The entirety of my childhood and adolescence were spent in my dad’s officers’ quarters in Bangalore, a neighbourhood where everyone knew everybody else. Living in such proximity meant growing up not just in your own household, but in your neighbours’ homes too: being witness to their quirks, their tempers, their routines, and their unspoken rules.
In Jumble Sale, we enter the vibrant Parsi colony of Khorshed Baug, where the Sethna siblings Dorab and Dina can pretty much bring the roof down. Then odd thefts begin to haunt the colony: everything from ‘Digene’ tablets to pink bottle brushes vanish. It sets off a laugh-out-loud mystery. Rumours of a mischievous ghost and a thieving crow only add to the neighbourhood frenzy. As suspicions swirl, Mrs. Tinaz Toddywala, a beaky nosed, puckered mouth teacher-neighbour is on a mission to take down the Sethna siblings.
The charm of the book lies not just in the mystery but the people. Every character is sketched with quirks that make them memorable, from strict parents and teachers to busybody neighbours. Dorab and Dina, though endlessly mischievous, remain utterly lovable. Their take on recycling and reusing everyday items feels delightful.
Shabnam’s writing is fast paced and filled with witty flourishes. She has a knack for crafting eccentric characters who feel instantly real. Tinaz Toddywala’s detective zeal, Dorab and Dina’s wide-eyed schemes, teachers and neighbours all come alive with little quirks and sharp humour.
The illustrations add a whole other layer of charm, capturing the mood, the mayhem, and the mischief with just the right amount of exaggeration. And underneath all the fun is a subtle nudge towards creativity, recycling, and the unexpected uses of everyday things, something Dorab and Dina explore in their own wild way.
Jumble Sale is part of the Silly Billy series, which delivers exactly what the name promises: books that don’t take themselves too seriously, and are fun to read. With mystery, adventure, and a whole lot of humour, this book is a fantastic pick for young readers and for not-so-young readers who still find joy in a neighbourhood full of oddballs, ghosts, and disappearing bottle brushes.