Mighty Feelings: A Warm, Honest Story About Depression and Hope [Review]

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Title: Rain Holiday
Author: Shreya Ramachandran
Publisher: Talking Cub (an imprint of Speaking Tiger)
Length: 214 pages
Type: Paperback
Age recommendation: 9/10 years+ (8+ for advanced readers)

Paro Anand describes the book as

‘A deceptively sweet and light story even as it plumbs the depths of childhood darkness with a deftness rarely seen’.

Honestly, that’s perfect summary — I don’t think I can say it better myself.

One moment, you’re laughing along with Rekha (our narrator) and her friends as they muddle through school days and home life, surrounded by bungling elders who mean well but often miss the mark. And then, just like that, the laughter catches in your throat — you’re sniffling, claiming (just like Rekha) it’s just allergies, or maybe some mysterious dust in the air, reaching for a tissue, or your t-shirt sleeve to deal with the “moisture.”

Rekha and Latisha have been inseparable since the beginning of primary school — sharing everything from tiffin boxes to secrets, complaints, and car rides. So when, one ordinary Tuesday, Latisha suddenly disappears and can only be reached through the door of her room, Rekha knows she has to solve the mystery. Helping her are Faiz and Raji — who are, well, okay. But then, just like her mother always says: people are just about 1% better than we think they are.

Set over the course of thirteen rain-soaked days, many of which have been declared Rain Holidays at school, Rekha tries to navigate the rain-laden streets of Mumbai with some expected and some unexpected allies and discover what it means to be a friend to someone who herself is going through a rain holiday of her own.

Rekha’s mother, a psychiatrist, is a constant, grounding presence — quite like the annoying and exasperated “Mom” way we all recognize. Her words (how we should be patient… how during our times etc etc… ) made me laugh out loud more than once. It just felt so real! In fact, every relationship in this book — mother and daughter, friends, even the one with the Dad I was sure I’d dislike — feels disarmingly real. And true to the book’s quiet wisdom, I, too, ended up realizing that people — even fictional ones — are sometimes just that 1% better than we expect.

At home, there’s another mystery unfolding. Why is her dad — divorced, living in Chennai — suddenly interested in the multi-crore painting hanging on their apartment wall? Is it just for its price? Or is it what it means to them as a family? Shreya deftly creates a tale that is deceptively (to borrow two words from Paro’s succinct review) simple as it navigates across both these mysteries, while it moves gently through judgment, friendship, and understanding.

A shoutout to the character Mala Akka, the woman who moved in with her mother to Chennai to take care of the tiny Rekha, is a spunky woman. Her anecdotes, observations and repartees are something else! Much like Rekha, she’s spunky, outspoken, fiercely loyal, and impossible not to love. But it’s not just her; everyone in this story feels alive. I hate descriptions. Not Shreya’s. They are funny and paint a picture in a way that you just know who they are. You know them. You’ve met them in your apartments, at school gates, in family WhatsApp groups, or maybe even across your own dining table.

Before I read the book, my daughter Kyra had already devoured it (yummy) in one sitting — straight after school. She loved every character, how even those who appeared for a single page had depth and life. She adored Mighty, and how the legend of its “origin story” kept changing, as the story developed. And of course how none of the elders got it and each of them gave it ridiculous names. She also liked how there is no specific reason identified for the way Latisha feels, and how that is disseminated by Rekha’s mother for Rekha. Her only complaint? The book was too short.

The book is all heart. With Faiz and his trouble with his mother, Raji and her vacant car, Rekha and her troubles with her estranged father. The book also gives subtle tools for children as the navigate this increasingly complex world that seems to be skewed against them. Friendships, Feeling Diaries, Music, Therapy, Talking to elders… For some, talking about feelings is easy. But then for people like Raji and Rekha – they would much rather eat stones. (yummers)

There seemed only one thing that seemed highly fictional. Doctors struggling over money – that too orthopedic surgeons and psychiatrists. But then, I am being flippant.

This is a brilliant book for readers of all ages. My kid was asking me what makes art great. I responded saying, something that moves you enough to want to change… This book did that for me. I know, I will trust my child’s words a lot more from now on.

The author’s debut novel – The Worlds Within You, has got outstanding reviews as well.

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Disclaimer: Mandira is part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc. She is the author of the award winning book Children of the Hidden Land. Her new release Muniya’s Quest for middle graders has been reviewed here with high praise and lots of love!