Nandita da Cunha’s story is gentle yet impactful, and Shreya Sen’s illustrations complement the narrative with warmth and charm. However, according to me, the illustrations could have been more provocative. Illustrations are not just limited to describing the narrative in pictorial form,
Vincent makes it evident that his freedom is uncompromisable. He is an eight-year-old fighting for autonomy in the world of adults who decide what is right and wrong. It also highlights a forgotten era where children in fact, were left alone to explore and find their way.
I feel very connected to the protagonist, since Agassi’s story narrates a common challenge faced by children, that is, self-doubt. The author is successful in addressing this relatable issue to the readers and motivates them to imbibe an optimistic outlook.
Another thing I liked is the writing style. It’s simple and easy to follow, but never boring. Agalya’s thoughts are funny and relatable.
Stories such as this one serve the important purpose of helping children learn life lessons that will not automatically emerge either from academic education or everyday family conversations. The story effectively delivers its key idea: life will have its ups and downs, but we can still be happy by embracing what we have. In addition, there is a multitude of small and big lessons that can be learnt from the book.
Anil is disheartened when he learns that the city plans to build a new solar panel factory on land that includes a mangrove. While the factory promises sustainable energy, it threatens the local ecosystem and livelihoods of the fisherfolk who depend on the mangroves.