Multiple Katlis, One Captivating Tale! [Review]

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Book Title: An Absence of Squirrels
Author: Aparna Kapur
Illustrator: Siddhi Vartak
Publisher: Duckbill Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House India)
Type: Paperback
Pages: 224 pages
Age Group: 10 years+

It’s very rare that you start a book, and in the first para you are hooked and you know it’s going to be a weird and wonderfully joyous ride. It’s rarer still that the book holds up to the promise and delivers.

Aparna Kapur’s An Absence of Squirrels hooks you from the get-go, reels you in, serves you snacks, and then throws you into the ocean to (spoiler alert) have an epiphany.

That should be enough for a book review. But since you’re still here, let’s go on.

The book is set in Thutta, an island shaped like a tooth that has a train, an ocean, and exactly 5,120 people who never leave. Think Hotel California, but with fewer guitars and more fun. Presiding over this island is a mysterious figure called “The Captain”, whom everyone loves, though no one quite remembers why.

It is centered around our protagonist Katli — a shape-shifter of personality. She comes in multiple versions, depending on who’s watching. Her best friend Abhay embraces all of her forms like a loyal friend, while her mother wonders why her daughter needs so many versions when all are great and just one would do. But then what do mothers of 13-year-olds know? Nothing! Their job is mainly to provide food, and deliver one-liners.

One day, Katli No. 3 (the rebellious version) decides to skip school and follow the cat and visit the library. What follows includes a flying hat, missing squirrels, obliterated memories and epiphany that involves deep ocean.

I particularly loved the writing style and Katli’s character. In spite of the very strange, yet interesting, world Aparna has created, I found myself relating to both the world and its character – specifically Katli. Couldnt help but remember her other book (Hook Book) ‘I won’t wash my hair’ and how bizarrely funny and yet relatable the whole story was! Actually, I look forward to her next! The prose was wonderful, book pacy and funny, and the world quirky and endearing.

An Absence of Squirrels by Aparna Kapur was something my eleven year old insisted I read. According to her, Aparna Kapur slayed, ate and left no crumbs! I did feel that the climax Captain’s display of vulnerability was a little strange — but then my kid didn’t think so. And it is, for her age-group! She felt the book deserves a fandom and fanfic! Well…

If you enjoyed this review and love fantasy adventures, then this book is a must have! To order the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),

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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!