14 of 14 copies available
tale of friendship, risk, and reward, all set against the lush backdrop of Sri Lanka.
Chaya, a nobleman's rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can't
resist the shiny temptations the king's palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood
for her impoverished community doesn't come without risks, and when Chaya
steals the queen's jewels from a bedside table—a messy getaway jeopardizes the
life of a close friend.
After an equally haphazard prison break, Chaya barely escapes on the king's
prized elephant! With leeches and revolution lurking in the jungle, Chaya leads
her companions on a thrilling adventure. After leaving her village as a thief, can
she return as a hero? Or will Chaya's sticky fingers be the beginning—or the end—
of everything for the intrepid gang?
Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook spins a page-turning middle grade tale in
a lush, fictional Sri Lankan setting. Just right for adventure fans, the book explores
themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 22, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781705061886
- File size: 131625 KB
- Duration: 04:34:13
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 630
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
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Reviews
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March 22, 2021
In the island kingdom of Serendib, 12-year-old Chaya—“medium-brown complexion, hair in a long plait”—is the daughter of the village headman, “a minor official of the King,” and serves as her village’s own Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to help the impoverished in her village of Nirissa. This time, she’s managed to pull off her biggest heist yet: requisitioning the queen’s jewels. But when her best friend Neel, 13, a carpenter’s apprentice, is convicted of the robbery, confesses, and is sentenced to be executed within “about 20 hours,” Chaya is desperate to rescue him. Soon, however, breaking Neel out of the palace’s underground prison is the least of Chaya’s crimes when she steals the King’s prized elephant, Ananda, as their getaway vehicle. Accompanied by Nour, the daughter of a wealthy merchant “from the land of deserts,” the friends ride Ananda into the jungle, with the king’s guards in hot pursuit. Filled with lush descriptions of the South Asia–inspired landscape and delicious food, debut author Farook weaves a fast-paced, if at times tonally uneven, adventure against a backdrop of political upheaval. Ages 8–12.
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