THE CHAOS MONSTER

Twins Kinjal and Kiya Rajkumar set off on a journey to another dimension to save the Sky Kingdom’s crumbling ecosystem in this series opener.

The fourth graders are ordinary New Jersey kids. But when Kinjal sees his mom stretch out her arm to catch a bee in a way that is beyond human, he seeks answers in Thakurmar Jhuli, a collection of Bengali folktales that is special to his father. When the kids find the book, a chaos monster appears and steals their beloved dog, Thums-Up. Next, two pakkhiraj, enormous flying horses from the folktales, arrive to whisk Kinjal and Kiya away. They ask for the twins’ help in saving the Sky Kingdom: Princess Pakkhiraj tasks the twins with saving the bees and thereby their ecosystem, setting them off on a grand adventure. Fans of DasGupta’s Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond and Fire Queen series will love returning to the world of those books, but readers need not be familiar with them to enjoy this one. In this fantasy, DasGupta masterfully highlights the importance of pollinators and environmental activism through a mythological lens that is rooted in real-world examples. Tang’s charming grayscale art adds to the sense of wonder and the enchanting worldbuilding that is infused with Bengali cultural elements. The author’s note adds context about the folktale and mythology elements, astronomy, and environmental justice.

An exciting, magic-filled story that will leave readers inspired to make a positive impact on the world.