Aru Shah and the end of time by Roshani Chokshi

""Aru Shah and the end of time" by Roshani Chokshi - Why Roshani why?

This book is published by Scholastic in 2018 and has 320 pages. This is Book 1 of 'A Pandava novel' series. 

Aru Shah, a seventh grader girl of Indian origin,  stays in Atlanta with her mother who is curator of a museum of ancient Indian artefacts. She studies in an expensive school for rich kids and to hide her "poverty" spins tall tales. One day her classmates (Ariel, Poppy, Burt) dare her to light a cursed lamp in the museum. Outs said that this lamp will awaken the sleeper who will invoke Shiva, the God of destruction and that will be the end of time. It's the duty of reincarnated Pandavas to save the world. 

Who is the sleeper? How can he invoke Shiva? Can he be stopped? How far is his reach? Who is Subala or Boo? Why is it the duty of Pandavas? Can Aru and Mini save the world? 

So Aru is a reincarnated Pandav, a demigod. The sleeper has awaken and he can stop time. Vehicles (mounts) of Gods have gone missing. Council of guardian's (Urvashi, Hanuman, Jambuvant, Subala  etc.) gives Aru and Mini a quest. With Boo as their guide, they have to succeed in the quest. 

Author uses 'Palace of Illusions' of Pandav's to good effect. The idea is brilliant. We will encounter the Palace in subsequent books. For a change it's an all female demigod cast. Pandavas are reincarnated as girls. But there are only two of them. It's a welcome change.

Author has developed the story nicely using Hindu mythology as the base. Hindu mythology is rich and has a lot of variety and ideas. But, rather than using this opportunity to create a unique and original story, author chooses to be the pale imitation of Rick Riordan. She has simply used his ideas and style of narration,  put it into Indian context (Rather in the context of Indians who don't reside in India - NRIs) and presented it to us. There are too many similarities in the Rick Riordan authored Percy Jackson series and this book. There is claiming of the child by Gods, there is quest, time runs differently in mortal world and other worlds, Council of guardians watches 'Game of Thrones', Valmiki wears glasses, bright shirt and uses typewriter, powerful Seasons take selfies and have Instagram account, Seasons have their shop in Costco, Gods and Godly beings wear t-shirts with something written on it etc. Why did Roshani do this? She had enough material to create an original but she missed the opportunity. Why Roshani why?

The danger is averted but it's not over. The fight will continue. Other Pandavas will join in subsequent books of this series. 

This book has a blazing colourful cover. The name appears to be innocuous initially,  but it includes the action of hero (or heroine as Mini would put it) and villain. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb, Goodreads rating.

What I didn't like? Imitation. 

What did I like?  Use of mythology.  

I would recommend my daughter to read.