Book: Terminal 3
Author & Illustrator: Debasmita Dasgupta
Publisher: Penguin India
Pages: 110
How Long it Took Me To Read: Under an Hour
Plot Summary: It's August 2019 and Khwab Nazir is waiting to board the plane at Terminal 3 of New Delhi International Airport. Set to represent India at an international jiu-jitsu tournament, Khwab nervously looks towards her unknown future. She also reflects on her complicated past-of growing up against the insurmountable difficulties of life in Kashmir.
Between happiness and emptiness, desire and grief, penance and peace, Khwab has endured. She has a dream that life will be a paradise, one day. Breathing against the backdrop of conflict, Terminal 3, is the story of the everyday people striving to live their dreams in the Valley.
Things I Liked:
1. This is a story we really need to hear and hear more of. People living in difficult situations and somehow holding on to hope and dreams and working on turning those seemingly impossible dreams into reality. And overall, we all need more stories out of Kashmir.
2. I went in pretty blind into this book-I knew it was about a young aspiring sportswoman from Kashmir. I knew the bare bones details but overall this whole book was a surprise. It had so much more depth and heart that I was expecting and even though it's aimed at children and young adults, it doesn't shy away from being honest and open about what life is like in Kashmir.
3. The art just took my breath away. The entire colour palette was gorgeous and a thing of joy. Stunning colours and illustrations.
Here are few of my favourite pages from the book.
4. I love the people in this book, especially those around our main character- Khwab, her cheerleaders and her relentless support systems. It was so heart warming to read about her friends, family (especially her wonderful parents) and her coach who never give up on her and more importantly keep reminding her to bet on herself and keep pushing ahead, even in the face of grief and loss and fear.
5. This book doesn't mince words or sugarcoat difficult situations. Life isn't rosy, least of all in Kashmir for the last few decades and I really appreciated this book showing us just how grim that world feels to a young girl.
6. This is one of those books that work just as brilliantly for children and adults.
Rating: 4/5
Highly recommend.
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