Mahtab Narsimhan was born and grew up in Mumbai. She worked in
the Middle East (Behrain, Dubai and Oman) before immigrating to
Canada in 1997. After arriving in Canada, Mahtab began
working in the Information Technology field, before
starting her journey as a writer in 2004. Her debut novel
The Third Eye was published in 2007. It is the first in the in the Tara Trilogy, a
fantasy series. The Third Eye won the Silver Birch Fiction Award in 2009.
The Tiffin, published in 2011 is a gritty, young adult novel based in the Bombay of
childhood. It has received critical acclaim, was shortlisted for many awards,
and
named one of the five best books for Young People in 2011 by the Quill &
Quire. It has also been published in the UK and will shortly be out in Japan,
China and Taiwan.
most recent novel,
, will be published by Pearson
Canada. It is part of a book series for the Mental Health and Wellness Program at the TDSB.
Mahtab lives in Toronto with her husband, son, and golden retriever. She continues to write,
inspired by life, love and the desire to make sense of the world through stories.
To find out more about Mahtab, visit her website at http://www.mahtabnarsimhan.com.
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The Third Eye
For Tara and her brother, Suraj, the year since their mother and grandfather fled the village of Morni in
the middle of the night has been a nightmare. Their new stepmother is cruel and deceptive, and the
returning in a strange, altered form.
When a new healer, Zarku, a mysterious man with a third eye possessing a strange power,
suddenly appears in Morni, all are mesmerized by his magic-all except Tara, who sees through his evil
disguise.
With nothing but her own courage and wit, Tara tried to find her missing mother and
grandfather, the true healer, in time to save her village. But along the way she must enlist the help of
third eye.
Awards and Reviews for The Third Eye (For more reviews, please visit my website)
The Third Eye was the winner of the Silver Birch Fiction Award in 2009.
-
News
Tara is a wonderful heroine exemplifying the strength of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
- Resource Links
Thank you, Tara, and Mahtab Narsimhan, for a delightful series of adventures.
- Canadian Materials magazine
Reviews for The Third Eye
Top Choice Award from Flamingnet Junior and teen fiction novel, The Third Eye, received a
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Top Choice Award from Flamingnet for a 10/10 rating from 11 year-old book reviewer APB from Wisconsin,
The Third Eye, by Mahtab Narsimhan was a definite page turner. The Third Eye described Hindu mythology
and its gods, including: the God of the Sun, the Underworld, the Lord of the Dead, and the Heavens. This
would be classified as mystery/thriller/adventure. Narsimhan included wit when it was necessary, but most
------ Flamingnet, December 17, 2007
Posted by Our Gaggle of Girls (http://ourgaggleofgirls.com/books/)
The Third Eye, by Mahtab Narsimhan is a beautiful story that intertwines village life, religion, and magic in
The Third Eye would fit --- its description of Hindu Gods. Once I opene
it fit, I just cared what happened next! There is really no way to do justice to such a unique, beautiful,
intense, and mysterious novel except to strongly suggest that you read it. Mahtab Narsimhan has created a
world of wonderful characters who leap off the pages. In her Acknowledgments, she thanks her son and his
group of book-loving friends for reading her book --- if it could pass muster with a group of adolescent boys,
it has already passed the most impressive test!
I love novels with female lead characters, especially novels aimed at the young adult fantasy set. Like Max
in Maximum Ride, Tara has put the burden of caring for others on her own shoulders, and she pulls on her
own inner strengths to overcome challenges --- even when she thinks the challenge is too great. The Third
Eye shows women and girls in varying levels of power --- heading a household, healing illnesses, helping
others, and yet also shows the old custom of Sati, pushing a young widow toward her hus
pyre.
The Third Eye is a beautifully written look at rural life and mystical powers, and should appeal to most
tween/young adult readers. There are several scenes which might be too intense and violent for younger
tweens, however --- I would suggest it for ages 12+ at least. I am going to hang on to my copy for a couple
her family and her village from evil. I highly recommend The Third Eye for anyone with an eye for adventure.
down!
The Silver Anklet
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What if the only way to get rid of your worst enemy was to sacrifice your brother?
Tara and her newfound companions decide to rescue them on their own. Tara soon discovers that
Zarku, her nemesis with the third eye, is back and intent on revenge.
A deadly game of hide-and-seek ensues, and Tara and her companions must work together to
survive. But it is soon clear that Zarku is only after Tara, the others are dispensable.
Should Tara risk the lives of her friends? Or can she once again defeat Zarku and save her
brother, armed only with belief in herself and a silver anklet?
Reviews for The Silver Anklet
Review by Ann Ketcheson for CM Magazine
Reviewed from Advance Review Copy
**** /4
Tara and her friends are enjoying a day at the local fair in Morni and, at the same time, are taking care of
meeting place and no one in the fairgrounds remembers seeing them for some time, Tara knows something
is terribly wrong.
Tara and her companions head into the forest, certain that the children have been taken by hyenas. It is
within this eerie setting that Tara once again faces Zarku, her enemy with the third eye. Zarku insists on a
bizarre game of hide-and-seek which has much more to do with revenge than with play. Despite
disagreements about the best plan of action, Tara and her friends manage to pull together. They have to
sur
a horrible dilemma: should she sacrifice her own brother in order to rid the world of the monster Zarku once
and for all?
Mahtab Narsimhan is a native of Mumbai who now lives in Toronto, and The Silver Anklet is the second
volume of the Tara Trilogy. Readers will recognize some characters from the first book, although their
having read it is not an essential prerequisite to enjoying this novel.
Narsimhan has once again created a tale of action and adventure which will keep young adult readers on
the edge of their seats. Much of the action takes place in the forest, and readers can feel the heat and
humidity. The smells, sounds and never-ending insects
writing. Later, the action moves into a cave, complete with a deep chasm which Tara must cross by means
of a narrow walkway. She alone faces this test and the monster Zarku since she was able to help the rest of
her companions find a way to safety. The descriptions are vivid and provide a chilling atmosphere for the
final climax of the story. Adding to the spooky ambience is the strange voice Tara continues to hear. Is this
advice she should follow? Or merely a
As in the first volume, Narsimhan weaves Indian myth and legend and a decidedly Indian atmosphere into
a story of good vs. evil. Tara is on a quest to save the children, and she faces not only environmental
obstacles but her own fears, pain and weariness. While these certainly add to the overall tension of the
novel, they never prevent Tara from knowing what her ultimate goal is nor from persevering in order to
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reach it. Tara needs every ounce of courage and determination that she can find and, like a mythical hero,
she is able to draw on them when it matters most.
The book is sprinkled with Hindi words which add to the local colour and flavour of the novel. The terms are
easily understood in context, but Narsimhan has also included a brief glossary at the end of the book for
readers who want exact definitions.
The Third Eye, the first volume of the trilogy, was winner of the 2009 Silver Birch Award, and this sequel lives
n and adventure on every page while teachers
and librarians will see the book as a valuable addition to any study of world literatures and cultures.
Highly Recommended.
Ann Ketcheson, a retired teacher-librarian and teacher of high school English and French, lives in Ottawa,
ON.
The second installment of the Tara Trilogy opens with a sense of foreboding. At the edge of a carnival,
amidst the trill of laughing children, Tara looks into the shadows at the edge of the forest and spots a
hyena. This sighting soon sets in motion a thrilling and terrifying journey to save her brother and, once
again, defeat Lord Zarku.
Carefully crafted language transports the reader right into this sequel to The Third Eye. Mahtab Narsimhan
expertly evokes vivid imagery in a sensory feast that allows us to feel the dense heat of the forest, the
isolation of the children and their steely determination to survive.
The introduction of some new characters adds depth to the story. An ensemble cast of children whose
quirks, fears and personalities seem to both compliment and clash help to make the relationships realistic.
There is no time to pause for breath in this novel. The narrative moves at a cracking pace, ensuring that the
tension continues to run high. A sinister manifestation of a childhood game is an exciting and frightening
plot device that will keep readers at the edge of their seats, anxious to know the outcome.
Mahtab Narsimhan is a mystical and captivating new voice in Canadian children's literature. The Silver
Anklet is a well-crafted adventure that is highly recommended for readers aged 10 to 13.
Nicola Dufficy is the former Kids Events Coordinator at McNally Robinson Booksellers (Toronto).
Review my Myra Junyk for Resource Links December 2009
[Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!]
In this sequel to The Third Eye, Tara and her brother Suraj once again encounter the evil Zarku. This time,
Tara and her friends are at the local fair in Morni when vicious hyenas capture Suraj, his friend Rohan and
Sadia, Kabir's sister. In an effort to rescue the three young children, Tara and four friends rush into the forest.
They trudge further and further only to find the mauled body of young Rohan marked with a dark shadow
on his forehead. Tara fears the worst. Zarku has returned!
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Although Tara has the silver anklet from Zarku's mother to protect her, the group of friends suffers a great
deal when they encounter Zarku at the temple. His spirit has inhabited the body of Tara's brother, Suraj.
Zarku challenges the friends to a game of hide-and-seek which will determine whether they live or die. In
the end, Tara must face the impossible decision of killing her brother's body in order to destroy the evil spirit.
What will she decide?
This beautifully written and lyrical book brings various figures in Indian mythology to life in a compelling
story about family, love, courage, and determination. Interesting information is provided about Indian
village life, traditions, friendship, family relationships, religion and culture. Tara is a wonderful heroine
exemplifying the strength of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
Mahtab Narsimhan has once again invited readers into a world where evil spirits wander the dense forest
and young children must face life and death decisions in order to survive. Doing the "right thing" can
sometimes be the most difficult choice. Readers can feel the intense heat and damp of the Indian forest as
the intrepid wanderers trek to the mysterious temple. Zarku's evil essence terrifies readers as he tries to
cause chaos in the world. However, even Zarku cannot overcome the power of integrity in the end. What
strange and wonderful experiences can readers anticipate in the third and final installment of the "Tara
Trilogy?"
Thematic Links: India; Mythology; Survival The Supernatural; Courage; Friendship
Source Citation
Junyk, Myra. "The Silver Anklet." Resource Links Dec. 2009: 38. Canadian Periodicals Index Quarterly.
Web. 9 Aug. 2011.
The Deadly Conch
After the conclusion of The Silver Anklet
deceased stepmother, Kali, seeks revenge through her daughter, Layla. And so begins a series of
carefully orchestrated events to cast suspicion on Tara: a dead dog in the village temple,
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Zara.
lind superstitions and fears. Soon all of Morni is against Tara, even
her own family. Death seems to be the only way to stop her evil stepsister.
Tara turns to Lord Yama and his deadly conch for help. He takes her to the Underworld to seek
advice, but when she returns, she has only twenty-four hours to prove her innocence and to save the
village before she must go back to the World of the Dead. Forever.
Can Tara believe in herself once more to defeat Layla, or will Lord Yama and his deadly conch
claim their next victim? The harrowing conclusion to the Tara Trilogy answers these questions and
more.
Reviews for the Deadly Conch
I have been eagerly awaiting this final installment to Canadian author (originally from Bombay) Mahtab
Narsimhan's Tara Trilogy and it was well worth the wait! What an astounding conclusion to this unique
fantasy trilogy which is based in Hindu mythology. A very different concept from the usual fantasy fare
available for children these days and highly readable and enjoyable.
Tara returns home a hero, from The Silver Anklet, but that does not last long when a series of destructive
events take place within the village such as a mutilated dog found in the temple and a diseased dead cat
found in their well. Evidence points to Tara for all these devastating acts of vandalism and destruction. The
village is experiencing a drought, the crops are past rescuing and now without well water to drink the
villagers' thoughts are full of superstitions thinking Tara has returned home possessed by the evil she
conquered. But Tara knows who is framing her and after her family is nearly killed she has only one option
left, to use the conch shell to call the Lord of the Underworld with whom she bargains her life to visit the
Underworld to seek advice on ridding her village of this menace. But with only 24 hours back on earth to
settle matters before she must return, will she have enough time?
This book is by far the best book in the entire series. It is steeped in Hindu mythology and quite a dark tale,
more like the first book, The Third Eye, with rampant evil and images of violence, blood and death. Nothing
too strong, but I wouldn't recommend for younger ages, I'd say a mature 10 and up. By this time we've
become attached to Tara and her character acts true to form in this book facing choices between good and
evil and struggling within herself to remain true to her strong sense of honour and family. Surprisingly,
Tara's mother came across as the second main character though there was another teen who could have
held this spot. But I found him a weak character and Tara's mother, Parvati, pounced from the page
showing us where Tara gets her spirit from. In fact, there is a third female character of the next generation,
a widow who has been saved from the ritual of Sati, being burned with her husband's body, who plays a
major role making this a story of three generations of Hindi women fighting against mindless superstitions
and actual evil.
The plot goes forward at a fast pace, steadily building up throughout the whole book until the surprising
end. This makes for a quick read. I actually made myself put the book down so I wouldn't finish it in a day; I
wanted to savour it a little longer. I really appreciate that Ms. Narsimhan has created a trilogy where each
book stands on its own quite well. Not all authors succeed at this and some don't even try, but I don't like to
read trilogies where each book feels like I've just read one part of a much longer book. Each book here has
its own individual plot that is not dependant on the other books, though they are held together by a related
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plot theme. Book three finds redemption from acts started in book one. Very well done and I highly
recommend this series. I hope Ms. Narsimham has something else in the works for us next!
Nicola Manning, Top Reviewer, Amazon/Indigo
Review by Ann Ketcheson for CM Magazine
Reviewed from Advance Review Copy
**** /4
When she returns in triumph to Morni, Tara justly feels she has overcome Zarku and Kali and their evil and
deserv
villagers is short-lived. A dead dog is left in the temple, and the wells of both Morni and the neighbouring
village are contaminated, and suddenly the villagers are suspicious that Tara is behind these events and is
bringing bad luck to everyone. Tara realizes that, although her evil stepmother Kali is dead, she has the
power to seek revenge through her daughter Layla. Try as she might, Tara cannot convince the villagers
that Layla is behind all of these malicious acts. Since no one believes her, Tara summons up her last ounce
of courage and call for the help of Lord Yama and his deadly conch. Lord Yama escorts Tara to the
Underworld to seek advice on solving the situation but warns her that she will have a mere 24 hours to
return to the village and restore calm before he will again take her to the Underworld where she will remain
for eternity as her part of the bargain with him.
The Deadly Conch is the third book of the Tara trilogy, and many of the characters from The Third Eye
and The Silver Anklet
folk tale and myth. She is a native of Bombay (Mumbai), and the sights, sounds and smells of India seem to
permeate her work. The heat and humidity almost rise from the pages of the book, and western readers
understand, for example, just how important the village well is. Water must be available to sustain life even
at its most basic, and so, when the well is contaminated, the children walk miles to fill pots with just enough
water for the necessities. The water theme reoccurs as we learn that rainfall has been scarce, meaning poor
harvests and hunger in the current year and few seeds to plant. So whether it is a contaminated well or
gods who are angry because the temple has been violated with a dead animal, the result is the same: no
water = no life.
The novel shifts from the real world to the mythical one easily. One day Tara is at home trying to find a
solution to the village problems and deal with the violence and anger of the villagers as, for example, her
home mysteriously burns to the ground. The next day, she is with Lord Yama riding to the Underworld on
his bull. Typical of a mythical/fantasy story, the basis of the novel is the ongoing tension between good and
evil portrayed both in the realm of the gods and in the real-life characters.
This final piece of the trilogy finds Tara still learning, still maturing and having to make difficult decisions.
She often stands alone, not always able to trust the villagers or even her own family. Unlike many young
adult novels, there is no fairy tale ending to The Deadly Conch
However Tara realizes just how strong and self-reliant she can be in the face of both danger and sorrow.
Perhaps this is the theme Narsimhan wishes to stress.
The Deadly Conch will appeal to any who are interested in world literature and in the culture of India in
particular. Many foods and items of clothing are referred to by their Hindi names, and this language adds
authenticity to the book. Although these terms are easily understood in context, Narsimhan has included a
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short glossary at the end of the novel. Readers of many genres will enjoy this novel as it crosses the
boundaries of fantasy, mythology, adventure and coming of age novel.
Those of us who met Tara at the beginning of the trilogy have watched and worried as she confronted
the forces of evil and their horrific plans for her. She made difficult decisions and personal sacrifices, all in
an attempt to maintain what she saw as the common good. In this final volume, she realizes that hatred
and revenge are concepts which have no place in her world. Thank you, Tara, and Mahtab Narsimhan, for a
delightful series of adventures.
Highly Recommended.
Ann Ketcheson, a retired teacher-librarian and teacher of high school English and French, lives in Ottawa,
ON.
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The Tiffin
Bombay is home to the dabbawallas, a group of deliverymen who bring boxed lunches-called
tiffins-to the workers all over the city. For every six million lunches that are sent, a tiffin goes missing
only once.
This is a story about one of those times.
When a note placed in a tiffin is lost, young Kunal is separated from his birth mother and ends
up living as a twelve-year-old slave under the thumb of his cruel foster father, Seth.
Kunal turns to his friend, a kindly old dabbawalla named Vinayak for help. Vinayak takes Kunal
under his wing, showing him the world through the eyes of a tiffin carrier. Filled with new hope for a
better life, Kunal hatches a plan that could reunite him with his mother.
Praise for The Tiffin
In The Tiffin, Mahtab Narsimhan has produced an engrossing story that is as richly descriptive as it is
search for hope and home
Valerie Sherrard, author of The Glory Wind
I read The Tiffin in a single sitting and was hooked from the first paragraph. What a powerful novel! I love
how Narsimhan plunges the reader into the underbelly of Mumbai, immersing us in the sights, sounds and
especially the smells of this teeming city. Kunal is a compelling character and the reader roots for him on
every page.
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, author of Stolen Child.
If you liked Slumdog M
into the vibrant chaos tha
This vividly realized novel plunges you headlong
can flourish in even the most unlikely places, The Tiffin is, quite simply, a wonderful book.
Helaine Becker, author of Trouble in the Hills.
Fine Balance.
Eleanor LeFave of Mabel's Fables
The Tiffin reviewed in The Quill and Quire
http://www.quillandquire.com/review/the-tiffin/
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by Mahtab Narsimhan
Reviewer: Shannon Ozirny
other worlds often connotes places that are purely imaginary
and only reachable by an enchanted cabinet or peculiarly numbered train platform. But Toronto-based, Silver
Birch Award---winning author Mahtab Narsimhan (the Tara Trilogy) introduces children to the other world of
the dabbawallas of her native Mumbai. Despite being very real and accessible by traditional modes of transport,
this world will be just as awe-inspiring for North American young people as any fantasy realm could hope to be.
Unlike North American workers who usually bring lunch from home or eat out, thousands of Indian
businesspeople use the dabbawalla delivery service to receive homemade or restaurant meals. Dabbawallas
pick up tiffins (circular metal containers) filled with hot food in the morning, deliver them, and return the empty
tiffins after lunch. The amazing part of this system is that only one in six million tiffins fails to reach its intended
destination. Narsimhan takes this aspect of Indian culture and extends it beyond a stimulating bit of trivia by
spinning an intriguing what if? scenario to tell the story of a one-in-six-million mistake.
The novel opens in 1982 with a pregnant unwed teen sending a desperate note in her bo
Living
accuracy to safely deliver the message that she is with child. Sadly, this is the tiffin that, despite the incredible
odds, never reaches its destination.
and working 10-hour shifts in a dilapidated café. With the threat of physical violence looming, and the mystery
of his parentage constantly plaguing him, Kunal decides to run away. He is taken in by a kindly dabbawalla who
unwittingly gives Kunal the chance to use the tiffins to find his mother.
al role of fate and chance in the plot and the central theme
distant, sometimes formal language that is surprisingly readable and immersive. Sentences such as, The
footsteps reached the top of the stairs. It could be no other than Sethji, may seem awkward and stiff, but help in
creating a narrative that feels like it is rooted in an ancient tale.
After finding refuge with the dabbawalla, Kunal gets the opportunity to send out notes in random tiffins, hoping
one will reach his birth mother. Surprisingly, he acquires information after sending out just a few hundred notes.
ins that are delivered each day?
Probably not. But Narsimhan skews her story almost imperceptibly away from realism, allowing the reader to
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Very real, however, are th
location with an effectively blunt description of its assault on the nostrils. Andheri Station smells like rancid oil
and burnt milk, while the conditions on the train are just as unpleasant: The compartment was stuffed to
capacity, and the stench was overpowering. Kunal identified Dabur Amla hair oil, a sickeningly sweet perfume,
and rotting fish. The rest of the smells were indistinguishable but just as bad.
Narsimhan also realistically portrays the violence and hardship that Kunal experiences as a child labourer. He is
brutally beaten by his foster father, verbally assaulted by his co-workers, and unable to shake the constant
ogling of a leering male cook. But Narsimhan, a master of conveying horrific circumstances in honest,
accessible language, does not dwell on unpleasant details. The descriptions are short, fleeting, and appropriate
for a middle-grade audience.
life circumstances, the smells of India, and the entire tiffin
delivery industry unfamiliar. Narsimhan helps readers by including a comprehensive glossary defining more
than 50 Hindi words and Indian cultural references. The captivating narrative will likely spur kids to dig deeper
into the factual world behind the story. A trip to the library (or at the very least, to the Internet) will be a useful
supplement for young people.
Melding the fantastically factual with fiction, Narsimhan sheds light on a relatively unknown part of Mumbai life
while simultaneously creating a compelling quest that reads like a classic folk tale. Forgive the groan-inducing
wordplay, but a novel this original is one in six million.
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