Ashwathy and the Boot of God by Sowmya Rajendran

Ashwathy and the Boot of God Reviews

• 
  Sharanya

  How much did l love thee, book? Let me count the ways. Feisty, feminist, atheist, unapologetic 14-year-old female lead who has a natural, loving relationship with her parents, especially her father, and a mother who is not just a cardboard cut-out. The Malayalam words peppered here and there without translation & authentic small-town Kerala atmosphere. The sassy God character who has curly hair and goes out on dates, and the humour, often wicked. The mystery wasn’t so great, but with so many pluses, who cares!
• 
  Nivi

  "When Ashwathy first saw the boot, sticking out of a pile of leaves, she thought she'd discovered a dead body."
  Quite intriguing, isn't it?
  
  It is a pity that we have only 5 stars to rate, for I would give it an infinty number of stars (if that was possible.) Ashwathy, the protagonist is a jolly good break from the wailing, fangirling types of girl characters in detective novels for tweens and teens(I don't like Enid Blyton for that reason) God is not the "divine" being with a halo on her head type we have grown up hearing to. She is unpredictable in every way, be it from wearing a pony tail to drinking toddy! The end and the murderer, is predictable, yet unpredictable and shocking at the same time. From dowry abuse to superstitions, this book portrays the misogynistic society in which we live in, without shying away from the truth. Sowmya Rajendran has wonderfully spun the story with humor, which would surely tickle your funny bones and at the same time make you think. If you are a teen (like me), I am sure that you would find it absolutely relatable. If you are an adult reading the book, you would find yourself walking down the memory lane in no time. Ashwathy is sassy and witty, and doesn't hesitate to speak her mind. As for God, We all know her, do we?
• 
  The Book Chief

  Originally posted on The Book Chief blog at:
  
  https://www.facebook.com/thebookchief...
  
  
  Another great book by the amazing Sowmya Rajendran. I hereby officially declare that I am in love with her!
  
  Ashwathy is a 14-year old atheist living in a small town called Kuttipuram in Kerala. She is bright, curious, spunky and determined. Her simple and supportive Achan (father) is immensely proud of her and keeps her supplied with English movies (her favourite crime thrillers) so that she becomes fluent in English. He is determined that his smart daughter will be the first postgraduate in the family. Ashwathy loves her Achan and is determined to live up to his dreams for her.
  
  So its no wonder that God (who lives in a photo inside an old discarded boot) chooses her to solve a recent case of murder that has been incorrectly classified as 'suicide' by the local police. And here we begin to see Sowmya Rajendra's unusual perspective. For God is shown as a woman, who goes on dates, likes to drink toddy and laughs at offerings like a hundred and eight coconuts ("that would make a lot of chutney, wouldn't it?") She also corrects Ashwathy's friends' wannabe urban slang (" 'Amaze' is the new 'awesome' ")
  
  Ashwathy recruits her best friends Geeta and Malavika, and her pedantic plump classmate Radhakrishnan (RK) (who has a crush on her) to help her solve the case. God helps too, but not as the omniscient being we imagine her to be...she uses her powers to disguise the young detectives on their investigations or to help them find clues, but she doesn't outright solve the case. Apparently, God was on vacation "to visit my cousin in another universe" so she missed what really happened the night of the murder. Also she cant just "read everybody's minds to know who committed the murder" as Ashwathy suggests, because she doesn't believe in interfering with human lives.
  
  Led by the proactive and brave Ashwathy, the four teens snoop around Kuttipuram, interrogating suspects and cross-checking facts till they crack the case. They also manage to get a written confession, being disguised as police officers(courtesy God, of course) There is also a small sub-plot featuring the sleazeball Maths teacher in Ashwathy's school, Gopalan Sir, who has tried to molest Ashwathy in the past and whom Ashwathy (in her cop avataar) scares to death and cures of his leering.
  
  I loved Ashwathy- her independence, her confidence and her go getter attitude. Her friends are perfectly etched too- from the trembly yet loyal RK to the quick-thinking Malavika and well-read Geeta. But best of all is God, who, with her wisdom and witticisms is one amazing person whom even an atheist wouldn't mind befriending.
  
  Highly recommended for children aged 12-14 years.
• 
  Gowri N.

  I cannot tell you what a disappointment this book has been.
  
  I'm a huge fan of Sowmya Rajendran's writing and views and used to be an avid reader of her blog once upon a time. That's why I bought this and another of her books - Mayil Will Not Be Quiet, which I have previously read and enjoyed - as a present for my niece.
  
  What did not work for me was the writing - never thought I'd say this about anything Rajendran has written. Even for a children's book, the language used is overly simplistic and crude, with no redeeming qualities of wit or situational humour.
  
  I'm still going to gift this to my niece - perhaps as a 12-year-old, closer in age to Aswathy, the protagonist, she will have a different view on it.