Tag Archives: 1990s

MG – I Am Kavi

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Ponweera, Thushanthi. I Am Kavi. Holiday House/Peachtree, 2023. 978-0-823-45365-8. $18.99. 224 p. Grades 5-8.

Fifth-grader Kavi has won the coveted scholarship, which enables her to attend any school in Sri Lanka that she wishes. After her soldier-father’s (Thaththa’s) death, her mother (Amma) has remarried and Kavi refuses to accept Siripala, her new stepfather. With the scholarship opportunity, Kavi wishes to whisk her mother away to a far off place, away from the relentless war. However, Amma is pregnant and says her place is at home, convincing Kavi that she is no longer loved or needed. Kavi’s aunt, Mala Nanda, works as a housekeeper to a wealthy family in Columbo, so she begrudgingly travels there to live with her mother’s older sister with the family, including their thirteen-year-old daughter, Sasha. At school, Kavi’s focus on studies drops to the wayside once she sees the dress and possessions of the popular girls. Her envy takes over and she has a willing tutor in the indulged but lonely Sasha. Kavi wins over the girls, Nethmi and Sulo, with her (borrowed) stories of a rich family and displays of modern 1990’s fashion. The charade seems to be successful until examination time when all pretense gets ripped away. This novel in verse tells a traditional coming of age story with a more international setting of Sri Lanka during the war torn years of 1997 and 1998. Handling mean girls, being the new kid, fitting into a new family configuration, and longing for popularity are universal. Doing this while witnessing soldiers walking through the streets, worshiping Buddha, and making sense of the differences between Sunhil and Tamil is new. This novel in verse gives a new spin to a familiar story.

THOUGHTS: Being true to oneself is hard if one’s life has little material objects to compare with the wealthy. Kavi takes a while to learn her lesson, but she shows real loyalty when she does. Nothing major to impress here, except a revelation of different customs, different life style, different times.

Historical Fiction  

YA – Nine Liars

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Johnson, Maureen. Nine Liars. Katherine Tegen Books, 2022. 978-0-063-03265-1. 445 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

High school detective Stevie Bell in England investigating murders of two university students in 1995 makes for page-turning reading, particularly for devotees of the Truly Devious series. Stevie’s boyfriend, David is studying in England and persuades Stevie to come not only to be with him but also to help his friend Izzy whose Aunt Angela is still troubled by the unsolved murders. Inserted in the present narrative of the book are sections that explain the circumstances of the murders. Nine friends, connected through their comedy writing and performances, go away for a weekend at Merryweather Manor, the luxurious country home of one of the circle to celebrate their impending graduations from Cambridge University. They wake in the morning to two of their group hacked to death with an ax in a locked woodshed on the property. Keeping the murder angle under her hat, Stevie convinces Dr. Quinn, the head of Ellingham Academy in Vermont, that she and her friends (Janelle, Vi, and Nate) should take advantage of this invitation for a week-long study abroad. An initial meeting with Aunt Angela to ascertain the scope of the case turns sinister when Angela goes missing. Stevie sets her sleuthing prowess into high gear, sorting out clues from Angela’s home and interviewing The Nine, now in their forties. As the week progresses, Stevie and the group get a descriptive tour of London while Stevie’s and David’s romantic trysts get thwarted at every turn. Stevie and her classmates meet up with The Nine at Merryweather to probe what they recall about that fated night, but Stevie’s efforts are curtailed when they learn devastating news. Stevie may not be as confident as her friends in mapping out her future college plans, but her tenacity shows through in following the case to the end. In gradual release, Poirot-style, Stevie uncovers the murderer, tying up all the loose threads, and keeping the reader eager for the next installment. 

THOUGHTS: Fans of mystery books will add this one to their nightstand. Johnson interjects humor when appropriate. Drinking is a constant pastime, but Stevie usually opts for the non-alcoholic beverage. She and David dance around having sex, but nothing ever happens, other than a warm feeling and deep kissing. There is some cannabis growing and use from 1990 group. Some character diversity is present: Janelle, Yash, and Theo are people of color; Nate comes out to Stevie as asexual; Vi and Janelle are a couple; one of the adult characters, Sebastian, is gay. Some of the book reads like a tour guide and also a history text; but with the flippancy and lightness of Johnson’s writing, it seems interesting and fun. One thing that bothered me is how quickly Izzy, niece of Angela, recovered from her death (ah! sorry for the spoiler). It is also nice that Stevie is from Pittsburgh. 

Mystery