The Fabulous Mums of Champion Valley by Zarreen Khan
Buy the book here: https://shorturl.at/nfU34
My take on the book:
Ambika S is newly appointed as class teacher for Grade III B in Champion Valley School (CVS), one of the prestigious schools in Gurugram. Ambika is not a formally trained teacher and did not have any prior experience in teaching. Her erstwhile Maths teacher and now Principal of CVS Mrs. Mehta has kindly agreed to onboard her and she was then asked to undergo training under the Grade coordinator Shilpa Anand.
Ambika learnt from Shilpa Ananda how to decorate a classroom, how to add quotes while sending emails to parents, how to write report card for third grade kids without sounding offensive about their performance. Ambika did have an eclectic group of kids in her class making her teaching experience enjoyable, however their parents gave Ambika a headache on most days with their constant complaints, suggestions, through never ending emails.
When Ambika wrote a report card about the five moms in a haste and that is leaked unknowingly to one of the parents, all hell breaks loose, as the five moms are raging due to Ambika’s judgmental comments. Will this reveal more secrets about Ambika to the moms and to the world than Ambika ever intended to, forms the rest of the story.
The story is about a new teacher Ambika who joined CVS, along with five moms and their kids and families, showcasing their friendship, their insecurities. Riddhi is forever trying new diet plans but cannot control binge eating unhealthy food. Her elder daughter Syra is a genius and wise like an eighty year old but Ambika thinks Riddhi is more interested in her younger son Shivam’s life. Giselle has her own consulting firm but all Ambika can see are her fake contact lenses.
Pareeta ran her home bakery business while bringing up two young kids and also Giselle’s son Kevin who is forever hanging around Pareeta’s house. Pareeta is now pregnant again, third time, which Ambika feels is to save her crumbling marriage with her husband Pankaj who was always overseas busy with his work. Jia who recently moved to India is trying to get complete custody of her daughter Rabia, but Ambika only notices the heavy and cakey makeup that Jia always wore.
Kainaz and her husband Varaz, who was a famous television actor, have just shifted to Gurugram from Goa and Kainaz is unable to let go of her bond with Goa and her dislike for the new city, which Ambika thinks is affecting her son’s ability to adjust to his new school and new friends. However, only after Ambika’s note is leaked does the reader know the real personalities of these five moms and their past.
The story touches on modern day schools and parents, especially those who are rich but have their own quirks. Riddhi’s character brings in good humor to balance the grim reality of Pareeta and Jia. The first half establishes these families and the second half is where all the secrets are revealed, and the twists towards the end will tie back all the loose threads.
The story balances fun and message well and entertains the reader till the end. Along with modern day parenting, the story also mirrors how easily we judge others without knowing their real life. Pick this one to read a story that is fun, entertaining with a subtle message.
My rating:
4/5.
This review is part of the Blogchatter Book Review Program.