Described as a “phenomenal piece of story-telling” (CLPE, 2023), Ajay and the Mumbai Sun (2022) did not disappoint. The story is set in the hustle and bustle of present-day Mumbai, and having explored India myself, I can conclude Shah’s writing portrays a very realistic account of city life, capturing the complexities of social class and the cacophony of street life.

The story focuses on Ajay, a street-boy and newspaper seller, living and working in Mumbai railway station, and his desire to become a journalist. We follow his adventures with his trusted friends in securing and renovating an old printing press, following stories within his street community, creating and editing his own newspaper: The Mumbai Sun. However, as Ajay soon learns, uncovering and revealing corruption through journalism can be a very tricky business.

This is a very plausible read and will allow teachers to explore an engaging story plot with authentic and plausible characters, inviting their pupils to explore the realities of the world through lives from a different perspective.

Reviewed by Bronwen Barnhurst

This book can be found in the Curriculum Centre, in the Fiction section, alongside the sequel, Ajay and the Jaipur Moon (2023).