Flute in the Forest

Book excerpt: ‘Thirteen-year-old Atiya will win the hearts of young readers. Although physically handicapped; her adventurous spirit takes her on lonely rambles into the wildlife sanctuary. She knows the ways of the jungle and its creatures great and small. A charming story; full of incident and good feeling. Atiya’s flute has a special magic of its own.’—Ruskin Bond Atiya Sardare lives with her dad; a forest officer. An only child; afflicted by polio; she finds solace and peace in the jungle; exploring it on short; secret; often dangerous treks. On one occasion she hears the haunting notes of a flute. It gives her goose bumps. She vows to learn to play the instrument much against her father’s wishes. Her music lessons bring her close to the grouchy old anthropologist; Ogre Uncle; and his Kurumba tribal daughter; Mishora. Atiya’s gift transforms her father’s view; it calms the rogue elephant; Rangappa and helps nurture a blossoming friendship between a teenage boy and girl. A moving; tender; and mesmerizing tale; Flute in the Forest has wonderful incidents based on the real-life experiences of the author.