timothyforner's review against another edition
5.0
A fun story of friendship, that takes its reader on a tour of India. Definitely recommend!
amyrhoda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Dylan and Rohit have been best friends since Rohit moved to New York from India three years before. Rohit and his parents are heading back to Mumbai for a family wedding and although Rohit would rather stay in New York with Dylan, Dylan manages to get himself invited to along instead. Dylan is desperate to escape his family. His very wealthy parents have time for everything but him and his father is clearly disappointed that Dylan is into photography and fantasy books instead of sports like he was. To Rohit, whose parents are much less well off, it looks like Dylan has everything. The two friends find themselves at odds for the first time, as each has family issues that he doesn't want to talk to the other about. Set among the monsoons and traffic of Mumbai, readers will be drawn into this colorful description of Indian culture and foods. it is made accessible through the universal issues of friendship, family, and the need to feel like you belong. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
lilyaronovitz's review against another edition
5.0
A fun story of a unique adventure with love-able characters and a happy ending to satisfy all.
pussreboots's review against another edition
2.0
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016/comments_08/mission_mumbai.html
zoraidasolo's review
5.0
Review for YABC
MISSION MUMBAI by Mahtab Narsimhan is an unexpected and powerful addition to middle grade novels. The story of two boys, it is told from the POV of a white American kid named Dylan Moore. Dylan is, on the surface, the envy of his best friend, Rohit Lal. Dylan's family is privileged and have everything money can buy. Rohit comes from a middle-class family from Mumbai. He's been studying New York, and everything was made possible by the strings-attached funds of his Aunty Anjali. When Rohit returns to India for his cousin's wedding, Dylan comes along for the ride. What Rohit doesn't know is that Dylan's life isn't as perfect as it seems. Dylan might have wealth and comfort, but his parents are going through a difficult patch with talks of separation. Dylan's mother is cold. Dylan's father is a hard man who wants his son to be something he's not. He wants Dylan to be a jock. Meanwhile, Dylan is a reader who loves fantasy worlds like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. He loves photography and is a truly loyal friend. Still, Dylan doesn't feel the love from his parents and loves being with the Lal family.
What I loved: MISSION MUMBAI is a novel with layers. It's a novel about summer travel, and exploring an exotic new world. It's a novel about friendship and family. But it also deals with body image issues in a delicate way. Dylan says he loves two things: photography and food. He tries all of the foods he's given, no matter how strange they are to him. Then, he'll think about what his father wants him to look like or what he should look like, and he'll do jumping jacks or want to walk an extra few minutes in the hot Mumbai sun. It's heartbreaking, but Dylan maintains an upbeat and positive outlook on life and the trip.
Friendship is one of this highlighted themes in MISSION MUMBAI. Narsimhan pairs two boys from opposite worlds, cultures, and social backgrounds. She gives them a friendship that is bound by their love of fantasy and nerdom. Their friendship is put to the test as Dylan dives into life in India, while Rohit rejects his culture. He wants American things--soda, burgers, pizza, TV. Dylan wants samosas, mango lassis, and Bollywood movies. They're each in possession of something the other wants. Rohit wants money because he believes that'll solve his family's woes. Dylan wants the love and unity of Rohit's family. Their bond is severely tested throughout the book, but they're a pair to root for. Together they get into a LOT of trouble, but they come out stronger in the end.
Mahtab Narsimhan tells a story of India from a foreigner's point of view instead of a native. Had the book been told from Rohit's point of view, the book would have been completely different. Indeed, Rohit is painted as a kid who has been spoiled by American culture. He wants to go back to New York. He wants to explore America. He's already lived in India, and so nothing is new to him. Because we see India from Dylan's point of view, we get to experience it from a new lens. Dylan messes up a lot when dealing with life in India. He isn't accustomed to some social boundaries, and nearly gets mauled by a mob when he tries to push a cow out of a blocked road. There's a learning curve for him, and for the reader who might not know anything about Indian culture.
Verdict: MISSION MUMBAI by Mahtab Narsimhan is a fun and exciting exploration of family, friendship, and life in Mumbai. It will have you laughing and crying while rooting for the Fellowship of Dylan and Rohit.
MISSION MUMBAI by Mahtab Narsimhan is an unexpected and powerful addition to middle grade novels. The story of two boys, it is told from the POV of a white American kid named Dylan Moore. Dylan is, on the surface, the envy of his best friend, Rohit Lal. Dylan's family is privileged and have everything money can buy. Rohit comes from a middle-class family from Mumbai. He's been studying New York, and everything was made possible by the strings-attached funds of his Aunty Anjali. When Rohit returns to India for his cousin's wedding, Dylan comes along for the ride. What Rohit doesn't know is that Dylan's life isn't as perfect as it seems. Dylan might have wealth and comfort, but his parents are going through a difficult patch with talks of separation. Dylan's mother is cold. Dylan's father is a hard man who wants his son to be something he's not. He wants Dylan to be a jock. Meanwhile, Dylan is a reader who loves fantasy worlds like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. He loves photography and is a truly loyal friend. Still, Dylan doesn't feel the love from his parents and loves being with the Lal family.
What I loved: MISSION MUMBAI is a novel with layers. It's a novel about summer travel, and exploring an exotic new world. It's a novel about friendship and family. But it also deals with body image issues in a delicate way. Dylan says he loves two things: photography and food. He tries all of the foods he's given, no matter how strange they are to him. Then, he'll think about what his father wants him to look like or what he should look like, and he'll do jumping jacks or want to walk an extra few minutes in the hot Mumbai sun. It's heartbreaking, but Dylan maintains an upbeat and positive outlook on life and the trip.
Friendship is one of this highlighted themes in MISSION MUMBAI. Narsimhan pairs two boys from opposite worlds, cultures, and social backgrounds. She gives them a friendship that is bound by their love of fantasy and nerdom. Their friendship is put to the test as Dylan dives into life in India, while Rohit rejects his culture. He wants American things--soda, burgers, pizza, TV. Dylan wants samosas, mango lassis, and Bollywood movies. They're each in possession of something the other wants. Rohit wants money because he believes that'll solve his family's woes. Dylan wants the love and unity of Rohit's family. Their bond is severely tested throughout the book, but they're a pair to root for. Together they get into a LOT of trouble, but they come out stronger in the end.
Mahtab Narsimhan tells a story of India from a foreigner's point of view instead of a native. Had the book been told from Rohit's point of view, the book would have been completely different. Indeed, Rohit is painted as a kid who has been spoiled by American culture. He wants to go back to New York. He wants to explore America. He's already lived in India, and so nothing is new to him. Because we see India from Dylan's point of view, we get to experience it from a new lens. Dylan messes up a lot when dealing with life in India. He isn't accustomed to some social boundaries, and nearly gets mauled by a mob when he tries to push a cow out of a blocked road. There's a learning curve for him, and for the reader who might not know anything about Indian culture.
Verdict: MISSION MUMBAI by Mahtab Narsimhan is a fun and exciting exploration of family, friendship, and life in Mumbai. It will have you laughing and crying while rooting for the Fellowship of Dylan and Rohit.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
5.0
This review focuses on two books with roots in India: [b:Mission Mumbai: A Novel of Sacred Cows, Snakes, and Stolen Toilets|25578504|Mission Mumbai A Novel of Sacred Cows, Snakes, and Stolen Toilets|Mahtab Narsimhan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432316032s/25578504.jpg|45380164] and [b:Save Me a Seat|25311520|Save Me a Seat|Sarah Weeks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447141137s/25311520.jpg|45042325]. Both are compelling stories about strong male friendships starring characters who have moved from India to the U.S.
In Mission Mumbai, best friends, Dylan and Rohit, are on vacation with Rohit's family in his home city of Mumbai. Dylan, whose parents are constantly fighting, and whose father, in particular, can't seem to find a kind word to say about Dylan or his interests, is glad for the trip. Not only does it give him an escape and a chance to try new foods, but he also hopes it will present the perfect photo opportunity to help him win a photography contest, which will convince his dad that his hobby is not a waste of time. Rohit, on the other hand, would prefer to head back to the U.S. as soon as possible. His aunt, Bua, who has helped his parents financially, wants to bring Rohit back to Mumbai to finish school, and neither of his parents seems interested in standing up for their son. With so much at stake for both boys, emotions run high, and soon they are having the biggest fight of their friendship - the kind of fight that only a serious crisis can help them resolve.
In Save Me a Seat, Ravi has recently moved to the U.S. and he is completely unprepared for the informality of American schools, or for the fact that no one will be able to understand his accent. He is horrified when he is sent to the resource room with Joe, a large kid in his class who has Auditory Processing Disorder, and wishes he could be spending time getting to know Dillon Samreen instead. Since Dillon is also of Indian descent, Ravi imagines they would instantly become best friends. It is only after Dillon proves himself to be a bully that Ravi begins to realize his initial impression of Joe may also have some flaws.
Mission Mumbai is not only an interesting introduction to Indian culture but also an adventure story with humorous and exciting events which have particular appeal to pre-adolescent boys. From Dylan's encounter with a cow, to his first experience with traditional Indian plumbing, the book focuses on the details of life in India that would be most intriguing to an outsider, and which create the best opportunities for injecting humor into the story. There are also many great references in the book to well-known fantasy series, of which both Dylan and Rohit are fans, and readers will enjoy the parallels Dylan draws between his friendship with Rohit and the friendship between Tolkien's Frodo and Sam. A line from the book calls the boys "nerds of a feather," and this phrase really gets to the heart of their connection. Their every interaction is true-to-life, and their affection for each other, and the ways they express it, are spot-on for their age and personalities.
Whereas Mission Mumbai is told entirely from Dylan's point of view, Save Me a Seat is written by two authors, each of whom writes as a different character. In chapters from Joe's point of view, Sarah Weeks provides insight into the day-to-day workings of his classroom, and helps the reader understand from the start how new kid Ravi is being misunderstood by his classmates, and how Dillon Samreen is bullying him. In the chapters by Gita Varadarajan, the reader gets to hear Ravi's thoughts about his new school, which help the reader understand why he has trouble fitting in, and the pressure he is under at home to do well and make a good impression. The alternating chapters also fit into a larger structured framework, which is based on the lunch menu for each day of the week. Since seating in the cafeteria plays an important role in the story, organizing the story around the cafeteria schedule works nicely.
These books are great complements for each other, as they present several sides of the same type of experience. Mission Mumbai, however, is the more action-packed of the two books, while Save Me a Seat is more emotional and reflective. Both books are most appropriate for an upper elementary or middle school audience, and they fill a real need for more realistic friendship stories about boys.
In Mission Mumbai, best friends, Dylan and Rohit, are on vacation with Rohit's family in his home city of Mumbai. Dylan, whose parents are constantly fighting, and whose father, in particular, can't seem to find a kind word to say about Dylan or his interests, is glad for the trip. Not only does it give him an escape and a chance to try new foods, but he also hopes it will present the perfect photo opportunity to help him win a photography contest, which will convince his dad that his hobby is not a waste of time. Rohit, on the other hand, would prefer to head back to the U.S. as soon as possible. His aunt, Bua, who has helped his parents financially, wants to bring Rohit back to Mumbai to finish school, and neither of his parents seems interested in standing up for their son. With so much at stake for both boys, emotions run high, and soon they are having the biggest fight of their friendship - the kind of fight that only a serious crisis can help them resolve.
In Save Me a Seat, Ravi has recently moved to the U.S. and he is completely unprepared for the informality of American schools, or for the fact that no one will be able to understand his accent. He is horrified when he is sent to the resource room with Joe, a large kid in his class who has Auditory Processing Disorder, and wishes he could be spending time getting to know Dillon Samreen instead. Since Dillon is also of Indian descent, Ravi imagines they would instantly become best friends. It is only after Dillon proves himself to be a bully that Ravi begins to realize his initial impression of Joe may also have some flaws.
Mission Mumbai is not only an interesting introduction to Indian culture but also an adventure story with humorous and exciting events which have particular appeal to pre-adolescent boys. From Dylan's encounter with a cow, to his first experience with traditional Indian plumbing, the book focuses on the details of life in India that would be most intriguing to an outsider, and which create the best opportunities for injecting humor into the story. There are also many great references in the book to well-known fantasy series, of which both Dylan and Rohit are fans, and readers will enjoy the parallels Dylan draws between his friendship with Rohit and the friendship between Tolkien's Frodo and Sam. A line from the book calls the boys "nerds of a feather," and this phrase really gets to the heart of their connection. Their every interaction is true-to-life, and their affection for each other, and the ways they express it, are spot-on for their age and personalities.
Whereas Mission Mumbai is told entirely from Dylan's point of view, Save Me a Seat is written by two authors, each of whom writes as a different character. In chapters from Joe's point of view, Sarah Weeks provides insight into the day-to-day workings of his classroom, and helps the reader understand from the start how new kid Ravi is being misunderstood by his classmates, and how Dillon Samreen is bullying him. In the chapters by Gita Varadarajan, the reader gets to hear Ravi's thoughts about his new school, which help the reader understand why he has trouble fitting in, and the pressure he is under at home to do well and make a good impression. The alternating chapters also fit into a larger structured framework, which is based on the lunch menu for each day of the week. Since seating in the cafeteria plays an important role in the story, organizing the story around the cafeteria schedule works nicely.
These books are great complements for each other, as they present several sides of the same type of experience. Mission Mumbai, however, is the more action-packed of the two books, while Save Me a Seat is more emotional and reflective. Both books are most appropriate for an upper elementary or middle school audience, and they fill a real need for more realistic friendship stories about boys.
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