The Circus Trap by Sindhu John

 

The cover leaps out at you in all its glory as a smirking Miss Scaly cracks her whip at a snarling black panther. The illustrations, that follow in quick succession, have been drawn by the author's daughters, Gia and Anita, and create an image in the readers’ minds as they gear on to enjoy another intriguing adventure from the undaunted four – Ethan, Lucy, Penny and Jack. The Circus Trap by The Write Place is a sequel to The Hunters’ Trap, a book that introduced the children to their readers through another fast-paced adventure.

Sequels are always a difficult act, and the author needs to hang on, tooth and nail to pull it off. However, Sindhu John seems to have done the unimaginable by not only holding the interest, but once again, whetting the appetite for more. She receives requests from young fans pleading with her to write her next book, a good idea, no doubt!

The names of the chapters are intriguing – ‘Make Him Jump!’, The Big Little Secret” and ‘The Rat-t-t-t-t-t-t-t Attack’ being some of them.

 The adventurous four are enjoying themselves at their grandparents’ beautiful home in the countryside when Toby, the live-in help, mentions that a circus is in town. Like all children, they love going to the circus, but when they discover that Majestic, a magnificent black panther, is being kept captive and mistreated by Miss Scaly, their nimble minds take over as they devise an audacious plan to rescue him.

The book is populated with characters designed to hold the attention of its young readers – twin thugs Zorro and Borro, the clowns Blink, Blike and Blonk, the fat lady Fatty and Tiny Tim, and the tattooed Gator.

What, however, keeps the attention of the readers is how deftly Sindhu John blends adventure with humaneness. The protagonists are lively, as children are, but they are guided by good hearts and common sense. They think it is unfair to use wild animals for entertainment, and they stand up against bullies and body shamers. They understand that people need to be respected, not ridiculed, lessons that children need to learn as they grow up.

As the story unfolds, the suspense grows as well. Who is Veronica and what is her relationship with Majestic? What devious plans does Miss Scaly have? What does young Sam have to do with the fate that awaits Majestic? These and many other threads come together in this exciting story, making it one to be savoured and read.

For those who love adventure and animals, this book is a must-read.