When The World Went Dark
When The World Went Dark is a book by Jane De Suza where she takes us back to the lockdown days when the world stood standstill. The main character Swara, a little girl of nine, shares her story of happiness and loss experienced during the difficult times of Corona outbreak. The story was well balanced with the right doses of humor and heart-ache.
I connected with Swara easily and enjoyed the journey together. What I loved most were the cute poems, in handwritten fonts that made it look real. Swara’s bond with her Pitter Pati was truly heartwarming. This story reminded me of my granny with whom I shared a wonderful bond. I felt the warmth they shared and enjoyed the conversations too. Swara’s detective work busted the burglary ring during the lockdown and descriptions of the whole incident made it sound so real.
The nine-year olds chitter chatter, her innocent acts and efforts to discover the truth, kept me hooked to the story. The authors storytelling was impactful and it made me feel Swara’s pain after she lost her Paati to the deadly virus. Each character looked real; their words and actions relatable, understandable. Swara’s innocence touched me to the core and I felt as if I knew her.
Swara’s search for truth, her detective work was interesting and equally funny, though not funny from a nine year olds viewpoint who lost her beloved granny and suspects her family members. Her love-hate relationship with her brother is another part that the readers will enjoy. Her handwritten notes and drawings added charm to the book. Swara’s thoughts about the elders of her family, her observations, queries, conclusions were expressed exactly the way a nine year olds is supposed to be.
This is a good book for the young readers and adults equally. The language was simple and easy to read and this aspect will help every reader to connect easily. The show-don’t-aspect, vivid descriptions and the author’s storytelling style from an almost-nine-year olds perspective is praiseworthy. It took me back in time and this I enjoyed reading the story. The advice and reference at the end were highly valuable and helpful. It was a thoughtful addition. I too hope that Swara and her family’s journey will help many to connect, correct and help all to stand strong through the storms of loss and grief.
PS: Besides the story, I liked the size of the book, the paper quality and the cover graphics. I think these features matter when it comes to book reviews.
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