Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet, #1)

by Roshani Chokshi

A cursed lamp is a much more interesting topic than, say, a visit to the dentist. Although one could argue that both are cursed.

Between a demon that could end the world and a seventh-grade girl, Aru (and probably most people) would choose the demon any day.

Aru stared at her. This was the other legendary Pandava sister? Descended from a god? The girl started digging through her backpack. Boo face-planted onto the grass. Aru could hear his muffled sobs of whyGodwhyme.

Many Hindus don’t eat beef. Just like how some of Aru’s Jewish and Muslim classmates didn’t eat pork. Every time it was hamburger day at school,

Maybe that’s why superheroes wore capes. Maybe they weren’t actually capes at all, but safety blankets, like the one Aru kept at the bottom of her bed and pulled up under her chin before she went to sleep. Maybe superheroes just tied their blankies around their necks so they’d have a little bit of comfort wherever they went. Because honestly? Saving the world was scary. No harm admitting that. (And she could have done with her blankie right about then.)

“Worse,” said Boo. “He’s a…” His voice dropped. “A writer.” He shook his head in disgust.

Once, when Aru was really stressed about an exam, she didn’t eat for a whole day. She was too busy trying to remember all the dates from her history textbook. When the last bell rang, she stood up from her desk and got so dizzy that she fell right back down.