Clean Bowled, the third in Khyrunnisa A’s Butterfinger series is a book that fulfils the need for more engaging reads for Indian children.
It’s another season of sporting fun at Green Park where the students of VIII A are to be swept away on another adventure. This time, Amar, known as Butterfingers — on account of his clumsiness — and his gang of friends plan a cricket match to honour the memory of their dear friend Col Nadkarni. As always, there’s a mix-up and they end up arranging a cricket match for the teachers. This turns out to be a good idea, actually, because the school management is concerned about the lack of fitness of the teachers.
Image courtesy: Author’s Facebook page
Meanwhile, there are two thieves at large in the town, one spiriting away jewellery and the other sports goods. As it happens, the cricket equipment at the school goes missing and the boys are forced to improvise. They come up with ‘Crack It’, played with everything from umbrellas and walking sticks to sapotas and tomatoes. As you might imagine, much wild fun ensues. What’s more, it looks like they might solve the mystery of the missing jewels and the missing sports gear.
Clean Bowled will appeal to every young boy who has known the joy of playing cricket in school, struggling for permissions, building teams and preparing for the big day. The school story, where you meet all the characters who have become familiar now – Amar and his buddies Kishore, Arjun, Kiran, Mr Jagmohan, the Princi, and the teachers with their amusing quirks – is also a mystery that promises to keep young readers engaged.
It moves at a quick pace, with hilarity peppering the pages. Clean Bowled will certainly have its readers laughing out loud, even as they cheer for their favourite team.
