Kalpana's Dream
Judith Clarke

Allen & Unwin 2004
170pp., pbk., $14.95
1741142539

This story starts at Neema, or Nirmolini Grace, and her best friend Kate’s first day of high school. Like many people have done, they easily become lost among the grey-stone building that created the city of Wentworth High. Fortunately, they are rescued by some Year Eight children around the library, who provide some pointers as to where they need to go, and scary myths about their new teachers. But for some reason, the tall, gangly boy who found them gives Neema reason to believe she’s met him before, even though she can’t remember when.

We then cut to Kalpana, Neema’s great-grandmother, halfway across the world in India. It’s early morning there, and Kalpana is sitting and remembering. Remembering her mother crying at her daughter’s wedding, her friend Sumati from when she was younger, and many others. But never has she seen the face she has been searching for: the face of her dead husband who’d died at barely twenty. Kalpana dreams about flying only a hand’s height away from the ground, and she believes that if she can fly fast enough, she will see her husband Raj’s face, and the special smile he gives only to Kalpana. To fulfil her dream, Kalpana decides to travel to Australia to live with her granddaughter and great granddaughter. Once she arrives, things look very challenging as only one member of the family can speak Kalpana’s language, and she cannot speak English. But to Neema’s shock, Kalpana learns to fly… on a skateboard.

This story covers a lot of different issues that many people can relate to for example: families across the world, tradition, trying new skills, relationships, school life and many more. The different issues Clarke tackles throughout the novel were the main reason I enjoyed this book. Another reason I particularly enjoyed this book was that every character is mixed up with one another, like a big chain, where each link is involved with another.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys modern-day books with a little bit of ancient culture. This book is suitable for Stage 3 and early Stage 4 (grades 5, 6, 7), as some of the language is a little challenging, but most people would enjoy this novel.

By Claire , Ermington, NSW