#539 - How to Win an Election: A Most Unreliable Guide
by Menaka Raman and illustrated by Pia Alizé Hazarika
“How to Win an Election: A Most Unreliable Guide” by Menaka Raman and illustrated by Pia Alizé Hazarika. Published by Duckbill. A fast paced humorous story about two best friends caught up with the frenzy of middle school elections.
Sachin and Mini are best friends studying in Primus Academy. The school is geared for the upcoming student council elections. Sachin finds himself being disqualified much to his dismay. After all he had the reputation of having poor behaviour with a total of fifty two discipline slips to his name. To top it he was late in submitting his nomination papers by a day and it smelt of Gobi Manchurian :) He decides to help Mini who is standing in the elections by becoming her campaign manager. Mini has no choice but to let him do that even though their thinking is very different.
All students are in a frenzied state with the preparations for elections going on in full swing. They have to prepare their introduction presentations, posters and promises of what they will do if elected. Sachin has great ideas in store for Mini if she only cares to listen to him. Their path is littered with a smearing campaign. Someone seems to be framing them by alleging that they are not following the election rules. There is incriminating graffiti against a candidate on the mirror in the girls bathroom, a Bengal lizard that poops on the nomination papers of another candidate, hacked videos of the principal broadcasted and blondies laced with laxatives distributed in Sachin and Mini’s classroom. Now it is up to these two to clear their names as soon as possible or remain disgraced forever. Who is behind all these villainous deeds? Why do they want Mini to not be able to stand in the elections? Read the engrossing book to find out what happens next.
The book sounded very interesting when I first heard about it. Attending the book launch at Lightroom Bookstore and listening to the reading by Menaka Raman was a fun experience. It made the book sound even more appealing. I and my ten year old son started reading the book together. We found it very humorous and loved the characters. There were enough funny moments and antics that we loved discussing several times and laughing about. Sachin proved to be the unanimously chosen favourite character for us. When asked who he’d vote for amongst the candidates in the story, my son had no second thoughts at all. Mini was definitely the one to be elected thanks to Taco Tuesdays that she had promised to introduce. I finished reading the book sooner than my son and couldn’t resist posting about it :) The action filled and fast paced plot made it an engrossing read. I loved how the concepts of different kinds of governance, nuances of elections and democracy have been interwoven wittily in a middle school setting making it so relatable for children in a fun manner. Themes of friendship, teamwork, inclusion and conflicts in children’s minds are also an integral part of the story. Sachin is not able to understand the changes in his dad while Mini has her own anxieties about trying to be perfect and achieving all the goals that she has charted for her future. The quirky illustrations added to the charm of the story. The ending proved to be quite a revelation. I just can’t wait for my son to catch up on the ending and see his surprise!
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 10 and above.
Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India (Duckbill), for review. Thank you to Mansi, from Penguin, for sending across the book!