3 out of 4 stars
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The Chronicles of Pukupai by Bijit Chakraborty is a book in the fantasy genre. This book holds appeal for the readers in the age group of eight to twelve years.
The protagonist, Pukupai, is a twelve-year old boy who lives with his father, George, a fisherman, in a small town called Heartland. While his father hopes to see him well educated, Pukupai hates school and dreams of discovering imaginary worlds, fighting sea monsters and never-ending adventures. His father manages to send him away to his uncle in a different city, to study in a better school, but Pukupai doesn’t give up on his dreams.
In his new school he find new friends in Bob and Joey who share the same thrill for an adventure, and they call their group ‘Dreamers’. Together with Angelina, Pukupai’s mischievous cousin, they make a trip back to Heartland during their vacation. There they meet up with Tang, an enigmatic stranger, feared by many, who had once rescued Pukupai from school bullies. Tang tells them about his futile search for the Isle of Demons and invites them for an adventure in the ocean, to locate this island. Not known to back away from a quest, the Dreamers and Angelina eagerly set sail with Tang on a seemingly wild goose chase. Will they find the object of their expedition or disappear into the vast unknown?
My first thought when I finished the book was that the plot wasn’t as exciting as the first few pages hinted. However, on second thoughts I have to agree that it is well suited for children, who are the target audience for this book. The storyline, where Pukupai and his friends discover a new archipelago and a whole host of diverse creatures, would definitely interest tweens.
The story also flirts with the difference between a monarchy and democracy, in an uncomplicated manner, which was pretty impressive. The motley of creatures and islands imagined by the author are quite delightful. The plot in itself is simple, but the author’s narration would keep the young readers engaged till the end. Apart from Pukupai, the book focuses deeply on Tang’s character. There is the aura of mystery surrounding Tang: why do people fear him, what crimes did he actually commit, and what is the redemption he is searching. The story does not resolve all these questions; therefore I was left feeling dissatisfied after I finished the book.
Another reason I felt disappointed was due to a missing element of suspense and something extra that makes a book a truly entertaining read. However, since this is an easy and likable novel for most parts, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
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The Chronicles of Pukupai
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for my grandchildren,I would definitely pick this one. Great job to the Author.
