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Why it matters
Anappara combines a child's energetic voice with an unsparing view of poverty and the many children whose disappearances receive little attention.
A celebrated work
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Deepa Anappara2021 selection · Mystery & crime
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Nine-year-old Jai draws on television detective shows when a child disappears from his crowded Indian neighborhood. With friends Pari and Faiz, he investigates as further disappearances expose danger, religious tension, and official indifference.
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Read this if…
You value mysteries that balance youthful perspective with serious social realities.
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Ideas inside
Missing childrenPovertyFriendshipReligious tension
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Edgar Award for Best Novel — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)