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The Aditi Series
In author Suniti Namjoshi's Aditi series...we have children's literature of
a different kind, part adventure,
part fantasy, but set in a contemporary
world.
– January 2005, by
arrangement with Women's Feature Service
The stories of Aditi and her curious assortment
of friends...are in fantasy mode. Suniti updates the traditional mode by
including elements that are sure to appeal to a
tech-savvy generation,
including a laser-beam spewing dragon. The trajectory of Aditi’s travels,
starting out from India and going to many corners of the world, appeal to an
urban, English-reading child of today who has enormous exposure through
multiple media channels. But underlying all this, the stories of Aditi are
still gentle tales
dealing with emotions, relationships and courage. They
speak of issues such as gender stereotypes, environmental pollution or
racism without sounding moralistic.
– January 2008,
The Hindu
Aditi
and the One-Eyed Monkey Kings,
queens, dragons, animals that talk . . . the book has them all. Aditi and
the One-Eyed Monkey, Suniti Namjoshi's first venture into the world of
children's fiction, has all the ingredients that fascinate the young ...
Written in a simple and entertaining style, the book nevertheless has
several layers of meaning. Issues like racism and prejudice have been
touched upon ...Vivid images and lively narrative make interesting reading.
– February 2000, The New Indian Express It's
got all the things you'd expect in a fairytale: a King and Queen, a
kidnapping dragon and a victim princess, Aditi. Adventures and magic
formula. But soon you begin to see why the book is different ... The entire
tradition of the fairytale is turned on its head ... The illustrations by
Bindia Thapar spring
out of the book. The lines are simple, round and
sparse, but the faces look for all
the world like real people and animals. Aditi, with her long plait and fresh
face, is a masterpiece.
– February 2000, Deccan Herald
...
Aditi and the One-eyed Monkey has been brought out elegantly in a
reprint by Tulika Publishers ...Do they manage to travel unscathed to the
dragon's lair? How do they tackle him? The modern
fairy tale has the
answers. The writer puts across many messages without taking a moral tone.
Aditi and the Thames Dragon
Those
who met Aditi and the One-Eyed Monkey earlier and were waiting for the
second installment can now heave a sigh of relief ... Suniti Namjoshi blends
fantasy and current events seamlessly.
This is a good way to introduce
children to problems like pollution. There are no immediate cures
or magic
solutions. It ends on a hopeful note ... A good read.
– November 2002, The Hindu
A delightful modern-day fairy tale for children.
– March 2005, The Week
Aditi and the
Marine Sage
This is an adventure that truly juxtaposes
contemporary technological reality on to a world of make-believe...the
protagonists have an adventure that laden with action, emotion and
exploration. By placing her characters in situations that are innovative as
well as flush with scientific possibilities,
the author lends futuristic
strokes to the traditional canvas of jungle life.
– March 2005, The Tribune
Aditi and her Friends meet
Grendel
Aditi and her Friends help the Budapest Changeling
Though clearly
Indian, Namjoshi’s characters are reflective of a global sensibility that is
at home in different places and in seemingly disparate skins, much like
their creator and the current generation
of readers. Peopled by eastern and
western characters and archetypes, these books nimbly mix Beowulfian
monsters with Indian queens and sages. They demand an ability to make
imaginative leaps and lithely cross cultural boundaries...The stories
accommodate ruminations — both gentle
and sharp — on identity, perception,
memory and reality. “But if a thing has a name, does it exist?” ponders
Beautiful in Aditi and her Friends meet Grendel. “And anyway, how do
you know it’s the right name?” In Aditi and Her Friends Help the Budapest
Changeling, they meet a changeling who becomes whatever she is perceived
to be, provoking questions on the nature of identity and what it depends on.
– February 2008, The Hindu
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