The Serpent's Secret

December 11, 2017
Mythology, science, and interdimensional travel merge in this imaginative story about one girl’s search for self and the discovery of pride in one’s culture. Kiran has grown up being told that she is an Indian princess and has been raised on stories about creatures of Indian legend and lore—all of which she thinks is her eccentric parents’ way of instilling their culture in her. In reality, they are trying to prepare her: on Kiran’s 12th birthday, a spell protecting her expires, her parents disappear, and Kiran is attacked by a demonic rakkhosh. After meeting a pair of prince brothers, Kiran travels to the realm of her birth, the Kingdom Beyond Seven Oceans and Thirteen Rivers, in an effort to rescue her parents. Her journey takes her through a shifting mythological landscape that she confronts with daring, humor, and a no-nonsense attitude while learning more about her true history. The over-the-top action and ample banter will leave readers looking forward to more of Kiran’s adventures. Art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates.

Starred review from January 1, 2018

Gr 5-7-On her 12th birthday, Kiranmala gets a lot more than she expected: a rakkhosh (an Indian demon) roars onto her home, wanting to eat her; even more surprising, a set of handsome princes arrive to help her escape. Thus begins Kiran's adventures in the Kingdom Beyond, an alternate dimension where her parents are being held captive and will end up as a meal for a baby rakkhosh unless Kiran and her friends can solve the riddles, complete their journey, and rescue her parents. Debut author Dasgupta includes many references to Bengali folktales, with asides that playfully detour the narrative for a few pages while someone's mustache is stolen or a famous nursery rhyme is quoted. The subplots are interesting and the overall story will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan and those who like their adventures fast and furious. The strong female protagonist and the integration of generally under-explored Indian mythology make this a compelling choice for most libraries. VERDICT Purchase for upper elementary and middle school libraries where Percy Jackson still rules.-Elizabeth Friend, Wester Middle School, TX

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
It is not very often one comes across a fantasy novel for young readers in which the protagonist is both Indian and an interdimensional demon slayer.Kiranmala is a regular sixth-grader in Parsippany, New Jersey, until her life is thrown out of whack when her parents are cast into another dimension as the result of an imploding spell. To make matters worse, a drooling rakkhosh slams into her kitchen, ready to eat her. Kiran leaves on a quest to save her parents; she's accompanied by two handsome Indian princes--Lal and Neel--and their flying pakkhiraj horses. What follows is a roller-coaster adventure into The Kingdom Beyond the Seven Oceans and Thirteen Rivers, where Kiran and her friends seek help from a bird who enjoys bad jokes, flee from demon groupies, and face the formidable Serpent King. Writing in smart and likable Kiran's first-person voice, DasGupta successfully blends together American popular culture, Bengali folk tales, and witty dialogue in her hilarious debut. (The banter among Kiran and the bickering Lal and Neel alone will have readers in stitches.) A refreshing take on the hero's quest in which almost all the characters are Indian (or are of Indian origin), this series opener explores both the pains of growing up and what it means to be a second-generation Indian-American. This original fantasy is laugh-out-loud funny and extremely engaging. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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callie_b - The Serpent's Secret: Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond is an incredible book! Kiranmala is a seemingly regular 6th grader with Indian heritage who has seemingly regular parents who love to embarrass her. Kiran's parents have always told her that Kiran was a real Indian princess who was the daughter of an underworld serpent king and a moon maiden whom they had found floating in a clay pot down the river of dreams, and about deadly rakkosh demons that princes would slay. But none of those stories were actually real, right? How could they be? But on Kiran's 12th birthday, which is also Halloween, everything changes. Kiran notices that her parents aren't home when she gets back from school, and they always had made a point to be home for her birthday! She thought that maybe it was a joke, until she saw a birthday card on the floor. She opens it and reads the mysterious message from her parents about "trusting princes" and "not letting rakkosh in the house." But before she has time to let that process in her mind, she hears a knock at the door. She had forgotten that it was Halloween! As she opened the door to greet the trick-or-treaters, she gets a surprise: two handsome princes, Lal and Neel, who claim that they are going to take her to find her parents. Were these the princes that her parents had mentioned in the card? But the surprises didn't stop there. As she steps outside, she hears a crash behind her... a rakkosh!? With help from the princes, she stops the rakkosh from eating them before she is whisked away on flying horses, whom Kiran instantly loves! Kiran is beginning to realize the stories she had heard were actually true! They fly into another dimension, where the princes were from, to get Kiran's parents back. But when they get back to the castle, Lal and his stable-hand friend Mati are suddenly transformed into gold and silver spheres by an evil rakkoshi queen! Kiran and Neel journey through the dimension following a prophecy from an oracle bird to find Kiran's parents and free Lal and Mati. With encounters with the underworld serpent king and many rakkosh, it's a crazy journey. But will Kiran find her parents and free Lal and Mati? One thing's for sure, it'll be an unforgettable adventure! This book was AMAZING! I loved it so much! The author Sayantani DasGupta was a very descriptive and interesting author. I learned a lot about Indian culture and folk stories, and was hooked from the beginning to the end of this awesome book! This book was filled with adventure, action, and suspense with a tad of romance added in for a great combination for this extremely good novel! I recommend this ages 4th grade and up. I can't wait for the next book to come out! 5/5 star rating!

Starred review from November 1, 2017
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Kiranmala's parents have always been a little weird, with their princess obsession, Indian folktales, and strange rituals. For the most part, Kiran has a normal life in her New Jersey town, until her twelfth birthday, when her parents are kidnapped by a rakkhosh demon (surprise, they're real!), and two young warrior princes appear on her doorstep. Practical Kiran is less than thrilled to discover that not only are her parents not her birth parents, she's actually an Indian princess from another dimensionand all the fanciful stories her parents tell are true. She's barely had time to process all this before she's whisked away on a flying horse by the prince brothers, one handsome and honorable, the other totally obnoxious. To rescue her parents, Kiran will have to embrace her true heritageand learn a thing or two about demon slaying along the way. Inspired by Bengali folktales, this is an exciting, fantastical debut grounded by Kiran's wry, clever voice and her experiences as a child of immigrants. With a vibrant supporting cast, a world steeped in Bengali folk stories, and an action-packed story line, this is a series starter that rivals Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief (2005). A breathtaking adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)