee populations isn’t always easy to figure out but the culprit in this plot is pretty clear. However, the characters at the root of the problem won’t willingly change their ways and the reasons behind their actions are a mystery. Kinjai and Kiya are on a quest to save the bees but nefarious characters are lurking that will complicate their efforts.
What didn’t work as well:
The transition from realistic to speculative fiction happens quickly which affects the “believability” of the backstory. The kids aren’t shocked by talking horses and Kinjal is the one who suggests they accompany the pakkhiraj back to their dimension. The sudden acceptance of the situation is too easy especially with Kiya not believing in magic!
The Final Verdict:
The overall plot is an innovative take on a familiar story template with the twins discovering their inner powers and family secrets. The focus on the importance of bees within nature is a new angle for middle-grade novels. The story lacks some detail and development so the pace should please young readers. It should appeal to nature and animal lovers and I recommend you give it a shot.
April 30, 2023
Available July 19, 2023
Twins Kiya and Kinjal are ordinary ten-year olds who live in New Jersey with their parents and their dog Thums-Up. That is until searching for answers in their dark and creepy basement, they open an old book their father stores in a locked trunk. Once the book is opened, the adventure begins.
A loud noise in their yard causes them to race upstairs and throw open the door. Thums-Up runs outside and is grabbed up by a giant cloud-like blob. The kids are afraid of the menacing blob, but when it disappears with their dog, the twins must save their pet.
Next thing they know two giant flying horses are pawing the lawn and waiting for the kids to come along with them. On their wonderful (yet terrifying) ride through the stars, the horses reveal that the kids are going with them not only to find their dog but to meet the Princess and help their kingdom. The pair are uneasy and gobsmacked to think that they, mere ten-year old humans, have anything to do with this magical kingdom and trying to save it. The horses say the Princess will tell them when they meet her.
It seems their parents may be much, much more than they seem and their dog, Thums-Up may not be just an ordinary family pet. Kinjal begins to believe in the magic because he's seen Thums-Up do undog-like behaviors before and he knows what he saw. He tries to get his sister to believe their dog has wings, but science-based Kiya finds it hard to believe.
Once they meet Princess Pakkhiraj, she tells them her kingdom is dying. The bees are dying causing plants and trees to die. The kids must figure out why the kingdom is dying and fix it or unfathomable harm will come not only to the kingdom but also to New Jersey.
The quest is on! With the help of Raat and Snowy (the horses) and Thums-Up who is reunited with them, they set off with magical feathers and heads full of doubt.
A solid beginning to a promising series, The Chaos Monster will enthrall and entertain middle grade readers who love adventure and fantasy. Cover art and illustrations by Sandara Tang and Elizabeth Parisi by will have this book flying off the shelves of bookstores everywhere and libraries will need to stock several copies because readers will demand this title.
Highly, highly recommended grade 4 and up. Strong emphasis on the welfare of our ecosystem and a lovely, lovely theme is revealed near the end.
Twins Kiya and Kinjal are ordinary ten-year olds who live in New Jersey with their parents and their dog Thums-Up. That is until searching for answers in their dark and creepy basement, they open an old book their father stores in a locked trunk. Once the book is opened, the adventure begins.
A loud noise in their yard causes them to race upstairs and throw open the door. Thums-Up runs outside and is grabbed up by a giant cloud-like blob. The kids are afraid of the menacing blob, but when it disappears with their dog, the twins must save their pet.
Next thing they know two giant flying horses are pawing the lawn and waiting for the kids to come along with them. On their wonderful (yet terrifying) ride through the stars, the horses reveal that the kids are going with them not only to find their dog but to meet the Princess and help their kingdom. The pair are uneasy and gobsmacked to think that they, mere ten-year old humans, have anything to do with this magical kingdom and trying to save it. The horses say the Princess will tell them when they meet her.
It seems their parents may be much, much more than they seem and their dog, Thums-Up may not be just an ordinary family pet. Kinjal begins to believe in the magic because he's seen Thums-Up do undog-like behaviors before and he knows what he saw. He tries to get his sister to believe their dog has wings, but science-based Kiya finds it hard to believe.
Once they meet Princess Pakkhiraj, she tells them her kingdom is dying. The bees are dying causing plants and trees to die. The kids must figure out why the kingdom is dying and fix it or unfathomable harm will come not only to the kingdom but also to New Jersey.
The quest is on! With the help of Raat and Snowy (the horses) and Thums-Up who is reunited with them, they set off with magical feathers and heads full of doubt.
A solid beginning to a promising series, The Chaos Monster will enthrall and entertain middle grade readers who love adventure and fantasy. Cover art and illustrations by Sandara Tang and Elizabeth Parisi by will have this book flying off the shelves of bookstores everywhere and libraries will need to stock several copies because readers will demand this title.
Highly, highly recommended grade 4 and up. Strong emphasis on the welfare of our ecosystem and a lovely, lovely theme is revealed near the end.
December 4, 2023
"Secrets of the Sky: The Chaos Monster" by Sayantani DasGupta, and it's an amazing adventure! Let me tell you all about it!
So, there are these twins named Kiya and Kinjal, and one night, they find two awesome horses, Snowy and Midnight. These horses take them to a magical place called the Sky Kingdom. Surprise – it turns out Kiya and Kinjal are royalty, but they look like they just escaped from somewhere weird!
But here's the twist: before they meet the horses, their dog Thums-Up gets taken by the Chaos Monster. Not cool, right? Snowy and Midnight promise to help get Thumbs Up back. Easy peasy – he's a nice dog. But surprise again – Thums-Up is a Pangy, half horse, half dog! Flying with him is a bit tricky.
Then, the horses spill the beans about how the Sky Kingdom is in trouble. The land is dying, and the nectar is disappearing, so the horses are in trouble too. Princess Hoodie helps by giving them magical feathers – anything they imagine can come true!
To save the land, they need a Chumuk flower, but that means going to the Serpent Kingdom underwater. Guess what? Kinjal has water powers! But the funny part is when they meet TTI, a bird who speaks silly magic words. He had me laughing so much, especially when he tricked the horses with his fake Pang language!
The big lesson is that everything is connected by love. It's like a giant hug for the whole world. So, if you want a magical, funny, and super-connected adventure, read "Secrets of the Sky: The Chaos Monster"! It's a thumbs-up kind of book!
Check out my full review of this book on my YouTube channel. It's got everything you need to know about this amazing read.
https://youtu.be/Di4t7hJE_so?si=giJ_5...
So, there are these twins named Kiya and Kinjal, and one night, they find two awesome horses, Snowy and Midnight. These horses take them to a magical place called the Sky Kingdom. Surprise – it turns out Kiya and Kinjal are royalty, but they look like they just escaped from somewhere weird!
But here's the twist: before they meet the horses, their dog Thums-Up gets taken by the Chaos Monster. Not cool, right? Snowy and Midnight promise to help get Thumbs Up back. Easy peasy – he's a nice dog. But surprise again – Thums-Up is a Pangy, half horse, half dog! Flying with him is a bit tricky.
Then, the horses spill the beans about how the Sky Kingdom is in trouble. The land is dying, and the nectar is disappearing, so the horses are in trouble too. Princess Hoodie helps by giving them magical feathers – anything they imagine can come true!
To save the land, they need a Chumuk flower, but that means going to the Serpent Kingdom underwater. Guess what? Kinjal has water powers! But the funny part is when they meet TTI, a bird who speaks silly magic words. He had me laughing so much, especially when he tricked the horses with his fake Pang language!
The big lesson is that everything is connected by love. It's like a giant hug for the whole world. So, if you want a magical, funny, and super-connected adventure, read "Secrets of the Sky: The Chaos Monster"! It's a thumbs-up kind of book!
Check out my full review of this book on my YouTube channel. It's got everything you need to know about this amazing read.
https://youtu.be/Di4t7hJE_so?si=giJ_5...
July 23, 2023
I discovered this author with her first book: The Serpent's Secret. This author is very creative and always offers us fast-paced energetic adventures filled with Bengali folklore. Her writing style is perfect for reluctant readers because the action starts on page one and there is always something happening until the very last one. Also good for readers who easily get distracted or bored. There is not a single boring moment with this author. We're always moving fast and sometimes I want more depth but it's ok. It becomes very entertaining and can be read in a day.
This is the first volume of a new series but the Chais Monster series is part of the same world as her other works so we are pulled from New Jersey into the magical kingdom of serpents, talking birds who say a lot of pun jokes, or pakkhiraj horses. The main characters often go through a period of disbelief in magic and denial, but then they join to save the day.
In this volume, we unveil part of the story of who the twins are, their family secrets, curses, and using magic to defeat evil. It's also very connected to environmental problems, focusing on saving the bees and fighting things such as pesticides as a balance for all.
Appropriate for young readers who like fast, satisfying episodic adventures.Can't wait for the next volume.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this Arc.
This is the first volume of a new series but the Chais Monster series is part of the same world as her other works so we are pulled from New Jersey into the magical kingdom of serpents, talking birds who say a lot of pun jokes, or pakkhiraj horses. The main characters often go through a period of disbelief in magic and denial, but then they join to save the day.
In this volume, we unveil part of the story of who the twins are, their family secrets, curses, and using magic to defeat evil. It's also very connected to environmental problems, focusing on saving the bees and fighting things such as pesticides as a balance for all.
Appropriate for young readers who like fast, satisfying episodic adventures.Can't wait for the next volume.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this Arc.
August 23, 2023
How would you stop a Chaos monster from destroying the Solar System? What becomes an unknown quest for Kinjal and Kiya swiftly becomes a hidden secret about their dog Thumbs-Up, as well as their parents.
What happens next "had no explanation..." What the twins experience on a stormy night will break the laws of "space, time, and every scientific experiment." Thumbs-up rushes outside... begins whining and yipping... and then... what Kiya hears becomes the "beginning" of the rest of their saga.
Many of us have longed to see winged horses, yet on a stormy night, it would not be the traditional "beautiful experience. Especially when the only way to save your pet is to get on the backs of these powerful creatures and fly away from their home, their community... their universe.
So many questions... where is this Sky Kingdom? What is the Great Blah? Even though the Sky Kingdom is beautiful and overflowing with lush areas, there are sections that are dying. What is killing off the source of the creatures' "honey" food source? Could the twins really be the ones that could bring an end to the poisonous destruction?
A novel that will take you "out of this universe..."
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
What happens next "had no explanation..." What the twins experience on a stormy night will break the laws of "space, time, and every scientific experiment." Thumbs-up rushes outside... begins whining and yipping... and then... what Kiya hears becomes the "beginning" of the rest of their saga.
Many of us have longed to see winged horses, yet on a stormy night, it would not be the traditional "beautiful experience. Especially when the only way to save your pet is to get on the backs of these powerful creatures and fly away from their home, their community... their universe.
So many questions... where is this Sky Kingdom? What is the Great Blah? Even though the Sky Kingdom is beautiful and overflowing with lush areas, there are sections that are dying. What is killing off the source of the creatures' "honey" food source? Could the twins really be the ones that could bring an end to the poisonous destruction?
A novel that will take you "out of this universe..."
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
July 21, 2023
The beauty of a twin story where the siblings are brother and sister is that it automatically goes from being a “boy” or “girl” book to just a book. It’s unfortunate that books get labeled that way, and the twin variable erases it.
Kinjal and Kiya are mostly likeable main characters — like real life, their sibling squabbling does become a bit much at times. They’re bright and clever and are able to connect all the dots. And it’s fun to have supporting characters in the form of talking, flying horses.
The central theme of The Chaos Monster is that everything is connected and when one element is changed or harmed, it starts a ripple effect. As an adult, I felt the author was perhaps a too straightforward, pushing the idea a little too hard. There’s no subtlety. I don’t think this will bother the intended audience, though, as it may be a new/er concept for them.
At 240 pages, The Chaos Monster is a good length for middle readers who are overwhelmed by larger novels. It features short chapters and illustrations throughout. It’s a fun read that should appeal to fans of magic and science.
Kinjal and Kiya are mostly likeable main characters — like real life, their sibling squabbling does become a bit much at times. They’re bright and clever and are able to connect all the dots. And it’s fun to have supporting characters in the form of talking, flying horses.
The central theme of The Chaos Monster is that everything is connected and when one element is changed or harmed, it starts a ripple effect. As an adult, I felt the author was perhaps a too straightforward, pushing the idea a little too hard. There’s no subtlety. I don’t think this will bother the intended audience, though, as it may be a new/er concept for them.
At 240 pages, The Chaos Monster is a good length for middle readers who are overwhelmed by larger novels. It features short chapters and illustrations throughout. It’s a fun read that should appeal to fans of magic and science.
July 27, 2025
The author returns to her Bengali-inspired Kingdom Beyond for a third series, Secrets in the Sky. Returning to the Thakurmar Jhuli for inspiration, it tells the story of the twins Kinjal and Kiya, whose father owns a gardening store. They find out that their family is magical, that their dad is one of the people who were turned into champak flowers in one of the stories, and their pet dog is secretly a Pakkhiraj, a kind of flying horse. There's a major theme of pollution, how their father doesn't use pesticides, but their uncle, the dim-witted Rajah Rontu, has been spreading poisons everywhere. The twins need to find a magical flower in order to prevent destruction by the Great Blah, a demon representing indifference. And that means facing the Serpent King Sesha, who has the champak tree in his garden. The Rakkhosh Pinki and the pun-obsessed bird Tuntuni also reappear. There's a good sibling dynamic between the kids, and it's a fun story. As for when this story occurs, the author comments that it "probably takes place a few years before Kiranmala's begins."
July 7, 2023
ARC provided by LITapalooza 2023
Prior to reading this book, I have read Debating Darcy, DasGupta’s YA romance novel, so it is my first time reading her middle grade books. This new story gave me humor and banter like Rick Riordan, thrilling adventures, and sibling dynamics that many families can relate to. I grew up reading Rick Riordan’s stories, so I appreciated how Secrets of the Sky series can provide that fun and humorous adventure for young readers today. The adventure was thrilling but felt fast-paced. I wish there were more details included in their adventure of saving the bees. The sibling dynamics were relatable because the story again showed people of color having similar experiences as everyone else. A favorite character of mine has got to be Thums-up (such a cute character!). I am excited for the rest of her trilogy and will definitely read DasGupta’s other middle grade novels and recommend them to my students!
Prior to reading this book, I have read Debating Darcy, DasGupta’s YA romance novel, so it is my first time reading her middle grade books. This new story gave me humor and banter like Rick Riordan, thrilling adventures, and sibling dynamics that many families can relate to. I grew up reading Rick Riordan’s stories, so I appreciated how Secrets of the Sky series can provide that fun and humorous adventure for young readers today. The adventure was thrilling but felt fast-paced. I wish there were more details included in their adventure of saving the bees. The sibling dynamics were relatable because the story again showed people of color having similar experiences as everyone else. A favorite character of mine has got to be Thums-up (such a cute character!). I am excited for the rest of her trilogy and will definitely read DasGupta’s other middle grade novels and recommend them to my students!
July 26, 2023
Three stars. Meh. This was very underwhelming to me. Sayantani has always had incredibly cheesy stories filled with lots of cliches, but most of the time it works really well with the story she’s trying to tell. This time, I was disappointed. Despite this being advertised as middle-grade, it is so much less mature than her other middle-grade books and the writing style is very bland. It was probably meant for much younger readers, which is fine, but I feel this should have been advertised for elementary readers. Not my thing, and I’m not going to get the next one.
The art was very pretty, though, and seeing characters from the other series was a treat. Definitely not a terrible book, but not for me.
The art was very pretty, though, and seeing characters from the other series was a treat. Definitely not a terrible book, but not for me.
July 28, 2024
10yo twins Kinjal and his sister Kiya think they are living a perfectly ordinary life in New Jersey. Until things get weird; their mother seems to have a superhero arm, and their dog - Thums-Up is taken. The twins encounter winged horses who take them to a magical world - a world that needs their help.
Environmental fantasy for 4th graders. I liked it. Dasgupta weaves Indian folktales into the story, and there's plenty of adventure for these kids. It's nice to see a shortish fantasy, and the world-building was just right for a younger reader. Too young for my middle schoolers, but certainly accessible for upper elementary. The characters are Bengali - but are actually exiled from the magical kingdom, Raju Rontu.
cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
Environmental fantasy for 4th graders. I liked it. Dasgupta weaves Indian folktales into the story, and there's plenty of adventure for these kids. It's nice to see a shortish fantasy, and the world-building was just right for a younger reader. Too young for my middle schoolers, but certainly accessible for upper elementary. The characters are Bengali - but are actually exiled from the magical kingdom, Raju Rontu.
cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
July 19, 2023
This book confused me. The plot was a little bit too convoluted (I guess if you suspend your disbelief and think like a child, it might be a bit easier) and the language went from being really simple to weirdly complex for young children. This was one of the most strange middle grade fantasies I've ever read. Not the worst, just confusing.
I thought the moral was cute, with love connecting everything, and telling kids it's important to save the bees, but it just felt all over the place.
***Thank you to Scholastic for the free ARC of this book***
I thought the moral was cute, with love connecting everything, and telling kids it's important to save the bees, but it just felt all over the place.
***Thank you to Scholastic for the free ARC of this book***
July 22, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley & Scholastic for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book could have used more editing. It was incredibly fast-paced and formulaic, we kept bouncing from one action scene to another with no downtime for the protagonists to have their own personalities besides fighting each other. It definitely had potential and fun ideas but was just bogged down by a desire to be fast for kid readers but I'm not sure if they'd even like it with how it never spends the time to explain anything.
This book could have used more editing. It was incredibly fast-paced and formulaic, we kept bouncing from one action scene to another with no downtime for the protagonists to have their own personalities besides fighting each other. It definitely had potential and fun ideas but was just bogged down by a desire to be fast for kid readers but I'm not sure if they'd even like it with how it never spends the time to explain anything.
August 5, 2023
The Secrets of the Sky series is set within the same world as Sayantani DasGupta's 2 previous series, Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond (The Serpent's Secret, Game of Stars and The Chaos Curse) and The Fire Queen (Force of Fire and Crown of Flames.) According to Sayantani's Author's Note at the end of The Chaos Monster, Secrets of the Sky is set after The Fire Queen, but before Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond. The Chaos Monster was a good start to a new series, and I look forward to reading more.
August 28, 2023
I love seeing fantasies written for elementary school readers, especially those with folktales/mythology woven into the stories! This new series stars 10yo twins Kiya and Kinjal, who are whisked to the Kingdom Beyond and discover that “everything is connected to everything” and nothing is as it seems. This story is funny, adventurous, and inspiring.
I’ll definitely be adding this series to my library collection!
I’ll definitely be adding this series to my library collection!
July 29, 2023
Fantasy for lower middle grade readers, based on Bengali folklore. While the premise was engaging enough while I was reading it, when I came back to write this review, I'd already forgotten how twins Injal and Kiya ended up on their epic quest. An average book for young readers who can't get enough of the fantasy quest genre.
Review based on an eARC received through Edelweiss+.
Review based on an eARC received through Edelweiss+.
August 4, 2023
Magical Ecological Fantasy
Another new series from this author. This time the book is short and uncomplicated for the enjoyment of younger readers or reluctant readers. I enjoyed the weave of magic into the story. The connections to the world around us were I interesting and thought provoking.
Another new series from this author. This time the book is short and uncomplicated for the enjoyment of younger readers or reluctant readers. I enjoyed the weave of magic into the story. The connections to the world around us were I interesting and thought provoking.
August 6, 2023
Sayantani DasGupta brings readers another exciting Series in secrets of the Sky. Packed with action and adventure, this book is a fast paced page turner.
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC.
October 4, 2023
My 9 year old: “I love the story line, how they had similar but different aspects of the Kiranmala books. I like how it’s teaching children the importance of nature and bees by taking care of the environment. I have high hopes for the next book.”
December 8, 2023
This is very low middle grade - think 3rd grade. And I personally think you need to read her other series first to understand this one. Honestly the other series is so much better… this was a little convoluted and all over the place. Not my favorite by any stretch.
January 4, 2024
Appropriate for: age 11+
This book does a good job talking about Indian culture and mythology. I really like the flying horses. I like that this book has a focus on conservation and helping the earth.
This book does a good job talking about Indian culture and mythology. I really like the flying horses. I like that this book has a focus on conservation and helping the earth.
April 17, 2024
I feel like this has so much potential and I appreciate a fantasy series for kids that's shorter. However, I think this one would have been improved with more. It felt too didactic at several points.
July 4, 2023
200-ish page fantasy, full of adventure and magical animals? Yes please!!!
August 8, 2023
3.5 stars
April 27, 2024
A book for the readers who like adventures and magical creatures.
July 18, 2023
”Everything is connected to everything.”
This book does a good job of talking about being conscious of environmental issues which was nice to see in a middle grade book. You always hear that bees are important because of their impact on an ecosystem. Kinjal and Kiya see this firsthand as soon as they go to the Sky Kingdom and see what effects of the bees dying has on the place.
I also love the twins personalities: Kiya the more rational one and Kinjal with his love for adventures from books. I can see many kids being able to relate to Kinjal to his excitement to going on a magical adventure just like his books.
Overall, a nice short read with a good message for young readers. The book gave the feel of adventure through out the book. With seemingly “normal kids” going to another world to save the day. But, the adventure felt a bit too tame with all the amount of supervision the twins had.
This book does a good job of talking about being conscious of environmental issues which was nice to see in a middle grade book. You always hear that bees are important because of their impact on an ecosystem. Kinjal and Kiya see this firsthand as soon as they go to the Sky Kingdom and see what effects of the bees dying has on the place.
I also love the twins personalities: Kiya the more rational one and Kinjal with his love for adventures from books. I can see many kids being able to relate to Kinjal to his excitement to going on a magical adventure just like his books.
Overall, a nice short read with a good message for young readers. The book gave the feel of adventure through out the book. With seemingly “normal kids” going to another world to save the day. But, the adventure felt a bit too tame with all the amount of supervision the twins had.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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