The daughter of a Nepali tea plantation worker in Darjeeling solves a mystery at the behest of a family friend.
Twelve-year-old Sona has plenty on her mind. As one of only three Nepali students with a shot at a scholarship to the prestigious Darjeeling International School, she must pass an English exam. Meanwhile, her older brother, Samiran, is struggling to find work after he’s falsely accused of stealing a neighbor’s motorcycle. On top of that, her 18-year-old Bengalese friend Tara is engaged to be married to a cruel man 10 years her senior; the match was arranged by Tara’s uncle, and she’s convinced he’s only after the gold jewelry her parents left her before they died. Sona stands guard as Tara sneaks into the kitchen to catch one last glimpse of her family gold. But that very day, the gold is stolen, and Sona worries that suspicion will fall onto Samiran. Can she solve the mystery? Featuring an endearing, resolute protagonist, this expertly plotted story will enthrall readers. Perkins deftly captures the details of life in Darjeeling, including the power dynamics responsible for the social and financial issues Sona and her family face. In showing the friendship between Sona and Tara, Perkins teases out the ways in which socioeconomics and gender affect the trajectory of both girls’ lives, from unequal access to water (those who can’t afford it must ration their supply) to the challenges of pursuing education.
A page-turner that’s richly threaded with social conflict.
—Kirkus Reviews
Sona, a 12-year-old Nepali girl who lives in Darjeeling with her mother and brother, dreams of being a teacher and helping the village where she lives. She has the opportunity to win a scholarship to the Darjeeling International School but must first pass an English proficiency test. Life is hard for her small family; her mother spends long, hard days picking tea leaves, while her brother owes money to the despicable tea plantation manager. If Sona doesn’t pass this test, she will be doing that painful work, too. One thing that brightens her day is seeing her friend, 18-year-old Tara, the niece of the plantation manager. Unfortunately, he has promised her hand in marriage to an equally despicable man. Their goal is to seize the expensive golden jewelry Tara inherited from her parents. When the precious jewels go missing, Sona worries that the thief might have been her brother, so she gets to work helping Tara, while also making sure her brother’s name is cleared. This is a good book for older middle grade readers. Sona is a brave protagonist who uses her smart thinking to help others. The exciting story also gives readers a look into various cultures and the distinctions between social classes. Joshi’s black-and-white illustrations provide emotion and detail to supplement the text and are exceptionally adept at capturing the expressions of the characters. VERDICT This book about an ambitious Nepali girl detective will capture readers’ attention before the first chapter is done; recommended.
—School Library Journal
A Darjeeling tea plantation becomes the scene of a mystery for 12-year-old Sona to solve after her friend Tara’s jewels go missing on the eve of her unwilling engagement to a wealthy businessman. Sona’s sense of justice will not let her rest until she finds out what happened, especially if it means preserving the safety of her family, which works and lives under the eye of Tara’s greedy uncle, the plantation’s owner. Sona proves a plucky young protagonist, and the community she investigates is richly realized. Full of rich cultural heritage and nuanced political divides, this is a fun, lowstress (but high-stakes) mystery for readers who want to explore the world and dip into different pockets of history. The prose is clean, the story moves quickly, and Perkins, as always, invites her reader to think more carefully about the world around them and root for the girls of her tales. Recommend this to fans of Veera Hiranandani and those who love short books with lasting impacts.
—Booklist
Sona, the 12-year-old daughter of a tea plantation worker in Darjeeling, India, has a chance to escape the daily drudgery of manual work if she can learn enough English to win a scholarship to the Darjeeling International School. But that’s not her only worry! Water is scarce; her brother is under suspicion; and her close friend Tara is confined by her guardian uncle, who wants to broker a marriage for her in exchange for inherited gold jewelry. This exciting mystery is steeped in the reality of mountain tea communities in India and filled with well-drawn characters of Indian and Nepali heritage. When Tara’s gold is stolen, Sona must find the real thief to protect her brother and her favorite teacher. The surprise solution and ending celebrate Sona’s compassion and smarts. Recommended for middle school readers who want a broader view of our world or who want to match wits with a young detective.
—Children’s Literature
