Book Title: Misfit Madhu
Author: Divya Anand
Illustrator: Vedushi Sinha
Publisher: Puffin (Penguin Random House India)
Type: Paperback
Pages: 192 pages
Recommended Age: 9-14/15 years
I’m posting this review on behalf of my 10 year old daughter, Lakshana.
Misfit Madhu is an engaging book about a middle grader who is shy and an introvert like me (well, being introvert is not a bad thing). Throughout the journey from Misfit Madhu to Maker Madhu, you can really relate to all the characters portrayed in the book. Impactful illustrations and realistic characters make you glued to this book.
Madhu is a seventh grader and an invisible back bencher at school. She has only one true close friend, Noor, who is always there for Madhu whenever she lands in trouble. Madhu decides to make an app during her summer vacation and creates one called ‘School Santhe’ which allows users to exchange/trade items – like a barter system. She got this idea when she saw her classmates wanting to have things / trade things from other classmates. This app had only two users – Madhu and Noor, until the popular girl in school named Annika boasts about it and everyone starts using it.
Annika starts taking credit of the app saying that she found it first, but Noor steps in and reveals that this app was made by Madhu. After learning the truth, all the students wanted to be friends with Madhu and she became so popular suddenly. Madhu also got a chance to compete in Gotek competition to showcase her talent.
But her happiness was short lived – her app was misused to trade leaked exam papers. Madhu had only two options – either to reset/delete the app or to stay silent on this matter. What do you think she will do in this situation? You need to read this book to find out.
Reading this book was real fun for me. I could relate to almost all the characters in the book. Be it front benchers, back benchers, Madhu, the awesome principal ma’am, Noor, Annika… This book encourages kids to do something productive like a startup. It also has addressed the critical issues faced in school like bullying, name-calling, etc. I loved the way how Madhu emerged as a determined girl who tries to solve the issue her app creates. All in all, a fabulous book with no flaws. A special shout out to the illustrator Vedushi Sinha.
Even my mom (who doesn’t read my books very often) is hooked to it now!
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