Parents' Guide to

Aru Shah and the Song of Death: Pandava, Book 2

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Quirky main characters pep up this Indian myth quest tale.

Aru Shah and the Song of Death: Pandava, Book 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 8+

Based on 1 parent review

age 8+

Loved it!!!

This book was really good. I enjoyed the references to Hindu mythology and the mystery parts as well. 7/10

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (4):

Questing through the Indian mythological Otherworld can seem too otherwordly to comprehend at times, but the quirky team of tweens with powers makes it lots of fun. The two reincarnated Pandava princes, clumsy and thoughtful Aru and germ-phobic and loyal Mini, add another Pandava for this sequel quest: Brynne, a body-positive shapeshifter who loves to cook and eat. If the Indian meal she ordered doesn't come out perfect, she'll go into the kitchen and fix it. If a fire god challenges her to an eating contest, pass her a fork. Brynne also brings along a friend, Aiden. He's a cute, quiet guy with a camera and a literal power of persuasion. Brynne butts heads with Aru and Mini at first, but Aiden's calm presence helps them all get along.

These four questers keep things mostly grounded when the story is definitely not. Readers are jostled from godly spaces in the clouds to underwater kingdoms to dream worlds with rampaging cows of the dawn to a swamp in Jersey that leads to an ocean of milk. It can all be hard to imagine, especially when author Roshani Chokshi rushes through the scene setup, which she does often. Still, the action and antics of the main characters move along at a good enough clip to keep Aru Shah and the Song of Death exciting and will definitely get kids excited for future quests with these quirky Pandavas.

Book Details

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