CHARACTERS: 3.5/5
WRITING STYLE: 3/5
CLIMAX: 3/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5
The backbencher series has enjoyed quite a bit of success and I must say all of it is indeed very well deserved.
All the books are written making use of the hit formula that typically adorns a typical college romance and the icing on the cake is the fact that all three books can be read as standalone novels which do not really require pre-reading of the prequels for the reader to understand what is going on in the story.
Fortunately, if you indeed have read the previous two parts, you will know that the third one called The Backbenchers 3: Days of Summer is possibly the best in terms of creativity of plot and the adventure quotient.
Mitali Roy is the most recent entry in the teacher’s circle at the Presidency Convent, Delhi but what makes her stand out from her colleagues is her young age, a charming persona and the stunning looks which she carries with élan each time she trots the corridors of the posh Delhi school.
But somehow beneath all that glitz and glamour is a hidden agenda which forces her to convince the school principal to allow select students from the school to participate in a wildlife photography camp being organized by the top Indian photographer Sanjib Desai in the Masinagudi rainforests of Tamil Nadu.
Yuvraj, Ananya, Natasha and Shreya from Presidency Delhi, Abhinav from Doon School and Urvashi from Good Shepherd International are the kids which finally make it to the camp along with their teacher Mitali.
But what the excited students don’t know is that Sanjib Desai is not the man he seems to be and danger is just lurking around the corner and it won’t be too long before they learn what fear really is.
So what will happen to the kids? What ugly plot is Sanjib hatching? And what is Mitali’s ulterior motive?
Know this and much more in this exciting and fast-paced novel today.
The plot of The Backbenchers 3: Days of Summer is strong and supported by nicely placed subplots which in a way takes the story of the previous books forward, the main plot though is quite different from the previous books and rather new in its approach.
The setting of the entire book in the rainforests of Tamil Nadu is also unique and incredibly interesting.
The characters – new ones as well as the old are also great to read about. Both Sanjib Desai and Mitali Roy come across as powerful and compelling characters.
The author’s gusty writing style continues to impress and lend the fun and adventure quotient to the story.
The climax is a bit disappointing though and that is the only qualm a reader might have with this book.
It is predictable and insipid and in the end spoils the entire thrill which was so beautifully built up in the preceding pages.
That being said, The Backbenchers 3: Days of Summer was a pleasant read and I recommend it to all my readers.