Rea and the Blood of the Nectar

Gr 4-6--Rea is upset and unhappy with her family. It is her birthday, but her twin brother is ignoring that she shares it, her Amma is making her go pick tea, and then to top it off, both newly 12-year-olds are being told not to leave the small house in their village in Darjeeling, India. Though it has always been her home and Rea's family appears to be like all the other families there, she is about to find out she is not at all like the people of her village, and that her family holds a terrible and wonderful secret. When her brother Rohan goes missing, Rea enlists the help of potential friend Leena, who is from a large Indian family. The duo finds themselves transported through a banyan tree into the realm of Astranthia. Rea discovers that she is a princess and her family are the rightful rulers there; she also has magical control over nectar, the energy force that runs through the land. This puts her in great danger, but also allows her to fulfill her quest. The fantasy world of Astranthia is richly described with deadly lilies, talking plants, and people living in flower buds, giving readers a land in which to get lost. The plot in the middle becomes repetitive, with Rea's quest being slow to build; the narrative does not create the suspense that readers might crave in an adventure story. Rea does go through a believable transformation realizing the good people she is surrounded by and recognizing true friendship and family, but that is revealed more through explanation than an emotionally resonant connection readers will feel. Leena, on the other hand, is a fabulous character who is well defined, and readers will feel endeared to immediately. The glossary in back is extremely detailed and helpful in explaining Hindi and Napali words sprinkled throughout the text. Use of this language throughout reminds readers that this story is taking place in India even when in a realm of fantasy. VERDICT A verdant setting for a fantasy book that highlights the persistence of a young girl struggling with herself and her family secrets, both good and evil. A suggested purchase for larger collections.--Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury P.L., MA

Debut author Doshi employs the commoner-turned-royalty trope in this absorbing portal fantasy quest centering two Indian siblings. When her twin brother Rohan goes missing in the middle of the night before their 12th birthday, just after she beats him and his friends in cricket during a midnight match, Rea Chettri feels responsible for his embarrassment and blames herself for his disappearance. Along with her best friend Leela, and determined to solve mysteries surrounding the twins' household and absent father, Rea takes up a quest to find him. Via clues obtained through riddles that appear in Rea's dreams, the friends visit a banyan tree that works as a portal to Astranthia, an Enid Blyton-esque world where "day is night and night is day." Navigating perils in Astranthia, Rea and Leela meet a guide named Xeranther who informs them that only those with the "blood of the nectar"--royalty--are able to travel between worlds the way they have. The somewhat self-conscious narration can cater too much to the Western gaze, employing extensive descriptions (for example, of Diwali), but Rea's enduring faithfulness urges readers to the finish line. Ages 8-12. (June)