What would you do if you chanced to meet a sea creature in a human form? Rub your eyes in disbelief and make a run for it? Or, stay back to know more? Well, you have to see it to believe it! This is what happens to Jaya when she happens to visit Oregon on a short trip in Manolita by Sara Rajan (Karadi Tales), a chapter book that delves into fantasy for middle graders.
Jaya, from Seattle, is on a visit to Oregon with her older brother Srini. While Srini is busy with his work Jaya visits the beautiful God’s Thumb at Devil’s Lake. She chances to meet a young girl sitting on a rock in a pretty yellow sundress. The girl introduces herself as Manolita. Being close to the same age they connect and get talking.
But there’s something odd about Manolita that Jaya cannot put her finger to. Jaya is also surprised that Manolita does not know what are numbers or what a phone is. Though puzzled Jaya still agrees to meet Manolita the next day for lunch at The Mollusk, a restaurant close by. But at the restaurant too, Manolita behaves in an odd manner and her style of eating fish is yucky to Jaya. Jaya is perplexed. Who eats boiled fish and swallows it in one gulp? Why is Manolita so weird? Who exactly is this young girl?
There are many questions in Jaya’s mind she wants answers to. But when Jaya hears about Manolita’s identity she is taken aback in disbelief! Do read this magical story of Jaya and Manolita’s unlikely friendship. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Fantasy fiction for middle graders can’t get better than this! Manolita by Sara Rajan will get their imagination running wild. Well, anything can happen and it need not be necessarily in a book!
