Shakti
Shakti by SJ Sindu is a middle grade fantasy graphic novel published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2023, featuring 245 pages in English. The story follows twelve-year-old Indian American girl Shakti, who must tap into her ancestral magic to save her family and town from a dangerous curse. As she navigates the challenges of being the new girl at school, Shakti hopes to find stability with her two moms and her soon-to-arrive baby brother in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines themes of friendship, family, and cultural heritage. Shakti’s journey begins on her first day of seventh grade, where she bonds with a new friend, Xi, while facing off against a group of bullies. When Shakti and Xi discover the bullies practicing dark magic, Shakti seeks help from ancient Indian deities, leading to unexpected consequences that threaten her community. This graphic novel explores the importance of strength, empathy, and the power of one’s roots in overcoming adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
A fierce, feminist, and fun middle grade fantasy graphic novel about a twelve-year-old Indian American girl named Shakti who must learn the power of her ancestral magic if she wants to save her family and town from a dangerous curse. Written by Stonewall Honor Book recipient and Lambda Literary Fellow SJ Sindu and illustrated by Nabi H. Ali.
Shakti is used to being the new girl at school. She and her two moms have moved more times than she can count. With her unborn baby brother on the way, Shakti hopes her family has found their forever home in Amherst, Massachusetts, and that she can finally make friends.
On her first day of seventh grade, she meets Xi and they bond over their shared passion for manga (and pizza with mayo). But the three meanest girls in school–Harini, Emily, and Kelly (aka “HEK”)–are determined to make life miserable for Shakti and her new friends.
When Shakti and Xi discover HEK casting spells in the woods, they fear what might happen to the other kids at school. Drawing on ancient Indian magic, Shakti seeks the aid of Durga Ma to stop HEK. But instead, Shakti accidentally conjures Kali Ma, the destroyer–Durga Ma’s dangerous twin. Kali Ma punishes HEK by transforming them into monsters and curses the entire town. As more and more people begin to fall ill, including Shakti’s mom, will Shakti be able to harness her own strength, power, and empathy to save those she loves–and put an end to all the hate?
A 2023 School Library Journal Best Graphic Novel of 2023!
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