Aru Shah and the End of Time

Gr 4–6—Aru Shah embellishes her life a bit, but it's only to fit in with the seventh graders at Atlanta's Augustus Day School. While showing off at the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture (which is also her family's home), Aru ignites magic that freezes time, wakes the Sleeper, and gives Aru only nine days to gather celestial weapons to prevent the Lord of Destruction from ending Time. It turns out that the reincarnated demigod Pandava brothers don't have to be boys, and Aru meets up with Mini. The two, while not "related-related," are soul-related as Pandavas…with the fate of the world on their shoulders. With an amusing and crotchety pigeon as a guide, Ara and Mini face a series of adventures based in Hindu mythology. Narrator Soneela Nankani's friendly voice skillfully conveys both the humorous and serious as Aru, Mini, and sometimes the pigeon greet Lord Hanuman, Indra, Monsoon, Chitrigupta, Shukra, and others who help and hinder their quest. The PDF glossary on disc nine is helpful and enlightening.