Surf’s Up! by Vibha Batra (Author) and Siddhi Vartak (Illustrator)
My take on the book:
Stella loves surfing at the quaint beach in her tiny seaside village Corolam, where she runs a surfing shack Surf’s Up alongside her Amma. When her friends start leaving for the big city in search of better opportunities, Stella comes up with a plan to bring them back: hosting the first ever Corolam Beach Festival.
But organizing a beach festival proves much harder than she expects. A grumpy fisherman, a local bully and his moneylender father object to the idea, and they try to create as many hurdles as possible, from missing permissions from the government and spreading rumours in media. Whether Stella can overcome these obstacles and pull off the festival forms the rest of the story.
Stella is a lovable lead who is passionate and driven, and the story gives her something bigger than herself to care about. I liked that the book celebrates a small coastal village and the idea that a community is worth saving, rather than the big city dreams most stories hold up as the goal. The book also touches on themes that should matter to young readers, including community building, friendship, bullying and body positivity.
A girl who loves surfing, faces a bully and deals with body shaming makes a relatable role model for children who are learning to handle self doubt and stand up for what they love. The only drawback is that seasoned readers will be able to guess where the story is headed. Also, with many themes packed into the story, some themes like bullying and body positivity do not get as much space as they deserve.
Overall, a warm, feel good read that children will enjoy and parents should encourage them to read. Highly recommended to young readers who love adventure, seaside settings and a brave girl, and to anyone looking for a story with a heart about community and courage.
My rating:
5/5.