Karma

By Cathy Ostlere. New York: Razorbill, 2011.

Karma is a magnificent book that must be read! Told in free verse and using a diary format, I was immediately drawn to this story from the first page, and couldn't put it down! This story takes place in 1984. Maya is 15 years old. She is half-Hindu and half-Sikh and living in Canada with her parents. After her mother's suicide, she and her father travel from Canada to New Delhi, India with her mother's ashes. It is October 31, and Indira Gandhi is assassinated, and Maya and her father find themselves stuck in a turbulent, dangerous setting. Maya becomes separated from her father, and decides to get on a train to escape the danger. Heading north, Maya witnesses an act so terrible and brutal, she becomes mute, extremely traumatized by her experience. She is "rescued" by Parvati, a doctor, who sends Maya to her family's home. There, she meets Parvati's brother, Sandeep, who falls in love with Maya, and tries to coax her out of her sadness and get her to speak. Maya and Sandeep go on a journey to see if they can locate Maya's father, and so karma comes in to the story. I'll leave it at that, so I don't give anything away.

This story is so powerful, and the use of free verse allows the reader an intimate look into the characters. I really loved the use of a diary as the format. It pulled me into the lives of Maya and Sandeep in a way that I don't think a traditional narrative would. Combined with historical events, and rich cultural details, this is an epic story! I highly recommend this heart-wrenching, beautiful story of journey and self-discovery. You won't be disappointed!