Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this novel.

Set during the COVID-19 lockdown, this novel is one of grief, mystery, and hope. It was a fast read, and I think many students will enjoy it.

The Covid pandemic provides the perfect setting for dealing with the topic of grief. De Suza has the family in this chapter book clearly share with Swara that her grandma has died of the virus but since it happened so suddenly and without them present, Swara believes they are wrong and that Pitter Paati has just gone away and will return. De Suza then has Swara move through various stages of grief in an authentic almost-nine-year-old way, as she first tries to discover where her grandmother is and eventually moves through anger to remembering and acceptance.

But Swara's grief, while a focus, is also a background to a very real mystery that she discovers as she stares out her bedroom window at the lockdown-empty streets below and at stores that should be closed and dark at night but aren't. Thanks to mobile phones, she and her friends (and her annoying older brother who turns out to be a great ally) manage to solve a crime and bring the criminals to justice without breaking lockdown - well, at least mostly. A great global book, set in India. More serious but at the same level as the Junie B. Jones books.

This is a charming early middle grade about 8-year-old Swara losing her grandmother during the pandemic in India.

This book surprised me in the best ways. Told in an authentic eight-year-old point of view voice, this novel took me back to the beginning of the pandemic and gave me a new perspective of this time. I enjoyed the loving family, the friendships, the mystery, the spunkiness, and how this book dealt with death, grief, change, and loss.

Swara is almost nine, and the COVID pandemic has thrown her entire world sideways. Not only is she not allowed to set a single toe outside of her family’s apartment, but her beloved Pitter Paati has succumbed to the virus. Refusing to believe that Pitter Paati is really gone, Swara begins seeing signs that Pitter Paati is sending her messages from beyond the grave. But when those clues become more frequent and real, Swara’s imaginings no longer seem as far-fetched as they once did.

This accessible middle grade novel flows quickly thanks to its fast-paced, stream of consciousness-style writing and its variable structure. While the majority of the book is presented in a traditional narrative style, maps, lists, and diary entries punctuate the flow to give readers both a visual respite and a more journalistic approach to the storytelling. Much like the fictional detectives she and Pitter Paati like so much, Swara uses her time in lockdown to investigate what she can from the windows of her home. Luckily, Swara has support from both friends and family, even if they do not always understand exactly what is going through Swara’s mind.

Readers who lived through the COVID lockdown will immediately empathize with Swara’s feelings of loss, fear, boredom, and isolation. Even after Pitter Paati’s passing, Swara fears what will happen when the world finds its way again, especially as it might mean forgetting the grandmother she loved so well. Frequently funny and entertaining, Swara’s thoughts and commentary help her to cope with the enormity of her feelings and process what she can in an unpredictable situation. This approach can help readers to understand how others may express grief while offering a window into one girl’s heartbreaking experience. Filled with both depth and light, this middle grade story is a positive addition to library collections for young readers.