A Tale for School Misfits

Have you ever felt like an oddball at school? Then plunge into the sprightly adventures of Lily Ray of Puddleton Middle School in the rollicking and twisty Royal-ish. The wildlife-loving, gumboot-wearing Lily spends most of her time trampling across a pond. She vlogs or rather ‘glogs’ (vlogging in gumboots) about myriad creatures that dart across its waters: dragonflies, a snail, a frog. At school, she’s the antithesis to snotty Sasha, who blogs about high-street shoes.

Lily’s Blue-Blooded Lineage

Lily, who has practically grown up in her geneticist parents’ labs, is tickled to discover that she shares genes with the “royal family of Bagradoo,” an island kingdom that contains exotic plant and animal species. She dashes off a gushy letter to the King, who invites her to the palace. Her parents relent to her strange voyage after arming her with a robotic diary, Al the Pal.

An Island Cloaked In Green

Bagradoo, when she lands on it, feels like a touristy draw, with hats, scarves, “holiday island vibes” and flowers that exude the scent of waffles. However, unlike other beachy destinations, all buildings are sheathed with creepers and vines. Even the palace, despite being grandiose and imperial, flaunts dazzling gardens and stunning creepers. King Khair, donning a Hawaiian shirt, melds into the flowers, butterflies and “lounge chairs” that comprise the palace interiors.

A Playful, Purposeful Quest

Lily’s entry into the palace is Charlie Chaplinesque. A toilet paper roll tumbles from her backpack, just when DJ, the King’s nephew spots her. Later, when Princess Pashmina tries to doll her up for the evening, Lily looks like a “wedding cake” – a situation that the teasing DJ rescues her from. Her escapade from thereon includes more dreadful makeovers, fashion mishaps, perilous tangles with plotting usurpers and run-ins with fantastical creatures like Sea Ponypups, an orange-eyed crocodile that trots out of a wardrobe donning a princess dress, a mud-coloured fish that can climb trees. All along, gauche and nature-loving Lily ensures that the island is protected from predatory commercial instincts.

With a Quirky, Unforgettable Cast

Memorable characters include the scheming Lady Devi, whose maternal ambitions disregard her son’s (DJ) proclivities or desires. And her canny and slithery Aide, Sir Vipin, whose shiftiness is a trusty constant. Or DJ,  the skilled atelier, whose interactions with Lily crackle with romantic possibilities.

There’s also the studious and virtuous Professor Quill, whose conscience is gleefully suppressed when he swallows blue pinecone fluid. It’s a metamorphosis that can evoke reader giggles, until we realize it might allude to a transformation in all of us: our willingness to numb our consciences as the planet strains under untenable plunders.

Deep Story Layers

Though the book might be targeted at Middle Grade readers, Gandhi explores profound themes that ought to be heeded by all age groups. These include the urgent need to conserve animal and plant species, without viewing them as resources to be exploited for human ends.

Or leaders (in this case, they happen to be “Royals”, but they don’t have to be palace born or bred) who care about the wellbeing of all life forms that inhabit their terrains, and who are willing to shed traditions that no longer feel “kind.” For instance, the King does not ride an elephant in the annual parade, because as Lily and Pashmina point out, it’s brutal for the animal. He also condones the release of a wild elephant calf that had been captured for the procession.

The work hints at how anything that offers benefits – like AI, in our current age – has other consequences. At Bagradoo, Mystic Boons are accompanied by Twisted Forces. Antidotes to these malevolent forces are encrypted in the Ledger of Boons, a leathery book that lies in Quill’s cluttered office. It’s definitely alluring that finally an old and rather easily accessible book can save the islanders from themselves. In an age of book bans and library closures, we might want to retrieve dusty ledgers that can tote up cosmic costs versus planetary pillages.

Profound But Playful

While Lily’s snarky digital diary might indeed be morphing into a comforting/frightening reality for many – think therapist/friend chatbots – Amrita paints a playful world, filled with imaginary creatures and layered characters in scenes that prod you into laughing out loud. Take, for instance, the Dowager Queen, who frets about the state of her china because the “mean girls” are visiting. The “girls” despite turning into silver-haired dames haven’t shed their middle-school meanness. Or when Lily thinks of an eyeball grabbing contest between the dress-donning crocodile and the princess, a situation that would be funnier if human-wildlife conflicts aren’t rising in frequency and intensity.

Gandhi’s lines are penned with a wit that are brought to life by Lee-Roy Lahey’s puckish illustrations. While we grope for solutions to real planetary problems, it’s worth entering Royal-ish as a portal to a rapturous afternoon.

About The Author

Armed with Bachelor’s and Master’s in Anthropology, Amrita Gandhi has worked as a TV host, writer and producer. Having been involved in a royal-themed show for NDTV, she brings insider insights into palaces and royal families.

References

Amrita Gandhi, Royal-ish: Lily’s Adventures in Bagradoo, (Illustrator: Lee-Roy Lahey) Harper Collins Children’s Books, 2024