The Voyage of Sam Singh, by Gita Ralleigh

 

I very much enjoyed The Destiny of Minou Moonshine, by Gita Ralleigh, and so was very happy to read her second middle-grade magical adventure set in an alternate colonial India, The Voyage of Sam Singh (July 2024, Zephyr).  It's not a straight sequel, but it's enough of a crossover to please those who've met Minou while not confusing those who haven't, and it was just as much fun to read!

Sam's older brother Moon has been imprisoned in the legendary Octopus prison on the Isle of Lost Voices by the colonial government and Sam is determined to save him.  But before he can even start figuring out how to do this, he's off on an adventure.

Sam found passage to the island by working for an anthropologist known as "the Collector" who is determined to venture into the island's crocodile infested jungle to gain fame as the "first man" to do so (the Collector is peak 19th-century anthropological explorer...and awfully, but historically accurately, collects human skulls).  Lola, daughter of the tribal leader and shaman, but educated in the island's colonial city, serves as the expedition's cultural liaison, and becomes Sam's friend.  When the Collector makes off with the skull of a revered tribal elder, Sam and Lola set off to get it back.

Which they do, escaping near death by crocodile with a whole suitcase of skulls and their unquiet spirits in tow... but their adventures aren't over yet.  The Princess of Moonlally (where Minou's story took place) is also visiting the island on her own Octopus prison mission, and her help could be just what Sam needs to save his brother....A wild maelstrom of prison escape ensues, facilitated by a steampunk-esque submarine, angry spirits, the ghost of the island's first colonial governor, and the bravery of Sam and Lola.  And it ends with a piratical reunion of Moon and Sam for still more excitement!  

And though this might seem a lot for one story, it all works beautifully (even for a reader like me for whom a little excitement often goes a long way).  The relationship between thoughtful Sam and firebrand Lola makes the book a pleasure, the thoughtful presentation of historical Colonialist wrongs within a story full of magic and adventure is great, and Gita Ralleigh's writing is wonderfully descriptive, making it all come to vivid life.  It's incredibly easy to imagine the 9-12 year old target audience enjoying it even more than I did!

disclaimer: review copy received from the author, and enjoyed lots by me.