Aru Shah and the End of Time ~ Roshani Chochshi and Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade/Fantasy
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents/Disney Hyperion
ISBN: 9781368012355
368 pages

Oh, my goodness, y’all, this book is fantastic.

For those of you who don’t know, Aru Shah and the End of Time is the first book in Rick Riordan’s new collaboration with telling myths from somewhere other than Greece, Rome, and the Great Frozen North of the Norse Gods.

My kids have been obsessed with Riordan since the older one started reading Percy Jackson and we couldn’t wait to pick this one up. It follows Aru, a twelve-year-old daughter of a museum dwelling professor, into the depths of death and destruction as she and her new found friend, Mini, attempt to save the world. It’s a sardonic, witty, magical romp through modernity mixed with Hindu lore and it’s just fantastic.

Chokshi actually lives in Atlanta AND the entire story is female driven so you can bet your butt we stalked this title and bought it the say it came out.

I have to say that I am so grateful that middle-grade writing has been given such heavy attention in the last few decades. It’s deep and meaningful as well as absolutely hilarious. I think all of that is so intensely important when writing for kids on the cusp of teenager-hood.

I also need to say that I am so appreciative of the female-driven plot of Aru. and, hey, guess what? It totally held the attention of two little boys. The girls are strong but vulnerable, brave but scared, and just so real.

Great job all around and we can’t wait for the sequel!