Ghost Of Malabar

Kudos to Soumya for the wonderful job of successfully painting pictures with her words that transport the reader to Kochi and Edwin’s world.The story is gripping with the right dose of drama, suspense and humour.A definite page turner that is a great read for adults and kids alike.

For reading purpose .....not so interesting.. last part is good...when Velu has gone back.

A book with a lot of humour. My kids loved this book. Very well written.

“Look at these waves, Edwin. They come and go, but still the ocean remains. Just like that, even if people in your life come and go, the memories remain. Appreciate the good times and learn from the challenging ones. That’s what I learned from my teacher, the sea and that’s what I’m teaching you.”My eyes were glistening with tears when I turned the last page of this book. Who knew a book about the weird friendship between a young boy and a 500-year-old ghost would release the floodgates? 🥺Edwin, a 12-year-old boy from Kochi, can see and hear ghosts! And much to his dismay, he’s being nagged by the ghost of a man who died 500 years ago when Vasco da Gama invaded India. And the worst part, Velu the ghost is super pesky and naughty and keeps chattering his head off! Edwin tries his best to get the ghost off his back without realising that the ghost has been helping him all along. But why is the ghost still haunting the place? Why can only Edwin see the ghost? How will he prevent his dysfunctional family from crumbling apart? Read the book to find out!I love it when Middle Grade books discuss hard hitting topics and don’t shy away from packing the punches! Not only is this a tale filled with adventure and fun, it also deals with strained familial relationships and bullying. Bullying was something I endured as a middle schooler and I wanted to jump right into the pages and give Edwin a warm, warm hug! 🥺You might wonder how a centuries-old ghost befriended a young boy but trust me, Velu is such an adorable goofball! 🥹 He might be a ghost but you would love to have him around and laugh at his hilarious pranks!This book also highlights a dark period in the history of our country: how the Portuguese invaded India in the 1500s and massacred fishermen and their families alike. It’s important for young readers to know about the past, however sad, and this book does the topic justice.Don’t we all love it when books transport us to places? This book painted the perfect picture of Kochi in my mind and now I desperately want to visit the beaches and munch on some banana chips!A big shoutout to Isha Nagar for the adorable illustrations peppered throughout the book that add to the beauty of this poignant tale. 😌If you’re in the mood for a heart-warming tale that will have you grabbing tissues and yet leaving a smile plastered on your face, pick up this book and go on a journey spanning 500 years along the shores of the Arabian Sea!

I thoroughly enjoyed Velu's spirited ghost personality as he roamed Malabar and created disruption. A fun and engaging read for 8-12 year olds with lots of colour and flavours. Enjoy!

My son and I both read this engaging children's book and coming of age story set in a seaside town/fort off the Eastern coast of India. We loved how the author has so brilliantly woven into her novel a disquieting historical truth about the massacre of local Malabar fishermen in 1502 ordered by the explorer Vasco da Gama, who first opened a sea route to India for the spice trades and thus paved the way for Portuguese and later European imperialism. The author has a knack for sensationalising history and we cannot wait to find out what other historical artefact she will sprinkle with her fictional pixie dust. We are both tickled to journey to the Hill Palace Museum in Kochi to view the crown Velu discovers in real life!

Wonderful weaving of real historical events into an engaging and suspenseful story that kept me on edge of my seat. Loved the way the story unfolded - at the end of each chapter I couldn't wait to read more!

Absolutely loved this book! The story keeps suspense - a very good read for 10-12 years old and adults can also enjoy.