City of Stolen Magic

Product Information

Their quest takes them from a rural Indian village to the bustling city of Dacca, and then across the sea to the grimy streets of London’s East End.

City of Stolen Magic - Penguin Books UK City of Stolen Magic - Penguin Books UK

Set against the backdrop of 19th century India, during the British colonization era, the story draws inspiration from actual historical events such as indigo farming, the East India Company, and the harrowing slave trade. The book touches on the devastation caused by the British colonialism in India, and certainly doesn't shy away from showing the damage it caused, without being too upsetting for younger readers to read about. It creates the perfect atmosphere of adventure and magic, drawing you further into the story and its many layers.I also have a soft spot for Tipu, who proved he could stand up for himself and was an amazing and kind-hearted friend.

City of Stolen Magic (KS2/3) - Penguin Books UK City of Stolen Magic (KS2/3) - Penguin Books UK

The story also tackles colonialism and slavery - it's illuminating and a side of history that isn't often told! When Ammi is kidnapped by the British, Chompa is devastated and does everything she can to track her down. This is a well developed tale that keeps the readers interest and will suit older primary children upwards. She grows to be a strong character though, and one who will do everything she can to protect and help her friends and family. I also really enjoyed the way magic was handled in this, the pull for Chompa between Ammi's traditional writing magic and her seemingly more powerful "finger magic" was compelling and helped add to Chompa's character arc.A young girl with magical abilities that she has yet to fully discover and master, embarks on a journey to find her mother. Chompa is a flawed but relatable character, particularly for children, she is impulsive (as children tend to be) and this impulsivity does lead to negative consequences that she then works tirelssly to fix, even when the adults around her seem to think it impossible.

City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust

I obviously read plenty of fantasy and have no problem with the genre in general, but if you’re going to combine magic with characters who practice real-world Islam, you’ve got to be a bit careful, and this just fell on the wrong side of that line. Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California, USA. Chompa’s mother, Ammi, is an expert in writing magic, but Chompa finds it slow and laborious, and much prefers the immediacy of finger magic, which comes easily to her. The author skillfully brings each scene to life, allowing readers to vividly imagine and immerse themselves in the captivating world they depict. This is a charming and delightful children's book , I loved howit was full of family and friendship, with such a beautiful mother daughter relationship.There is enough danger here for it to feel like a real adventure, but without being too graphic or scary for younger readers. When Chompa uses her finger-magic to light a fire, little does she know that she has started a series of events that will endanger the lives of many. In general, the characters were well drawn, from Chompa (determined, feisty, undaunted) to Tipu and Laurie (Djinn speakers she meets on the way to England) to Leeza, Mohsin’s servant, to Millie, the English maid whose weakness is her sweet tooth. However, her mother, fearing the dangers of her powers, insists that Chompa focuses on learning written charms instead.

City of Stolen Magic (Paperback) - Waterstones City of Stolen Magic (Paperback) - Waterstones

Suicide is an extremely serious, despairing act, and passing over it lightly does not make it okay (actually it's worse).Moreover, I found the interweaving of folklore and Bengali traditions into the story seamless and that they really enriched the world that was being created!