The Samosa Rebellion

September 13, 2021
On the fictional Pacific island nation of Mariposa, unsettling new developments coincide with one child’s grandmother arriving from India: men in hard hats with clipboards now patrol the streets, winged cameras zig and zag past windows, and Muki Krishnan, 12, has preparatory school assignments focusing on patriotism. When the president of the island divides residents into Butterflies, mainly white families who have lived in Mariposa for three generations, and Moths, or more recent immigrants—often people of color—and Muki stumbles upon an ominous new construction, Muki begins to fear for his Indian family, especially for his yoga-practicing Paati. Muki’s mother tries to shelter her son from events, but Muki gains information from his classmate and ally Tinley Schaedler, whose white father oversees imprisonment and deportation. As neighbors begin to turn on neighbors, Muki must find a way to resist. Part age-appropriate parable about fascism, part quest adventure, this dystopian middle grade debut by Sekaran (Lucky Boy) draws from events both historical and current to craft a startlingly resonant narrative; Muki’s family life especially, including the intergenerational relationships, the food, and the family’s neighborhood store, is richly imagined. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lindsay Edgecombe, Levine Greenberg Rostan.

November 1, 2021
Sixth grader Muki lives with his family in the (fictional) island nation of Mariposa. His grandmother arrives from India just as a wave of xenophobia puts them all at risk, separating the "Butterflies," who can trace their Mariposan heritage back three generations or more, and the "Moths," including Muki's family, whose ancestors arrived more recently. When Muki is assigned to work on a class project with Tinley, daughter of one of Mariposa's top generals, they slowly form a friendship that seems to bridge the gap between the two groups. Life becomes increasingly dangerous for the Moths, though, as the Mariposan government steps up surveillance of Muki's multicultural neighborhood and builds camps to hold Moths for deportation. Muki discovers that his parents are part of the Moth resistance that arises in response, and although they are reluctant to get him involved, he finds ways to fight for his community. Surprising allies -- and traitors -- are revealed as the Butterflies begin to round up the Moths, and Muki and his friends launch a plan for survival. Sekaran's world-building is compelling and distinctive, never overtaken by the story's clear message about intolerance. The character names (the president answers to "Bambi"; Tinley's dad is "Doggy") bring a touch of the ridiculous to the book's otherwise sober exploration of prejudice and authoritarianism; Muki's vivid enthusiasm makes him a compelling protagonist. Sarah Rettger

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from October 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Sixth grader Muki Krishnan is coasting by at Marble Hill Prep with his friend Fabi, both of whom come from the same lower-income neighborhood of Oceanview and attend on scholarship. Then his Paati (grandma) suddenly moves in with them at a time of great change for their fictional island of Mariposa; the president has divided the citizens of the island into Butterflies (those whose families have lived in Mariposa for three generations or more) and Moths, like the majority of residents in Oceanview, who immigrated more recently. As we're well aware, xenophobic rhetoric rarely stops at just words, so when Muki uncovers a Moth camp, he knows it's only a matter of time before they come for his family. When his Paati is taken, Muki and his friends join a secret rebellion to save her. Sekaran (Lucky Boy, 2017) is gifted in adapting hard-hitting topics for the minds of younger readers. Choosing butterflies and moths as metaphors for residents who belong (and are predominantly white) to those who are foreign (and are not) is effective and woven thematically throughout the book. Muki sounds and behaves older than his 12 years, but his quirky spot illustrations represent his age well. Funny, relevant, and a strong commentary on the anti-immigrant sentiment prevalent in our own country, this book deserves a place on the shelf.

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Starred review from August 15, 2021
A middle schooler stands up for his community after his fellow citizens embrace the xenophobic rhetoric of their president. Since Paati, his grandmother, came from India to live with his family in the fictional island nation of Mariposa, 12-year-old Muki Krishnan has had to adjust to a lot. First of all, Paati snores through the night. Secondly, she rouses him out of bed for yoga before his commute across the city with his Salvadoran best friend, Fabi Calder�n, to attend the exclusive prep school where they have scholarships. The differences between their lives and those of their classmates have always been stark. But when Mariposa's president describes residents as either Mariposans/Butterflies (i.e., those who have been there for generations and who are mostly White) or Moths (i.e., immigrants, predominantly people of color), tensions rise immediately. After Paati is detained, Muki realizes that you are never too young to become a revolutionary and asks to join the secret rebellion against the deportations. The Indian independence movement is referenced several times among rebellion organizers, and the strength of the Krishnans' multicultural neighborhood is celebrated throughout the book. Sekaran explains systemic racism and the dangers of demagoguery in clear and age-appropriate ways with evocative prose. Spot art showing Muki's sketches enhances the text, and the opening page of each chapter is adorned with butterflies in flight. Breathtakingly memorable. (map) (Fiction. 10-13)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2021
Sixth grader Muki lives with his family in the (fictional) island nation of Mariposa. His grandmother arrives from India just as a wave of xenophobia puts them all at risk, separating the "Butterflies," who can trace their Mariposan heritage back three generations or more, and the "Moths," including Muki's family, whose ancestors arrived more recently. When Muki is assigned to work on a class project with Tinley, daughter of one of Mariposa's top generals, they slowly form a friendship that seems to bridge the gap between the two groups. Life becomes increasingly dangerous for the Moths, though, as the Mariposan government steps up surveillance of Muki's multicultural neighborhood and builds camps to hold Moths for deportation. Muki discovers that his parents are part of the Moth resistance that arises in response, and although they are reluctant to get him involved, he finds ways to fight for his community. Surprising allies -- and traitors -- are revealed as the Butterflies begin to round up the Moths, and Muki and his friends launch a plan for survival. Sekaran's world-building is compelling and distinctive, never overtaken by the story's clear message about intolerance. The character names (the president answers to "Bambi"; Tinley's dad is "Doggy") bring a touch of the ridiculous to the book's otherwise sober exploration of prejudice and authoritarianism; Muki's vivid enthusiasm makes him a compelling protagonist.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)