The Chaos Monster

May 22, 2023
When 10-year-old Parsippany, N.J., native Kinjal witnesses his mother stretch out her arm “like it was a fire hose being rolled out” to redirect a bee midflight, he sets out to investigate the origins behind this bizarre occurrence. Upon recalling a similar story from Thakurmar Jhuli, a collection of South Asian folk and fairy tales that Kinjal’s father occasionally reads to him and his science-loving twin sister Kiya, the siblings track the book down to a locked trunk in the basement. Once they free the tome, it summons a chaos monster that dognaps the tweens’ beloved pet, as well as two winged horses, which land in the yard to whisk Kinjal and Kiya to the realm of the Sky Kingdom in pursuit. There they meet Princess Pakkhiraj, who informs the pair that the kingdom’s bees are dying and that they must uncover the cause, or unfathomable harm will come both to the kingdom and Earth. DasGupta (Rosewood) launches an energetic new series with a strong environmental focus in this Bengali folktale–inspired fantasy adventure, which teems with action and humor. Fluid b&w illustrations by Tang (the Faeries’ Promise series) depict fantastical sequences throughout. Ages 8–12.

July 1, 2023
Fourth-grade fraternal twins Kinjal and Kiya couldn't be more different. Kiya, "Lady Logic," is all facts, while Kinjal believes magic is real and is often accused of being a "chaos monster" who gets into trouble. When their dog is taken from the backyard by a swirling gray cloud, they set out to find him and are transported to another dimension in the multiverse called the Sky Kingdom, which is populated by magical creatures from Bengali folklore. The twins find assistance from several pakkhiraj (winged horses), who give them a larger mission of saving endangered bees. Without the bees' honey, the pakkhiraj and other mythical beings will die. In this fast-paced adventure, the twins learn that their immigrant parents are magical beings from another world who were exiled from their homeland. Lighthearted in tone, full of sibling banter, and composed of short, easy-to-digest chapters with interspersed grayscale illustrations, this book gives readers much food for thought about the role of myth in the everyday and the importance of conservation. In the afterword, the author posits that "string/multiverse theory...feels in keeping with the immigrant experience" of feeling out of place and "not really knowing where you come from." DasGupta's (The Chaos Curse, rev. 5/20, and sequels) thoughtful first installment of a new Kingdom Beyond�? set multiverse series will leave readers eager for what comes next. Julie Hakim Azzam

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 28, 2023
Grades 4-7 DasGupta (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series) returns to exceptional middle-grade storytelling with a new set of adventures that follows 10-year-old twins Kiya and Kinjal, who become unexpected heroes in a different dimension. As the twins explore the Sky Kingdom to solve mysterious events occurring around them, they soon realize that their missing dog is only one of the issues at hand. This dimension is in need of assistance, and they are the only ones who can help. The twins must utilize their specialized interests and passions--Kinjal's bibliophilic and linguistic skills and Kiya's scientific talents--to solve the chain of mysteries, from their missing dog to the disappearance of vital bees. Fans of fast-paced, high-stakes stories featuring sibling dynamics and middle-grade mystery will love indulging in this new story by DasGupta, which features memorable and likable fraternal twin protagonists and magical creatures and mayhem galore.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2023
Fourth-grade fraternal twins Kinjal and Kiya couldn't be more different. Kiya, "Lady Logic," is all facts, while Kinjal believes magic is real and is often accused of being a "chaos monster" who gets into trouble. When their dog is taken from the backyard by a swirling gray cloud, they set out to find him and are transported to another dimension in the multiverse called the Sky Kingdom, which is populated by magical creatures from Bengali folklore. The twins find assistance from several pakkhiraj (winged horses), who give them a larger mission of saving endangered bees. Without the bees' honey, the pakkhiraj and other mythical beings will die. In this fast-paced adventure, the twins learn that their immigrant parents are magical beings from another world who were exiled from their homeland. Lighthearted in tone, full of sibling banter, and composed of short, easy-to-digest chapters with interspersed grayscale illustrations, this book gives readers much food for thought about the role of myth in the everyday and the importance of conservation. In the afterword, the author posits that "string/multiverse theory...feels in keeping with the immigrant experience" of feeling out of place and "not really knowing where you come from." DasGupta's (The Chaos Curse, rev. 5/20, and sequels) thoughtful first installment of a new Kingdom Beyond�? set multiverse series will leave readers eager for what comes next.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)