Spinning wheels and freewheels

Tulika titles Beyond the Blue River by B. Vinayan and Mayil Will Not Be Quiet! by Sowmya Rajendran and Niveditha Subramaniam are among two of the five titles shortlisted Crossword’s Honorary Children’s Shortlist for 2012. 

Reviews for Beyond the Blue River

“The original and engaging ideas of the ‘language of the spheres’ which allows  everyone to understand everyone, the possibilities of transformation of selves, and  travel between  worlds, sets Vinayan apart from other writers," says widely published writer Mariam Karim Ahlawat.


"From the wind walls to the Tweedledum-Tweedledee figures of the Itsians to the etceteras ("extremely tiny creatures"), the quirky inhabitants of this world seem set against the cosmology of our own. It all somehow finds expression through the imaginings and longings, and eventual awakening, of a small and lovable machine," says well known writer Uma Krishnaswamy.

“...for a child, the book provides enough amusement, gold-dust, shape-shifting, music and gentle plot-twists... For an adult, it is an interesting exercise in pushing the boundaries of children’s fiction," says writer and critic Pavithra Srinivasan.

"...not everyday do you come across an Auto that can bend its handles, talk to the wind and even turn into a subatomic particle!...The book comes out among other things as a novel attempt to introduce the quantum physics at a very early age," says reviewer Vishesh Unni.

Reviews for Mayil Will Not Be Quiet

Developmental psychologist Prathama Raghavan says, “Most things I wish every adolescent knew are in this book. I laughed aloud several times while reading the book and sometimes even went into fits of laughter. Every child I know is getting a copy of this book at some point in their life and every parent I know will hear me talk about it.” 

"Comfortingly real as it delicately brings out the problems and hopes of a pre-teen," says Anusha Parthsarathy of The Hindu.

"I loved the way the book has been written – the language is so charming and credible...I loved the sensitive way difficult topics like transgenders, attraction, sex-ed and gender discrimination have been addressed in the book. It is such a beautiful way of introducing such complex topics to a teenager!" says blogger The Girl Next Door.

Tulika's range of fiction spans adventure, history, fantasy and reality. You can view other paperback titles for older readers here.