STORY: 5/5
CHARACTERS: 5/5
ILLUSTYRATIONS: 4.5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
It was a dull Monday, and I had come back from my school at 5:00 pm. I was planning to watch TV when I saw AGALYA IN THE SPOTLIGHT by Divya Anand on the coffee table. Wow! Mumma had ordered another book for me! How cool is that!!
I instantaneously gave up all thoughts of watching TV and started to read this book. And guess what? I completed it in a single sitting. It was thoroughly fascinating, and I didn’t want to put the book down for even a single second. Now you must be wondering what is so special about this book. So yes, let me tell you exactly that.
Agalya in the Spotlight follows the story of a girl named Agalya who gets a chance to play a princess-like character in a school play. But nothing goes as she expects, and all kinds of chaos happen in her life.
Now our Agalya is not exactly what you would call princess-like. I mean, she’s more into gymnastics, sports, running, and stuff like that. But when Ms. Asma announces out of the blue that instead of doing a dance, choir, fashion show, or something like that for their school activity, they will be performing an act from her best-loved movie Tangled (which is the animated version of Rapunzel), Agalya decides that she definitely wants to try out for Rapunzel.
But woefully, her BFF Prisha has the same thought. And let me tell you, it is not long before besties turn into bitter enemies. And Agalya is surprised to see that Prisha is siding with the mean girls of the class and is making harsh comments about her.
So, Agalya decides that she will show them that a princess is not only someone who has sophistication, poise, and chic style. A true princess is someone who has a good heart and helps everyone when they are in need.
So, who do you think will get the character of Rapunzel?
Our sweet, helping, and nurturing Agalya or Prisha?
Packed with humour, entertainment, and hair disasters, this book just stole my heart. It was so engaging that I finished it in one sitting. The story offered me many life lessons — one is that we should never be afraid of bullies, and another is that we should be brave enough to stand up for ourselves. The story also shows us that no matter what, everyone deserves to be treated with kindness.
All in all, this book is an excellent and fun read, and I would surely recommend it to all kids (especially girls) in the age group of 8 to 12 years.
Cannot wait to read it? Get your own copy of Agalya in the Spotlight using the link below.
