Rat, Rabbit, Rock!
A heartwarming story that speaks to our hearts
Dear Reader,
You know, summers are baking us, right? I’m in my home town, Kochi, dotted with swaying coconut trees and the scenic beauty of the Arabian Sea. Time slips by, like droplets of chilled lime soda trailing across the surface of cold glass.
Given how this summer is turning out to be across India, take out time to sit inside a cool room and read books! And here’s what I am reading this summer. Over the last decade, my reading preferences have changed. Truth be told, I don’t have much patience for reading fiction anymore but ‘Rat, Rabbit, Rock’ is an exception.
Jeena R. Papaadi’s ‘Rat, Rabbit, Rock!’ is a heartwarming story of 10 year old Meera. The author deftly conveys the little girl’s inner struggles with clarity.
Meera lives in a respectable middle class colony with her grandfather. Though he is physically and financially weak, he brings to life an era of men and women who were emotionally resilient and not ready to compromise on their self respect and integrity.
Many moments that 10 year old Meera navigates brought tears to my eyes. An introvert by nature, she is afraid of speaking out in class, afraid of being noticed by her classmates even when a tiny voice within her yearns for a sliver of acknowledgment. She is aware that her grandfather is struggling to make ends meet.
As a curious child, she does not always understand why he is not keen to see her play with children from other homes. As a reader, you will understand the struggles of the grandfather and his silent suffering as he gauges the choices Meera has to make to stay ‘invisible’.
Grandfather is a man of few words and a tough taskmaster at times when it comes to enforcing what today’s parenting ecosystem may term as ‘old fashioned values such as honesty’. He is also too proud to let any of her peers gift anything too expensive as it creates a practical obligation to return an expensive gift. I absolutely loved this Grandfather because it reminds me of my grandmother!
Is there a child who has not felt a sense of displacement and identity crisis at school?
While reading ‘Rat, Rabbit, Rock!’, a reader is bound to navigate waves of childhood memories just as the protagonist experiences it. Issues such as bullying, peer pressure and mental health are explored through a ten year old’s gaze. Her thoughts on ‘fitting in with other children’ and ‘Life and Death’ are thought provoking and heartwarming.
The ten year old’s longing for her mother’s love tugs at the heart of this story:
They were always talking about their mothers. Complaining about their mothers. The mothers who made them tasty vada and banana fry and cakes and so many delicious things whose aroma made my mouth water whenever I passed by. The mothers who sat by their side and treated them like babies when they were ill. The mothers who combed their hair and taught them mammners. The mothers who loved them!
A part of you longs to hug the little girl and protect her from the cruelty of other kids. At the same time, you want to watch her grow out of her safety net.
You long to see her overcome her fears by facing it boldly.
Musings on the meaning of Life and the purpose of Death are presented through situations that a child tends to overhear or listen to while adults talk. This paves the way for musings and conversations that add depth of perspective to the story.
“When you read obituaries, you are actually looking at the most important achievements of that person. It doesn’t say if he is a good man or if his life was meaningful or worthy, but it certainly gives a short summary of what it had meant. He worked and made money. He raised a family. He did something.”
Well-developed character arcs make this book a delightful read.
At the heart of Jeena R. Papaadi’s ‘Rat, Rabbit, Rock!’, and from the beginning, Meera packs in a singular protagonist in a heartwarming way. Her emotions and insecurities tumble over one over the other. It simply tugs your heart.
An excellent book to read!
Jeena R. Papaadi’s latest book involves you so closely in the lives of its subjects that you begin to either identify with them as your own miniature versions or as friends, well aware of their shortcomings and flaws.
Nevertheless, you have a soft corner for them.
Even better, gift copies of this book to book-loving children and grown ups.
Trust me, I felt like a child again, as there are many aspects of Meera’s school life that resonated with my school days.
This book was an utter joy to read.
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Few happy moments in May 2023
This poster was created by my son’s classmate. To my mind, the image conveyed an expression of uninhibited gratitude and joy. Rare and candid moment to capture!
Of course, I had to share this precious moment with you!
And the teen is off to Singapore to attend a student leadership convention.
This is the first time he is traveling without his parents on an international flight.
Turns out that we are all excited (and cranky and nervous) about it.
You get the drift, right?
