Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse by Sangu Mandanna (English) Paperback Book

Description: Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse by Sangu Mandanna "Indian folklore meets fantasy adventure in this captivating novel . . . An action-packed, evocative portrayal of courage, friendship, and belonging." —Kirkus Reviews on Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom.Fresh off the exciting discovery that her sketches of a beautiful kingdom and band of rebel kids have come to life in another world, Kiki Kallira has an unexpected visitor. One of those rebel kids has come into the real world to ask for her help—again. The river Kaveri, a crucial source of water for Mysore, has suddenly vanished! With no water to grow food or for wildlife to drink, Kikis kingdom is doomed.Kiki enters her sketchbook once again, and her search for answers reveals the origin of the Kaveri: its actually a princess from long ago who was transformed into water by a terrible curse. Its up to Kiki and her friends to restore the river without sacrificing the princess again—easier said than done! And with her mounting anxiety, enemies seeking to stop her, and a city growing weaker by the minute, Kikis confidence falters. Will she be able to unravel the curse and save her kingdom before its too late? FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. She is the author of the Kiki Kallira series, A Spark of White Fire and its sequels, and more. She lives in Norwich, in the east of England, with her husband and kids. You can visit Sangu at SanguMandanna.com. Review "Enchanting and deeply captivating."—Kirkus Reviews"A stunning and adventurous sequel."—Utopia State of Mind"A perfect blend of imaginative storytelling and exploration of personality-shaping themes. Sangu Mandanna has shown herself to be an author capable of managing this delicate balance in a highly emotive and engaging manner."—Black Girls CreatePRAISE FOR KIKI KALLIRA BREAKS A KINGDOM… "Steeped in Hindu mythology, Mandannas fast-paced modern take on a classical myth...[is] an engaging fantastical story that will strongly appeal to readers of Rick Riordan, Roshani Chokshi, and Sayantani DasGupta."—School Library Journal (starred review)… "A breathtaking rush through Kikis growing understanding of herself and the worlds, both real and fantastical, around her. Any kingdom that springs from the mind of an 11-year-old is sure to contain twists and surprises, and Kikis does not disappoint."—Bookpage (starred review)"Sangu Mandanna brings the reader to magical Mysore, India through the eyes of young Kiki, a relatable character trying to save both herself and the fantasy world she finds herself in. Mandanna weaves the healing power of art and imagination into this unique and fascinating adventure!"—Veera Hiranandani, author of the Newbery Honor Book, The Night Diary"Mandannas funny, fast-paced fantasy weaves elements from ancient Indian epics into an action packed modern plot featuring a smart, strong female protagonist in a story that is sure to appeal to middle grade readers."—Padma Venkatraman, award-winning author of The Bridge Home"I loved every minute of this magical adventure about imagination, art, beauty, and the power of fighting our own monsters."—Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart"From beginning to end, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom is wonderfully layered with magic, from the Indian mythology-inspired world of Mysore to the joyful discovery of power and strength in unexpected places. Give this book to kid readers who adore portal fantasies and mythology, to kids struggling with fears and anxiety, and to all kids in between—I know theyll love it as much as I did!"—Elsie Chapman, author of Caster and All the Ways Home"A fast-paced, vivid and exciting adventure story with real heart, I couldnt stop reading!"—Robin Stevens, author of the Wells and Wong Mysteries series"A fantastical adventure in a wondrous world. Young readers will be empowered by Kikis resilience and determination to overcome her anxieties."—Tamara Moss, award-winning author of Lintang and the Pirate Queen"Indian folklore meets fantasy adventure in this captivating novel...An action-packed, evocative portrayal of courage, friendship, and belonging."—Kirkus Reviews"Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom proves that anyone—11-year-old girls included—can be heroes and forces to be reckoned with. Adventure, humor, heart—this one has it all."—Shelf Awareness "This opening title in British author Mandannas first middle grade series will suit fans of Rick Riordan Presents titles, while the focus on Kikis artistry and anxiety will appeal to readers eager for a heroine who proves that the pen (or drawing pencil) is mightier than the sword (or demon lord)."—The Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books Review Quote "Enchanting and deeply captivating." -- Kirkus Reviews "A stunning and adventurous sequel." --Utopia State of Mind "A perfect blend of imaginative storytelling and exploration of personality-shaping themes. Sangu Mandanna has shown herself to be an author capable of managing this delicate balance in a highly emotive and engaging manner." --Black Girls Create PRAISE FOR KIKI KALLIRA BREAKS A KINGDOM "Steeped in Hindu mythology, Mandannas fast-paced modern take on a classical myth...[is] an engaging fantastical story that will strongly appeal to readers of Rick Riordan, Roshani Chokshi, and Sayantani DasGupta." -- School Library Journal (starred review) "A breathtaking rush through Kikis growing understanding of herself and the worlds, both real and fantastical, around her. Any kingdom that springs from the mind of an 11-year-old is sure to contain twists and surprises, and Kikis does not disappoint." -- Bookpage (starred review) "Sangu Mandanna brings the reader to magical Mysore, India through the eyes of young Kiki, a relatable character trying to save both herself and the fantasy world she finds herself in. Mandanna weaves the healing power of art and imagination into this unique and fascinating adventure!" --Veera Hiranandani, author of the Newbery Honor Book, The Night Diary "Mandannas funny, fast-paced fantasy weaves elements from ancient Indian epics into an action packed modern plot featuring a smart, strong female protagonist in a story that is sure to appeal to middle grade readers." --Padma Venkatraman, award-winning author of The Bridge Home "I loved every minute of this magical adventure about imagination, art, beauty, and the power of fighting our own monsters." --Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart "From beginning to end, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom is wonderfully layered with magic, from the Indian mythology-inspired world of Mysore to the joyful discovery of power and strength in unexpected places. Give this book to kid readers who adore portal fantasies and mythology, to kids struggling with fears and anxiety, and to all kids in between--I know theyll love it as much as I did!" --Elsie Chapman, author of Caster and All the Ways Home "A fast-paced, vivid and exciting adventure story with real heart, I couldnt stop reading!" -- Robin Stevens, author of the Wells and Wong Mysteries series "A fantastical adventure in a wondrous world. Young readers will be empowered by Kikis resilience and determination to overcome her anxieties." --Tamara Moss, award-winning author of Lintang and the Pirate Queen "Indian folklore meets fantasy adventure in this captivating novel...An action-packed, evocative portrayal of courage, friendship, and belonging." -- Kirkus Reviews " Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom proves that anyone--11-year-old girls included--can be heroes and forces to be reckoned with. Adventure, humor, heart--this one has it all." -- Shelf Awareness "This opening title in British author Mandannas first middle grade series will suit fans of Rick Riordan Presents titles, while the focus on Kikis artistry and anxiety will appeal to readers eager for a heroine who proves that the pen (or drawing pencil) is mightier than the sword (or demon lord)." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books Excerpt from Book 1 "Kiki, why is there a crow on my kitchen table?" I glared at the crow in question, but he just shrugged his wings unrepentantly. It was a little unfair that my mother saw a crow in our kitchen and immediately assumed it had something to do with me. On the other hand, she wasnt exactly wrong, so my indignation was probably misplaced. Both Mum and the crow were staring expectantly at me, but my mind was a little busy Overthinking. When that happens, my thoughts go something like this: if I tell Mum the truth she might not believe me or shell think Im hallucinating, but if I lie to her Ill be stuck lying to her forever and I dont want to do that, but if I tell her the truth she might not believe me or shell think- "Kiki," Mum said in a voice that would have made demon kings quake. We could have really used her when Mahishasura, the demon king, was terrorizing my imaginary kingdom a few months ago. "Hes my friend," I blurted out. Mum blinked. "The crow? Are you telling me you found him, fed him, and now he hangs around all the time hoping for more? If thats the case, Kiki, I really dont see why he has to be indoors. What if hes covered in fleas? Do birds get fleas?" "Oh, we dont have to worry about that," I said at once, before I could stop myself. "Hes magical. He doesnt get parasites or diseases or anything." Mum stared at me in stunned silence. I winced. Across the kitchen, the crow smacked a wing over his eyes. "Magical," said Mum. She looked uncertain, like she wasnt sure whether to play along as she used to when I was six or call my doctor and ask if the medication shed prescribed had any peculiar side effects we should know about. It had been a long day. Id had school and Mum had been working, and then wed had to go straight to the doctor for my monthly "How are things going?" appointment, then to the supermarket, then to the food bank to drop off what wed bought, and then, finally, back home. So we were both tired, and Pip could really have chosen his timing better, but it was too late to just breeze past it now. It was time to tell Mum everything. "Okay," I said, collapsing into one of the chairs at the table. I pointed at the crow. "This is Pip." "Isnt that what you named your imaginary friend when you were little?" Mum asked, eyeing Pip like she wasnt entirely comfortable with me sitting so close to him. I nodded. "This is him." "You mean youve named the crow Pip, too?" "No, I mean this is that Pip. My Pip." Mum stared at me. I stared back. She sighed. "Kiki, I would really prefer not to adopt a crow as a pet, but Im willing to consider it if youre really attached to him. You dont have to make things up." "But Im not," I said, wondering if it was going to be possible to convince her. "Mum, I promise. Im not making this up, and its not the mela-thingy that Dr. Muzembe gave me to help me sleep, either." "Melatonin," she corrected me automatically. I looked at Pip. His black crow eyes twinkled at me, full of mischief. "You could at least wave or something," I said to him, exasperated. "Youre the one who came out here instead of hiding in my room like we agreed. The least you can do is help me prove youre not a normal crow!" With an obliging ruffle of his feathers, Pip raised one wing and waved at Mum. Mum blinked. "Did he just-" Perking up, because this was maybe my best way to make Mum believe the impossible, I said, "Pip, hop from one foot to the other." Pip hopped from one foot to the other. Mums eyes widened. "Do that thing you did on my birthday last month." Pip opened his beak and, puffing his chest out, started to make the most horrible cawing noises. Somewhere in the cacophony, though, was the unmistakable tune of the "Happy Birthday" song. By this point, Mums eyes were practically popping right out of her head. She stared at Pip for a full minute before turning back to me. "Okay," she said in the voice of someone who has just been clonked on the head. "Explain." "You have to promise to stay calm." "I think thats a bit much to ask, dont you?" "Fair enough." I bit my lip. Pip hopped onto my shoulder. "So the thing is . . ." Back in October, the morning after I came out of my sketchbook world and back into the real world, Id told Mum the truth about my worrying. I had told her how bad it had gotten, how I couldnt sleep because my brain was so noisy, how ugly and frightening and persistent some of my thoughts were-all of it. When I was done, Id asked for help, and Mum had given it to me. Shed taken me to our doctor, who had put me on a waiting list for childrens mental health services. While we waited, Dr. Muzembe had prescribed me melatonin to help me sleep and had suggested a few techniques I could try when things got bad. Since then, the anxiousness and obsessive thoughts hadnt gone away, and I had been told repeatedly that they probably never would, but I felt like they were easier to cope with. Weirdly enough, just being able to talk about how I was feeling, without feeling ashamed or guilty like I used to, had made me feel a whole lot better. The melatonin helped me sleep at night. And Mum was always there for me. But Id never told her about the sketchbook, my made-up kingdom, or Mahishasura. It had been awful keeping such an exciting secret to myself, but what else could I have done? Sprung it on her over dinner one evening? Mother, I created a magical kingdom in my sketchbook, and a demon king from Indian folklore brought it to life, so then I had to travel into my sketchbook kingdom to stop him and save everyone, which I did by using my really cool pencil magic and trapping the demon king in a collapsing palace. This pasta is really yummy, by the way. Yeah, I wouldnt have believed me, either. But now that Pip had taken matters into his own wings, and had also given me the closest thing to proof I could offer, I could tell her. So I did. By the time I was done, Mum had the oddest look on her face. She had looked bemused, appalled, and entertained at different points of my tale, almost like shed let herself get swept up in what sounded like an awfully fun story, but this expression was something else. I couldnt find a name for it. "Mum?" I prompted, when she didnt say anything. "Are you okay?" A tiny smile lifted the corners of her mouth. "Its a funny thing. You know I illustrate and animate other peoples stories for work, but there was a time when I used to make up the stories, too. Around the time you were born, I had a sketchbook with my own made-up world." "Really?" "It wasnt much like yours, by the sounds of it," she said. "Your dad loved it. I think thats why I stopped after he, well, you know. After." After he died, she meant. Clearing her throat, Mum went on, in a different tone of voice, "And of course, my world wasnt real." I grimaced. "You dont believe me." "Its not that I dont believe you," she said. "I mean, considering that"-she gestured somewhat helplessly to Pip-"its hard not to believe you. But its also hard to accept that everything you just told me could have actually happened. Youre asking me to believe that while I was asleep in my bed, you, my only child and the most important thing in the world to me, were in an entirely different universe, in grave danger, and I might never have seen you again." I felt my cheeks heat with guilt. Mum had already lost my dad, and now I was telling her that shed come really close to losing me, too. Maybe this was why the kids in stories never told their parents what they were up to (assuming they had parents, or parents they actually liked, which was by no means a given). As someone who was a little too familiar with what it felt like to worry about the people I loved, I felt terrible for making my mother worry about me. "But its over now," I said. "Im safe. And the gateway between the two worlds is sealed, so I can never go back." "You dont sound happy about that," she said shrewdly. I shrugged. Mum looked at Pip, who had his beak in an open bag of donuts on the counter, and then back at me. "And youre saying all this really happened?" I could tell she still didnt totally believe me. To be fair, it was a lot to ask of someone. "You can look through my sketchbook if you like?" I offered. "Id love to," she said. She kept blinking, like she was quite sure she was going to wake up from a dream at any moment. Considering Id fainted-actually, literally fainted-when I first arrived in my made-up universe, I thought she was handling it pretty well. "Why dont I put a pizza in the oven while you fetch it?" Once dinner was ready, we sat back down at the table and she leafed through my sunshine-yellow sketchbook, forgetting entirely about her half of the pizza. She didnt even notice that Pip kept edging c Details ISBN0593207017 Author Sangu Mandanna Audience Age 8-12 Series Kiki Kallira Language English Year 2023 ISBN-10 0593207017 ISBN-13 9780593207017 Format Paperback Publication Date 2023-05-16 Imprint Viking Books for Young Readers Series Number 2 Publisher Penguin USA Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2023-05-16 NZ Release Date 2023-05-16 US Release Date 2023-05-16 UK Release Date 2023-05-16 Pages 336 DEWEY FIC Audience Children / Juvenile We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:142193021;

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