Ajay and the Mumbai Sun

May 22, 2023
Though 12-year-old orphan Ajay is currently selling newspapers on Mumbai railway platforms to get by, he dreams of becoming a journalist. When he learns of an opportunity to impress Mr. Gupta, editor of the City Paper, Ajay determines to write an article that will convince Mr. Gupta to hire him. But when he goes to deliver his article to Mr. Gupta at a local restaurant, the disgruntled establishment owner tears up his piece, and Mr. Gupta tells Ajay that newspaper sales are declining: “We’re firing people, not hiring,” he says. Undeterred, Ajay enlists his friends to help create his own paper, the Mumbai Sun, using an abandoned printing press he finds in an alley. Upon discovering that his neighborhood will be sold and demolished by developers, Ajay endeavors to report on it, but his investigation soon imperils him and his friends. While some villain descriptions lean into caricature, short chapters and uncomplicated prose capably propel this largely fresh and fun mystery. By centering enterprising Ajay and his longing to “change the world,” Shah delivers a heartfelt debut that tackles issues of housing inequity, financial precarity, and believing in oneself. Ages 8–12.

June 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 Abandoned in Mumbai as a young child, Ajay is a quick-witted, resourceful boy who hawks newspapers outside the railway station and dreams of becoming a journalist. When he finds an old printing press, his friends rally to help him start his own newspaper. Saif, an apprentice engineer, overhauls the press. Yasmin, a factory worker, contributes the title design. Ajay discovers the villains behind the building collapse at Jasmin's workplace and discovers that they're plotting to drive out the slum dwellers and build expensive housing on the land. Two more friends--a young chef and an outstanding cricketer--also assist Ajay during the perilous adventures that unfold after he challenges Mumbai's most powerful, greedy, and corrupt public figures. A thoroughly likable hero, Ajay is sometimes discouraged, but he's never down for long. Shah's first novel engages readers with its unusual setting, appealing characters, and exciting action scenes. This fast-paced adventure story is propelled by the young characters' determination to fight for social justice. In England, where the book was originally published in 2022, a sequel is now available.

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July 1, 2023
Ajay, a street kid living in a Mumbai railway station, earns a living by hawking newspapers and longs to become a journalist. A chance meeting with a well-known environmentalist, the discovery of an abandoned printing press, and a whole lot of gumption help Ajay chase his dream. His motley crew of friends--a railway apprentice engineer, an artist, a seasoned cook, and a budding cricketer--get together to start their own paper: The Mumbai Sun. Ajay learns of a plan to raze the neighboring slum and pounds the pavement to get an exclusive scoop that lays bare a diabolical plan by a corrupt nexus of builders and politicians to stage a land grab. With meager resources and goons on their trail, Ajay and his crew use their street smarts to dig deep and uncover hard truths. The fast-paced narrative builds on themes of friendship, loyalty, and underdogs getting the upper hand. However, improbable scenarios, escalating melodrama, and predictable turns mar the storytelling. Awkwardly reworded American idioms ("Compared to finding stories, that was a piece of paratha"), details that feel jarring (in one scene, Ajay hides in a building's air vents, which are uncommon in Mumbai), and references that privilege a Western perspective (Ajay compares making a big discovery to finding Christmas presents) result in a depiction of the city that doesn't ring true. Despite an intriguing premise, weakness in plotting and a lack of nuance hold this Mumbai-set tale back. (Fiction. 8-12)

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