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Book Review By Michelle
The Conch Bearer by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Two years ago Anand's father left to work on another continent. For three months he sent money back home to them just like he promised. Then the letters and the money stopped. Then his little sister, Meera witnessed a hit and run. She has been comatose ever since. Anand's mother has spent all their savings on doctors to help Meera. Now Anand is working for the cruel tea stall owner, Haru, to help make ends meet. Two things help Anand survive. First, is the look on his mother's face when he brings home his meager paycheck each week, and second is his secret belief in magic. One day an old man comes into the tea shop. Anand thinks he is a bit wrong in the head, like Meera. So Anand gives him the tea and Pooris he had packed for lunch. The old man thanks him and leaves. It's dark when Anand gets off work and it feels like someone is following him. A dense fog comes up and he barely manages to find his way home. Then the old man shows up at his door. His name is Abadhyatta and he comes from a valley in the Himalayas where the brotherhood of healers live. All the brothers have a special power. Some can look into the future, others can control the weather, and most important one special brother can use the conch, an object of great power. But one of the brotherhood, Surabhanu, began to covet the power of the conch and he stole it. Abadhyatta was sent to retrieve it, and he barely managed to survive his encounter with Surabhanu. Now Surabhanu is chasing Abadhyatta to try and steal the conch back. Abadhyatta needs an assistant to help him. He asks Anand to be that assistant. When his mother comes home and sees Abadhyatta in her home, she is afraid and sends him away. The next morning Meera is better, just like Abadhyatta said. Reluctantly Anand's mother lets him go help Abadhyatta. On their journey back to the Himalayas they will meet a young orphan girl named Nisha. She too will assist in their quest. But Surabhanu is determined to recover the conch.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Descript. of chases or violence - 30 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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