Books › The serpent's secret
The serpent's secret
368 pages
A high-energy collision of suburban middle-school life and vibrant, monster-filled mythological destiny.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like being shot out of a cannon from a perfectly normal suburban kitchen straight into a vibrant, chaotic world of magic and monsters. The pace is brisk and breathless, capturing the frantic energy of a twelve-year-old whose ordinary reality has just been shattered by drooling demons and sudden disappearances. It balances the relatable, grounded voice of a modern middle-schooler with the sweeping, wondrous atmosphere of an epic quest. The tone is adventurous and slightly irreverent, finding humor in the absurd clash between New Jersey normalcy and fantastical Indian mythology. It is a perfect fit for young readers who crave energetic, magical coming-of-age stories where hidden heritages are revealed and ordinary kids must step up to embrace their extraordinary, secret destinies.
- Mood
- energetic
- magical
- chaotic
- wondrous
- Tone
- adventurous
- humorous
- urgent
- irreverent
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- discovering hidden heritage · embracing destiny · family secrets · coming-of-age
- The writing
- Accessible, fast-paced, and grounded in a relatable middle-grade voice mixed with vibrant mythological descriptions.
- The arc
- Moves from ordinary middle-school normalcy to sudden, chaotic revelation and the courageous acceptance of a magical destiny.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who love fast-paced magical quests and discovering that ordinary kids have extraordinary, secret heritages.
Content notes
- missing parents
- monster attacks
- mild fantasy peril
About the book
On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey, until her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents2 fantastical stories, like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess and how she comes from a secret place not of this world.
Description from Open Library.
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