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Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Readers' Favorite
Crow: The Luck of Charm by Surya Prakash Shrivastava is a short story about the connection between a boy and a crow. Yash lives in an urban environment, with chaotic traffic and construction noise just outside his window. Inside, chaos comes from his arguing parents. Yash yearns for peace. Then, one day, a crow comes to his window and provides him with the respite he dreams of. For several days in a row, his visitor returns to his window. Every time the crow arrives, Yash feels more at peace and happier. Then one day, the bird does not show up. Adding to the boy’s frustration, his relatives, whom he does not appreciate, come for a visit. He is expected to socialize with them. But because he feels unwanted and misunderstood, he wheels himself back to his room. Eventually, the crow returns, banishing Yash’s loneliness and returning a smile to his face.
This book might be a simple tale about a boy who befriends a bird. But is that all it is? I believe that Crow: The Luck of Charm by Surya Prakash Shivastava is a short story long on interpretation. Because of its deeper meaning, I enjoyed reading this story. First, I believe that birds carry spiritual meanings or messages from above to us mere mortals. Second, when Yash is yearning for peace and even friendship in his loud and lonely life, he finds more than that in the visiting crow. The boy in the wheelchair finds hope. And perhaps he finds his own wings, if only for a little while. I highly recommend this well-written, simple, but sophisticated story.
