Written by Sheela Preuitt and Praba Ram
Illustrated by Padmasree Murali
Reviewed by Daisy D’Souza and Sujata Noronha
This realistic fiction novel introduces middle-grade readers to the mangrove ecosystem of the Sundarbans and the realities of its coastal communities.
| Publishing Date: 2026
ISBN: 9780143475880 Page Count: 178 Publisher: Puffin Books (An Imprint of Penguin Random House) Review Posted Online: October 2026 QBR Reviews Issue: Q3 2026 Categories: Environment and Nature | Grief and Loss | Folklore |
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Set in the shifting landscape of the Sundarbans mangrove delta in India, Down by the Mangroves follows fifth-grader Moyna, whose daily life revolves around her school, her family, her pet goats, and the surrounding wilderness. The plot explores the complex themes of loss and healing after Moyna’s father, a local fisherman, goes missing during a high-risk fishing expedition deep into the forest.
The publisher recommends this book for readers 10+ years old.
The language is simple, warm, and flowing for a middle-grade reader to explore the story as the author uses vivid descriptions of nature, gentle pacing during sad moments, and clear words that balance the real dangers of the forest with a child’s hopeful view.
Writing as observant outsiders looking in, the co-authors (Sheela Preuitt and Praba Ram) grounded their narrative in careful research and insights learned directly from those who know the region deeply. They present the Sundarbans community as resilient and deeply rooted in a culture of coexistence with nature while weaving environmental fragility and climate change into daily village life. Through sudden, violent storms, eroding shorelines, and shrinking natural habitats, the book shows how sea-level shifts, unpredictable weather, and encounters with tigers and crocodiles make fishing, crab-catching, and honey-gathering increasingly dangerous for forest-dependent families.
The storytelling thoughtfully incorporates regional heritage and biodiversity. Local folklore, including the protective songs and tales of Bonbibi, the guardian deity of the forest, is seamlessly blended alongside native wildlife such as kingfishers, herons, mudskippers, and the Royal Bengal tiger.
We were surprised by how calm the villagers stayed around wild tigers, accepting them as a normal part of daily life rather than something to fear. Despite the immense dangers, they hold a deep sense of respect, coexistence, and belonging toward the delta. It is their home, and the wild elements are viewed as a living, shared ecosystem under the protection of Bonbibi.
The authors previously co-wrote Thukpa for All, which has been recognized by the International Board on Books for Young People and the South Asia Book Award and has been featured on the Bank Street Children’s Book list. Praba Ram is based in India, while Sheela Preuitt lives in the United States.
The book shows how a child copes with the loss of her father through the warm support of her mother, best friend Sumi, neighbors, and community, proving that sorrow and joy can exist together.
The story spends a lot of time on Moyna’s thoughts and feelings as she processes her grief and goes about her daily life in her village.
At the end of the book, a glossary titled Words from Moyna’s World explains key ecological and cultural terms, such as bhatir desh (land of tides) and bawali (woodcutters). While these definitions help young readers from outside the region understand unfamiliar concepts and connect with the mangrove environment, they also reveal how the book is framed. For children living within the Sundarbans, these terms represent daily life rather than novel vocabulary. This inclusion shows that the book is thoughtfully crafted to introduce the delta’s unique culture to a broader, global audience.
The book features black and white chapter illustrations by Padmasree Murali. While Padmasree Murali’s black-and-white chapter illustrations offer gentle visual glimpses of the characters, wildlife, and landscape, they are not strictly necessary given the rich, evocative clarity of the text. Do ten-year-old readers truly need these visual aids, or is the publisher relying on illustrations to keep young audiences engaged with an unfamiliar setting?
When we discussed this book with the middle-grade children, they demonstrated a deep, intuitive connection to the core themes of Down by the Mangroves. When asked why the villagers do not simply leave the dangerous forest or resent the wild animals, the children wisely observed that moving away is financially impossible for these families. More importantly, they recognized that the villagers view the local wildlife as an integral part of their shared ecosystem rather than as enemies, allowing them to coexist without hatred despite the constant threats.
The children also resonated with how nature can offer solace after a tragedy, drawing touching parallels to their own lives: fourteen-year-old Kailash shared that he sits by a lake to find peace when dealing with distress, twelve-year-old Swaraya noted that visiting the beach calms her down, and eleven-year-old Bikas explained how in his native green village, residents see wild animals roaming nearby as a normal, non-threatening part of daily life.
The book’s tender depiction of grief and trauma inspired equally personal reflections. Eleven-year-old Rebecca shared the painful memory of her father surviving a major accident years ago that resulted in a leg amputation; though she was very young at the time, the emotional weight allowed her to deeply empathize with Moyna’s sudden loss.
After finishing the full book, Swaraya praised the narrative’s emotional honesty, highlighting a particularly moving scene where Moyna regrets her past mischief, promises her absent father that she will behave, and pleads for his return. Swaraya also valued the unwavering comfort Moyna received from her friend during her hardest days. Looking at the villagers’ lives critically, Swaraya remarked that while their environment is inherently unsafe and poverty prevents them from relocating, it is ultimately their profound faith in Bonbibi that gives them the strength to live without fear. Impressed by its emotional depth and realistic portrayal of village life, she enthusiastically said that she would recommend the book to her friends.
Other Books
- Boo! When My Sister Died by Richa Jha and Gautam Benegal, Pickle Yolk Books, 2017
- Shera by Arun Fulara, Tulika, 2023
- The Mangrove Tree by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, Lee & Low Books, 2011
- Whispers Of The Mangroves by Radhika Suri, Pari Satarkar and Chetna Singh Kaith, Harper Collins Publishers, 2025
- Yangdol by Pankaj Singh, Self-published, 2021