After two years of summers spent in lockdowns, misery and grief, it seems like the summer of 2022 might be ok. I say this cautiously and with all my fingers and toes crossed. I'm hoping to review a bunch of fun, summer reads for children over the next few weeks. Up first is Meera Ganapathy and Parmita Mukherjee's book, published by Puffin India.

When I was growing up, we didn't travel much during summer vacations. You see, our house was the house that everyone else come to for their summer break. For me, summer vacations meant Marina Beach three-four nights a week, endless games of Monopoly, power cuts, waiting for the water tanker to arrive and curd rice with peeled small onions on the side.

So it was quite lovely to read Meera Ganapathy's first chapter book for young readers, Paati Vs UNCLE (Underground Nightly Cooperative League of Elders), illustrated by Parmita Mukherjee. The book starts off with Inju off to spend his summer vacation at his grandmother's house while his parents try to mend their relationship while on holiday in France.

Unlike other children, young Inju is not enamoured by the idea of a summer vacation abroad. In fact, he craves the boredom of his grandmother's home, an apartment in Parijat Retirement Colony, Mumbai. After a year of being bullied, listening to his parents fight and feeling inadequate, Inju cannot wait for the bliss of months of boredom and nothingness. Where excitement means a bizarrely shaped chow-chow or brinjal found at the local market.

Unfortunately, his Paati Indira has other things planned. A spate of robberies in the otherwise quiet retirement colony have shaken up the residents. Toasters, shower radios and 12 papads left to dry on the terrace have been stolen, and the colony is living in the shadow of fear.

UNCLE, the Underground Nightly Cooperative League of Elders has taken it upon themselves to nab the culprits. The group of senior men in their blinding white shorts and collared t-shirts seem more interested in eating snacks, berating new applicants to the group and lording over the rest of the community than finding the thief.

Paati wants to join UNCLE, but her application is rejected and she's subjected to the group's blatant sexism. In the scene, Paati is asked if she has come to make coffee for the rest of the group, and I wanted to fling a tumbler and davara at all the UNCLEs.

Paati is dejected after this encounter, which upsets Inju. While he doesn't want excitement he also doesn't want to see his grandmother so sad. So, he encourages her to form her own group of investigators called Paati (the full form of which is hilariously mangled throughout the book).

With the other members of Paati (all UNCLE rejects): Prabhu Bhaiyya and the delightfully names Masa Lapapad - the building's resident papad and namkeen maker - Inju and his grandmother begin to investigate.

Meera Ganapathy has created characters that you both love and hate instantly. Indira Paati and Inju are adorable, Masa Lapapad is haughty and a hoot, while Pratiman Ji the leader of UNCLE is as my children would say, a jerkwad and butt nugget.

The book tackles how women become invisible as they get older, sexism, troubled parental relationships and the loneliness of the elderly without skipping a beat on the humour and fun. At the heart of this book is the bond between grandparent and grandchild, which really makes you feel like you're wrapped in a soft mul saree that smells of Cuticura talcum powder.

Before I could read the book, my mother-in-law did, and she gave Indira and Inju a 5 Star rating. I can only agree. After all, grandmother's really do know best.

Paati VS UNCLE is available at all independent bookstores across the country! Email/DM or call yours to order a copy now!