The Adventures of the Flying Magic Jharoka - Poachers in Paradise
Author: 
Shamim Padamsee
Illustrator: 
Sayantan Halder
age group: 
7+ yrs
Number of pages: 
82
Publisher: 
Puffin
Themes:
poaching nature and wildlife kashmir dogs around India adventure hangul
Genre:
fiction, fantasy
 

 

Would you like to go on a magic carpet ride to Kashmir? Substitute the magic carpet with a Flying Magic Jharokha (a carved window) and you are off on an adventurous quest with Shamim Padamsee’s Deeya and Vayu in ‘Poachers in Paradise’.

This is the second in the series of ‘The Adventures of the Flying Magic Jharokha’. In the first book, Deeya and Vayu’s Uncle Jadoo, a clever magician, creates a Jharokha that flies. An evil djinn kidnaps Uncle Jadoo to coerce the secret of the Flying Jharokha out of Uncle. He imprisons Uncle Jadoo in a cage secured by seven magical keys. Clever Uncle Jadoo knows the hiding place of the keys and secretly gives seven cryptic clues to the Flying Jharokha, which is to be revealed to Deeya, and Vayu after each key is found. The children solve the first cryptic clue and find the first key in Rajasthan

The second book begins with Deeya and Vayu’s attempt to crack the second cryptic clue (“Valley green, Moghul queen, Marble screen”) that leads them to Kashmir. They stumble on a poacher who is in the act of shooting a Hangul, an endangered species of red deer endemic to Kashmir. Before they can react, the poacher’s evil designs are thwarted by Zoon, a young Kashmiri girl. Deeya and Vayu join hands with Zoon to catch the poachers while simultaneously trying to find the magic key. Will the intrepid trio foil the poachers’ plan in time? Will Deeya and Vayu find the second key?

Shamim Padamsee’s knowledge of Kashmir shines through; young readers learn about Kashmiri customs, traditions and dress in a fun way. The book makes one wonder what nuggets are hidden in Rebels in Rajasthan, the first book in the series that takes readers to Rajasthan. Illustrations by Sayantan Haldar give form to young reader’s imagination and support the storyline. In the next book, it would nice to have broad character strokes of Deeya and Vayu in the beginning of the book that would help young readers connect better with the protagonists.

There's a serious gap in children’s literature in India, of books that cater to young picture-book-readers who have graduated to chapter books. Shamim Padamsee fills the gap with this book where rollicking adventure and information about Kashmir go hand in hand to make a lively read.

 

 

Reviewed by Priya Bhasker

Comments

I like this book because it is nice and we can get knowledge of the Himalayas like the names and types of areas in the Himalayas. I have also learnt that the Himalayas grow because of the tectonic plates which push them up.

I also like this book as it is adventurous because of finding the key and catching the dealer and the poacher. The poacher in the book wanted to be rich so he dealt with a dealer for antlers. The dealer in the book deals in antlers and animal fur and other parts.

The key was a special one which glows.

It is the second of the seven powerful keys which could open and free caged Uncle Jaadu captured by evil Djinn.

Vivaan Tasker
Grade 3
MET Rishikul Vidyalaya,
Mumbai

Poachers in Paradise is the second book in the series .’The adventures of the flying magic jharokha’ written by Shamim Padamsee who is passionate about children’s literature. She believes that book’s are important learning tools and this book proves it

Vayu and Deeya have to save their uncle Jadoo from the evil djinn by solving a series of riddles .The secret message hidden in the first clue was the basis of the first book in the series .The riddle for the second book is

Valley Green
Mogul queen
Marble screen

Referring to the Atlas ,the kids zero in on Kashmir as the place where they will find the key to save their Uncle

What follows is a valid description of Kashmir –the floating garden ,the floating market ,the house boats ,the coloourful shikara ,the soulful of the rubab, the traditional dress called pheron ,the native red deer called hangul, the filigreed papermache which is a speciality of Kashmir , the waswan which is a wicker basket to carry hot coals .A brief history of Kashmir and a description of the famous Shalimar gardens are woven into the story making it interesting and informative

Ms Padamsee has chosen poaching as a theme to sensitise kids to this important environmental issue.The author uses local words(listed above) to enrich the readers vocabulary .The story revolves around a magic flying Jharoka- a window

I enjoyed the book because I like mysteries and also because the book was easy and fast to read .The book ends with another riddle .I am looking forward to read the next book in the series.

Kimberly Roy
Arya Vidya Mandir

Bandra (E)

Mumbai

The book ‘Poachers in Paradise’ is an excellent work of fiction by Shamim Padamsee.
The protagonist Vayu and Deeya, are on a mission to find the second key to free their favourite uncle Jadoo from the evil djinns clutches. Their expedition takes them to the valleys of Kashmir –Paradise on Earth – hence the title of the story is apt and justified. The two siblings not only find the keys but also stop the Poachers from killing precious wildlife.
I particularly liked the part of the story where Deeya feels that she has found the second key but alas! It was not so! After a series of other incidents do the kids manage to succeed in their mission?
The character of Vayu is simply superlative. He comes across as an intelligent,focussed and protective brother. The other characters lend him able support and the story becomes an enjoyable read.
I learnt a lot about the culture and tradition of Kashmir though this book and would recommend the book to one and all.

Gaurav Khare
Std IV A
Arya Vidya Mandir, Juhu
Mumbai

“POACHERS IN PARADISE” IS WRITTEN BY THE FAMOUS AND THE ILLUSTROUS AUTHOR MRS.SHAMIM PADAMSEE. SHE HAS WRITTEN MANY SERIES OF BOOKS. “ A POACHER IN PARADISE” IS IN THE SERIES OF THE “ADVENTURES OF FLYING MAGIC JHAROKA”.
DEEYA AND VAYU ARE OFF TO KASHMIR!! THEIR DEAR UNCLE WHO’S A MAGICIAN IS IMPRISONED BY THE CRUEL, EVIL AND WICKED PERSON DJINN. DJINN WANTED TO KNOW THE SECRET HOW TO MAKE THINGS FLY BUT THEIR UNCLE JADOO REFUSED TO TELL HIM SO HE INPRISONED HIM. TO UNLOCK HIM YOU HAVE TO OPEN SEVEN LOCKA AND THE KEY IS HIDDEN IN SEVEN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
DJINN GOT TO KNOW THAT THE INTELIGENT MAGICIAN KNEW WHERE THE KEYS WERE HIDDEN SO HE SENT CLUES TO HIS NIECE AND NEPHEW TO FIND THE KEYS. THEY FOUND ONE KEY IN RAJASTHAN AND THE SECOND ONE IN POACHERS IN PARADISE. AS THEY REACH KASHMIR THEY FIND A POACHER TRYING TO KILL A VERY RARE SPECIE DEER.
A DOG SAVES THE DEER BY BITING THE POACHER! WITH THE HELP OF ZOON’S UNCLE THEY REACH THE PLACE WHERE THE POACHER WAS LIVING AND OVERHEARD A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE POACHER AND A MANAGER OF A ANIMAL SELLING COMPANY. THE MANAGER AND THE POACHER WERE PLANNING TO MEET AT A GARDEN AND THAT’S WHERE DEEYA AND VAYU FIND THE KEY FOR WHICH THEY CAME TO KASHMIR.
ZOON’S UNCLE, ZOON, DEEYA, VAYU AND CHIMPU CATCH THE POACHER AND THE MANAGER IN THE GARDEN. WHEN THEY FIND THE KEY TO LOCK THE MANAGER AND THE POACHER CHIMPU KEEPS DIGGING AT ONE PLACE AND FINDS THE KEY THAT DEEYA AND VAYU HAD COME LOOKING FOR.

I REALLY LIKED THIS ADVENTURE BOOK.IT WAS AN AMAZING STORY FROM SHAMIM PADMASEE. IT IS A TRULY A FANTASTIC BOOK FROM A VERY CREATIVE AUTHOR. A MUST READ FOR CHILDREN.

Edhita Singhal
Class 4A
Arya Vidya Mandir School
Juhu
Mumbai

The author takes her readers on an exhilarating journey zooming through Kashmir on an adventure with two boisterous siblings - Deeya and Vayu. They are on a quest to find a key to save their uncle, Jadoo from an evil Djinn.

The author has interwoven a thrilling adventure with the alluring beauty of Kashmir. The reader can vividly imagine the mesmerizing panoramic sunset of Kashmir reflecting  on the snow capped Himalayas and the cool winds ruffling my hair. The Kawha and the Wazwan made me feel famished and the walk through the Spectacular Shalimar gardens and paddling the shikara through the placid icy cool Dal lake was exciting.

When they bravely fought the poachers, I too wished i could jump right in and punch the horrid poachers because the poacher was about to shoot, the mesmerising Hangul for his endangered antlers.The book was truly an exciting read and makes the reader long to read the next one. Thank you Mrs.Shamim Padamsee for taking me through an adventurous ride through Kashmir. Looking forward to the next one.

Ayaan Kapadia
Grade - 4
JBCN International School, Parel