This audiobook of two middle-schoolers’ adventure of a lifetime begins with their finding out that they are reincarnated Pandava brothers, straight out of the Hindu epic poem the MAHABHARATA. Narrator Soneela Nankani is given a wealth of material to mine. Aru, having been taunted into lighting a cursed lamp, awakens the Sleeper, a demon that will freeze the world if Aru, Minnie, and her sister, Pandavani, cannot stop him before time runs out. Their only advisor is a supercilious parrot. The narration makes it easy to differentiate the girls through their character traits: Aru is determined and Minnie is brave. Lighter moments involve Minnie’s hypochondria. The abundant cultural references are deftly handled in a narrative that will leave listeners eagerly awaiting the heroine’s next quest. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

In stories like the Harry Potter books or The Lord of the Rings, the beginning of the quest is a passive selection: Harry and Bilbo are chosen, plucked from their ordinary lives because it's "time." There's something refreshing, then, about watching Aru Shah barrel into her quest like a blindfolded bull, stopping the world on its axis because there are lessons she needs to learn…Just as her heroine learns to wield a bow and arrow, Chokshi has her own weapons: a skill for crackling prose…and a main character who, despite her lies, is both endearingly funny and self-aware…Most of all, Chokshi is wise enough to let Aru experience Hinduism, not explain it…With Aru at the helm, this roller coaster through Hindu culture never feels forced or pedantic, but instead like a new kind of myth—where a hero takes a hammer to the world to shine a light through its cracks.

★ 12/18/2017
This series kickoff, which is also the first book from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, expertly channels the humor and action that have made Riordan’s own work so successful. Twelve-year-old Aru Shah lives with her mother in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture in Atlanta. Aru’s tendency to bend the truth gets her into trouble when three of her classmates dare her to light a supposedly cursed lamp called a diya, which awakens the demonic Sleeper. With the help of her guardian, a pigeon named Subala, Aru learns that she is the reincarnation of one of five Pandava brothers, each the child of a different god. Aru meets one of her “soul-related” siblings, smart but timid Mini, and they head off to stop the Sleeper from reaching Shiva, Lord of Destruction. With her quick wit and big personality, Aru commands the spotlight (“I’m an A student,” she boasts to a doubtful Subala. “In the sense that she was a student whose name started with an A”), and Chokshi (The Star-Touched Queen) weaves an engrossing adventure that will leave readers anticipating the next installment. Ages 8–12. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra & Associates. (Mar.)

* "In her middle-grade debut, Chokshi spins a fantastical narrative that seamlessly intertwines Hindu cosmology and folklore, feminism, and witty dialogue for an uproarious novel for young readers. Chokshi comes into her own in this novel, reminding readers of the power of language and of stories."—Kirkus (starred review)

* "This series kick-off . . . also the first book from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, expertly channels the humor and action that have made Riordan's own work so successful. Aru commands the spotlight . . . and Chokshi weaves an engrossing adventure that will leave readers anticipating the next installment."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

*"Using Hindu mythology as the foundation, Chokshi has created an exciting adventure around a coming-of-age tale. Just as "Percy Jackson" led tweens to a deeper exploration and appreciation of classic Greek mythology, Chokshi's tale will likely inspire a similar demand for traditional Indian mythology. An enthralling start to a series that Riordan fans and anyone in the mood for a high-octane adventure will love."—School Library Journal

★ 03/01/2018
Gr 3–6—Seventh grader Aru should never have lit the ancient lamp. When she put the lighter to the wick, the world froze and she released the awful Sleeper. Aru is suddenly launched into the world of the gods and surrounded by mythical characters come to life. Aru discovers she is a Pandava, born with the soul of one of the five brothers featured in the Mahabharata. She also has a soul sister, Mini, to assist her in this quest—highly unusual for a Pandava. Aru and Mini must enter the Kingdom of Death to find out the secret that will destroy the Sleeper. Rick Riordan writes the introduction to this book that has a similar tone and pacing to his popular "Percy Jackson" series, but Chokshi brings her own sensibility and style. Using Hindu mythology as the foundation, Chokshi has created an exciting adventure around a coming-of-age tale. A glossary provides readers with a basic introduction to the various traditional stories that Chokshi drew from. Just as "Percy Jackson" led tweens to a deeper exploration and appreciation of classic Greek mythology, Chokshi's tale will likely inspire a similar demand for traditional Indian mythology. VERDICT An enthralling start to a series that Riordan fans and anyone in the mood for a high-octane adventure will love.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

This audiobook of two middle-schoolers’ adventure of a lifetime begins with their finding out that they are reincarnated Pandava brothers, straight out of the Hindu epic poem the MAHABHARATA. Narrator Soneela Nankani is given a wealth of material to mine. Aru, having been taunted into lighting a cursed lamp, awakens the Sleeper, a demon that will freeze the world if Aru, Minnie, and her sister, Pandavani, cannot stop him before time runs out. Their only advisor is a supercilious parrot. The narration makes it easy to differentiate the girls through their character traits: Aru is determined and Minnie is brave. Lighter moments involve Minnie’s hypochondria. The abundant cultural references are deftly handled in a narrative that will leave listeners eagerly awaiting the heroine’s next quest. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

★ 2018-02-03
Aru Shah of Atlanta, Georgia, is a seventh-grader and social misfit. While her classmates jet set around the world, Aru spends her holidays at home with her curator mother in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. But one day, three of Aru's classmates show up at her doorstep and dare her to light the cursed Lamp of Bharata. When Aru lights the lamp, she releases the Sleeper from his slumber and must—with the help of her newly found soul sister, Mini, and their pigeon sidekick, Subala, or "Boo"—go on a quest to stop the Sleeper from awakening the Lord of Destruction, who will, in turn, end the world. Aru and Mini's adventures range from discovering that they are the reincarnations of the Pandava brothers (demigods and the protagonists of the Hindu epic poem the Mahabharata) to slaying demons and shopping at the Night Bazaar (effectively disguised as Costco). In her middle-grade debut, Chokshi (TheStar-Touched Queen, 2016, etc.) spins a fantastical narrative that seamlessly intertwines Hindu cosmology and folklore, feminism, and witty dialogue for an uproarious novel for young readers. For readers of Indian origin, especially, the novel presents a culture that is not often seen—or accurately represented—in mainstream children's and young adult literature.Chokshi comes into her own in this novel, reminding readers of the power of language and of stories. (Fantasy. 8-12)