top of page
Ajay and the Mumbai Sun

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun

Author:

Varsha Shah

Illustrator:

Sonia Albert

Published by:

Chicken House

First Published:

7 Apr 2022

Ideal for readers aged

9-12y

My Review

Ajay, abandoned and living with other children in an old railway station in Mumbai, has a dream: to be the editor of a newspaper. He and his friends Saif, Vinod, Jasmin, and Jai stumble across and old printing press and Ajay’s aspirations become a reality as, together, they work at finding stories and fighting injustice along the way. Ajay also learns that true friendship takes sacrifice and selflessness, and that integrity is a value to be treasured and praised. It’s a story full of sunshine, the flavour of India, the importance of friendship and empathy, and the fierceness of the few overcoming the tyranny of wealth and power.

Heads Up!

Shah is dealing with weighty issues but she navigates them in a way that is very accessible for young readers. A factory building collapses towards the end of the book and the manager is trapped inside, but there is no blood or gore, we are just left knowing he has not survived the accident despite Ajay and his friend's attempts to reach him through the debris.

Publisher Review

Abandoned on the Mumbai railways, Ajay has grown up with nothing but a burning wish to be a journalist. Finding an abandoned printing press, he and his friends Saif, Vinod, Yasmin and Jai create their own newspaper: The Mumbai Sun. As they hunt down stories for their paper, the children uncover corruption, fight for justice and battle to save their slum from bulldozers. But against some of the most powerful forces in the city, can Ajay and his friends really succeed in bringing the truth to light? Not to mention win the most important cricket match ever ...
bottom of page