Katha Sagar, Ocean of Stories: Hindu Wisdom for Every Age

Gr 7 Up—Conover and Janamanchi introduce more than 20 rich and varied Hindu myths and parables culled from epics, folk tradition, sacred literature, and 19th-century writer Ramakrishna. A brief, informative essay on Hinduism is included for readers who are unfamiliar with the subject. Throughout the stories, the gods can be scary and violent (Shiva beheads his small son and incinerates Kamadeva), and even sages don't always behave admirably, but virtues are firmly endorsed, and vices—specifically selfish greed—are condemned. Gender balance within the work is helped by the slightly strained framing narrative, which features a grandmotherly village storyteller. The age span between her and her listener implies a younger audience for these selections, despite the more mature content found throughout, a detail that may confuse YA readers. There are some unanswered puzzles (Are the gods immortal? When is the entire universe cyclically remade?), but as Conover reminds readers, the point is to experience the tales, not to seek philosophical consistency. Illustrations are colorful, intricate, and evocative.