A Novel of Sacred Cows, Snakes, and Stolen Toilets
Written by Mahtab Narsimhan
When Dylan, a 12-year-old kid from New York, is invited to spend three weeks on vacation in Mumbai, India with his best friend, Rohit, he jumps at the chance. Not only does Dylan think it will be a great opportunity to take photographs to add to his portfolio but it will also be the escape he needs to get away from his ever-squabbling parents. However, he soon discovers that life in Mumbai is nothing like he imagined. The oppressive heat, the mass of humanity, the filth and poverty, and the strange customs the young boy encounters not only leave him feeling like a fish out of water but a series of missteps lead to disastrous events which strain his friendship with Rohit and jeopardize his own personal safety. The author was actually raised in India so her descriptions of life in Mumbai are vivid and fascinating and give the reader a firm sense of what it would be like to live in such a colorful yet impoverished place. There is some mild language and perilous situations in this story so I would recommend it for 5th grade and up.
Review by Lynda H. Wilson, David Gourley Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★✩✩ (3 stars)
Interest Level: 5th – 7th Grade
Mission Mumbai
Written by Mahtab Narsimhan
Scholastic Press
272 pages
Release Date: March 29, 2016
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
