Write about the story in 100 words abt each chapter in the book-- a chola adventure
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Chola Adventure by Anu Kumar is the first book I bought in the Girls of India series of historical adventures by Puffin. It is Hemant Kumar’s cover illustration that caught my attention.
The protagonist is twelve-year old Raji, whose mother, the famed dancer Menaka, is in exile. Hazy versions of her exile are known to Raji, but she has innumerable questions for which she doesn’t yet know the answer. When her father, the renowned sculptor Keshavan, who followed his wife, returns eventually, Raji is partially happy.
Keshavan teaches Raji to make toy sculptures. On one occasion the crown prince Rajendra, son of the king Rajaraja Chola, gets to see her exquisite sculptures. Impressed by her sculptures, Rajendra convinces his father and Raji’s family, that Raji should move to the palace and be under the tutelage of great tutors there.
Raji moves, but misses her family. Rajendra and his cousin Ananta, keep her company. She identifies with Ananta, who also has a missing parent. Ananta’s father, the great admiral Gopalan went on a voyage long back, but never returned.
One night, in a raging storm, Raji saves a Chinese sailor who is washed ashore. Raji names him Liu and keeps him in hiding. Liu is a designer of new boats and ships which can sail faster.
The Nataraja statue that Keshavan sculpts as his magnum opus, goes missing. There is the death of the high priest inside the Brihadeeswara temple under construction. Or was it a murder? An astrologer who claims to know more is found dead inside the palace tank. The plot thickens with the missing prince Madurantaka returning and accusing Liu to be a smuggler and the murderer of the astrologer.
Too many questions, but too few answers. Read this intriguing book to unravel facts about the Chola kindgom hidden beneath the fantastic fiction that Anu Kumar has woven together in the historical backdrop.
If it reminds you of some of the books in the History-Mystery series by Natasha Sharma like Ashoka and the Muddled Messages, Razia and the Pesky Presents and Rajaraja and the Swapped Sacks, well, it is indeed similar.
But unlike Natasha’s humorous versions meant for beginner readers, this one is more adventurous and suits middle grade readers.