Half-Indian, half-Irish Anila Tandy applies for a job as an draughtsman for a birding watching expedition up the Ganges as a means of being able to remain in Calcutta to find her father. Her journey and the people she meets teach her things about herself and life that she had never anticipated. Flashback chapters provide the story of Anila’s childhood with her mother, her father’s disappearance, and how she grew to a spirited young artist in 18th century colonial India. The story was at least partially inspired by the eighteenth century painting An Indian Lady by artist Thomas Hickey. The book includes a glossary of Bengali terms and a couple of historical notes. Anila’s story could serve as an introduction into the British Empire or India. It is a tale of self-discovery and growing up that should appeal to girls age 13-16. ( )

Amiable ( )

The inspiration for this story came from a painting in the National Gallery in Dublin. Set in the lush tropics of 18th century India, this is an amazing, beautifully written tale. Anila Tandy is the biracial teen daughter of an Irish father and a poor but beautiful Bengali mother. Her father has mysteriously disappeared, and her mother has recently died, leaving Anila with kind guardians. Her guardians are moving to the city of Madras, and Anila wants to stay in Calcutta in case her father reappears. She has applied for a job traveling with a gentleman scientist for a month-long boat trip down the Ganges river. He is searching for new species of birds, and needs an artist to accurately record images of the birds they will see on the trip. Women at that time were extremely limited in the kinds of jobs they could get, and so though this was most unusual, it is believable because of Anila's artistic gifts and strong will. 7th grade and up. ( )

Reviewed by Tasha for TeensReadToo.com

When Anila Tandy's guardians, the Hickeys, decide to leave Calcutta, they beg her to accompany them, but she stubbornly refuses to come so that just in case her long-gone father returns as he promised many years ago, she'll be there.

Miss Hickey then sets her up with everything she'll need to survive by herself. Most importantly, she finds Anila a job as a bird painter on an expedition up the Ganges River.

As the days go by and she discovers new birds, she also reflects on her past. How life was like when her mother was still alive and her father was still around, or remembering the stories her mother used to tell. Along the journey, Anila also finds herself and grows up.

ANILA'S JOURNEY was a well-written historical story. The re-creation of historic India was fascinating and I enjoyed learning more about the older Indian culture. I thought that it was really interesting how Mary Finn alternated the chapters by telling what Anila was experiencing at the present and then stories about Anila's past - and then bringing them together in the end.

Anila herself was an interesting character who really grew up throughout the novel and became her true self. I loved all of the culture references and felt like I learned quite a bit. At times, the book got dry and I found that it was hard to keep reading, but then it would get better over time. Overall, I really did enjoy the book. ( )

In yet another detour from my reading plan, I ended up reading Anila's journey, a teenage novel about a young Indo-Irish girl, Anila Tandy, in Eighteenth century India. Given the setting, I expected this book to dwell on themes of racism, but found it was actually more about sexism. I supposed I shouldn't be shocked - it was a long time ago, but I found the descriptions of the treatment of local Indian women by the young men of the Raj quite upsetting. Once again, although I didn't think I was much of a feminist, my blood was boiling at the injustice of their lives.

Much like a Dickens novel, despite Anila's precarious circumstances, kindly souls always seem to appear out the woodwork, to help her along her way. I'm not sure if this would happen in real life, but it's nice to think that a young girl left alone in the world, would find so many kindly souls to look out for her?

What it reminded me of more than anything is how brave we can be, when we don't belong, and therefore have nothing to loose. Sometimes you just have to take a step into the unknown and see what happens, and that's just what the heroine does when she accepts a post as bird illustrator on a river expedition, organised by a British naturalist. In the best traditions of the road-movie (or river-book?), it turns out to be a journey of discovery for young Anila, who manages to reconnect with both her Irish and Indian roots by the end of the book.

The descriptions of Indian life and customs of the time are beautiful, and the descriptions of the bird-life are strangely compelling. Quite by chance, my reading of this book, coincided with my discovery of the great Dutch bird illustrator J. G. Keulemans. Just one of those strange co-incidences that life throws up - I now want to read the biography of him written by his Great Grandson, Tony Keulemans *, but copies are rare and selling for a fortune. I'll keep my eye out for a bargain copy.

I read Anila's journey, as I was considering buying it for a 13 year old relative. Given the sexist themes, I think I'll leave it a year or two, it's maybe a bit depressing for the younger teens? For the time-being, I'd like her to believe that girls have as much going for them as boys, and aren't there just to provide temporary entertainment, then to be thrown aside into a life of poverty. Gosh, now I see that in black and white, perhaps nothing much has changed? For Anila's mother, read the many young women of today who believe their boyfriends will stick around, and for Anila's absent Irish father, all those guys being chased by the CSA, while their children live fatherless, and in poverty. Oh dear, nothing changes!

This book would appeal to the older teenage girl, 14-16, and new copies can be picked up very cheaply.