A review by helenareadsbooks
Shakti by SJ Sindu

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

In SHAKTI, SJ Sindu and Nabi H. Ali join forces to tell us the story of a young brown girl finding the magic within herself. Shakti and her moms are constantly moving from town to town. She begins 7th grade at a new school and is worried about having to start over yet again, but she meets Xi and they quickly become best friends. Unfortunately, the meanest girls at school are making them miserable and they’re getting away with their awful behaviour. Shakti and Xi uncover the truth of this mystery, and they turn to ancient magic and seek the aid of Durga Ma to stop the bullies. But summoning Durga Ma (goddess of strength & protection) also risks summoning Kali Ma (goddess of death & destruction), which could put everyone in danger. 

 

I love everything about this middle grade graphic novel. It’s an impactful story with a relatable protagonist who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and take responsibility for her actions. Shakti’s voice feels genuine and I appreciate the range of emotions she feels throughout the story. Her journey in this book is full of empathy and understanding as she handles the difficult situations in her life. Her friendship with Xi is heartwarming and I love how they take charge and stand up to the bullies together. 

 

I love the writing style and the way this story is organized. The art is incredible and its vibrance makes the story shine. Magic is incorporated seamlessly into the story, and I love how magic is accessible to everyone and that there’s room for multiple forms of witchcraft. The focus on Durga Ma and Kali Ma is compelling and I love how their stories are told alongside Shakti’s. The duality presented in this book between the two goddesses is an important one and it works well to aid the story in teaching lessons about anger, hatred, and the importance of letting go. 

 

I love the focus on cultural and spiritual connections; it’s always awe-inspiring for me to see books that are unapologetic and prideful in their display for cultural traditions. And that’s exactly what this book is and why it’s so powerful. It was wonderful to read a graphic novel featuring a brown protagonist in a story inspired by South Asian magic and witchcraft. I’m so glad this book exists and the best part is knowing that my younger self would have absolutely loved this story, too.