posted on 19 Oct 2023

Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Jen Kharun

This is the fourth book in this popular series by Chitra Soundar set in the Indian city of Chennai. Sona is a kind and popular little girl who lives with her extended family described as ‘ happy people who argue sometimes’. All are introduced along with other significant characters at the start of the story - which I always find very useful as detailed character descriptions can interrupt the flow of a story.

School is an important part of Sona’s life and she and her friends are devoted to their class teacher, Miss Rao. The mid term break is about to start and the children are full of holiday plans ( I am pleased to say that this includes reading ‘zillions of books’). They are surprised to hear that Miss Rao will be getting married the following week and that they are all invited to the wedding. Their initial excitement starts to wane as they realise that she might leave the school to live somewhere far away with her new husband.

The following day Sona confides to her favourite toy Elephant that she is feeling quite panicky about it. Could there be some magical way to make her fervent wish for Miss Rao to stay come true? Talking with various family members and friends about the problem leads her to try using a ritual rhyme about Ravens, a beautiful peacock feather and three Rudraksha beads with links to Shiva, the Hindu god renowned for destroying evil. Apart from relying on these superstitious charms, her mum encourages her to think about how she can work to make her wish come true by working hard at practically solving the problem: ‘ Fortune favours the Brave’.

She is encouraged but when the wedding invitation arrives in the post, Sona realises that the groom’s family live four hundred and fifty five kilometres away! Her grandmother tells her that she must be happy for her teacher, even it means she is going to leave the school. She explains that a long time ago she couldn’t prevent her own son leaving home to study abroad, because she loved him. I like the way that the author interweaves this and other glimpses into the lives of people which helps Sona to broaden her perspective. Is she perhaps being a bit selfish about wanting to keep her teacher?

After mulling it all over with her friends, they decide to write a colourful petition to persuade Miss Rao to stay at the school, with the compromise advice that she could visit her husband at weekends and holidays.

Preparation for the special day overtakes their initial concern because, after all, the very reasonable petition will surely persuade her to stay? The wedding is a memorable occasion enjoyed by the whole community and is described in great detail. What happens afterwards is rather surprising, but you will need to read it for yourself to find out.

I strongly recommend this heartwarming story that is packed with information about traditional food, culture and the wedding ceremony. The useful appendix explains words that may be unfamiliar to the reader. If used in the classroom, I can imagine that there will be plenty of opportunities to share personal experiences of languages other than English and discuss some of the differences between going to school in India compared to the UK.

The plentiful illustrations portray a group of family and friends who clearly enjoy spending time together with lots of examples of affection and generosity of spirit.

Available from Walker Books, the book is out now and can be obtained from your local independent bookshop - who will be glad to order it for you if they don’t have copies on the shelf.

 

Karen Argent

October 2023