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An Absence of Squirrels

An Absence of Squirrels

A Girl on a Quest to Find a Mysterious Creature | Fantasy Adventure | Ages 10+

Aparna Kapur
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Welcome to Thutta. We have a train, an ocean and 5,120 people.

One of these people is Katli, although she pretends to be seven people — making up new versions of herself is her way of dealing with being a thirteen-year-old on an island where nothing much happens.

Until one morning, when she follows a cat off a train and sets off a sequence of events involving absent animals, mysterious meetings and sneaky schemes. As the secrets grow into something much bigger than Katli could have imagined, she knows one thing for sure: life on the island will never be boring again.

Oh, and whatever you do, don’t say SQUI—

Imprint: Duckbill

Published: May/2025

ISBN: 9780143470878

Length : 224 Pages

MRP : ₹299.00

An Absence of Squirrels

A Girl on a Quest to Find a Mysterious Creature | Fantasy Adventure | Ages 10+

Aparna Kapur

Welcome to Thutta. We have a train, an ocean and 5,120 people.

One of these people is Katli, although she pretends to be seven people — making up new versions of herself is her way of dealing with being a thirteen-year-old on an island where nothing much happens.

Until one morning, when she follows a cat off a train and sets off a sequence of events involving absent animals, mysterious meetings and sneaky schemes. As the secrets grow into something much bigger than Katli could have imagined, she knows one thing for sure: life on the island will never be boring again.

Oh, and whatever you do, don’t say SQUI—

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Aparna Kapur

Aparna Kapur talks fast but writes slowly. Her recent books include What the Dark Sounds Like (illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi) and I Won’t Wash My Hair (illustrated by Ogin Nayam). She loves ice cream.

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Summer is here, and with it comes a wave of exciting new children’s books that promise thrill, magic, mystery—and maybe even a squirrel or two. Whether your young reader loves spine-chilling adventures, heartfelt stories, or whimsical quests, this month’s releases have something for every curious mind. Here are four delightful picks to spark imaginations and […]

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