Coming May 14th, 2024 from Blackstone Publishing; 214 pages
About the Author: “When Bijal Vachharajani is not reading a children’s book, she’s writing or editing one. Chief picture book dreamer at Pratham Books, she’s the author of multiple planet-friendly books including Savi and the Memory Keeper, A Cloud Called Bhura, and When Fairyland Lost Its Magic. She’s also been the Editor at Time Out Bengaluru, consulted with international NGOs, and written about children’s literature and sustainable development as a freelance journalist. She has a masters in Environment Security and Peace with a specialization in Climate Change and Security at the UN-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. She’s now a certified climate worrier” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Bijal Vachharajani on the following platforms:
One morning, a colossal brown cloud of pollution appears above Mumbai. It engulfs the sky, triggering a media frenzy. Alongside the reporters, climatologists Vidisha and Bidisha Mehta investigate while the government plans a hairbrained stunt involving a Bollywood star and a giant vacuum. Amid rising temperatures and frustrated by adult incaction, 13-year-old friends Amni, Tammy, Mithil, and Andrew launch a campaign to save their city, and in the process, discover the power of small actions.
The re-release of 2019’s A Cloud Called Bhura is a great chance for readers to revisit or discover (like me!) Bijal Vachharajani’s incredibly important, masterfully written cautionary tale. Vachharajani’s skill lies in her adeptness at inhabiting the various characters of the story. Her simple objective descriptions and moments of interiority offer a look into each character’s unique worldview. Their differing perspectives show the disproportionate effects of catastrophe and underscores the immediacy of the threat of climate change. However, Vachharajani’s unique sense of humor and propellent narrative energy are at the heart of what makes A Cloud Called Bhura important. Amni’s story shows how quickly pollution can destroy lives but also how quickly young people can enact change together. I’m glad that we’ll be seeing this one back on shelves soon.
A Cloud Called Bhura: Climate Champions to the Rescue releases from Blackstone Publishing on May 14th, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes may be subject to change before final publication.
Kasey Taylor, Pine Reads Review Writer