Reviews
'A plucky heroine worth rooting for in a story that is hopeful and heartfelt.' The Times
'This mystery story for children has a precision worthy of Agatha Christie… Kothari is a persuasive, elegant writer.' The Telegraph
'I enjoyed this is feel-good, lyrical debut immensely. Bringing Back Kay-Kay is the story of a girl who goes looking for her missing brother and finds him, and herself, in so many different ways. This is a mystery but it's so much more than that. It's a quest through various towns and trains in India, meeting many personalities and discovering that the truth is many-layered and steeped in love. Read it!' Nizrana Farook
'I LOVED Lena and her determined spirit in never giving up on her brother. Rickshaws, hot sun, India, the power of poetry. Out 4 April! Preorder now!' E. L. Norry
'A tense, exhilarating and lyrical adventure along the train tracks. Full of empathy and steeped in heartwarming sibling love.' Sita Brahmachari
'This mystery story, set in contemporary India, is both gripping and emotional… is an accomplished debut novel – finely balanced between action and emotion. This would provide lots of talking points as a class reader for upper primary.' BookTrust
'This mystery set in contemporary India grips the reader from the start. Written from Lena’s view point, it’s frequently gut-wrenchingly moving, especially when she addresses her thoughts to her brother. A terrific debut that pays tribute to the power of sibling bonds especially in desperate situations.' Red Reading Hub
'Sibling bonds, family dynamics, self-worth and the importance of expression through art are all useful points to discuss with classes or book groups. Upper primary readers who enjoy engrossing suspenseful narratives with relatable characters will love this.' The School Reading List
'I was fascinated by this intrepid young protagonist… A compelling plot is driven by evocative writing and this is impressive for a debut novel.' The Letterpress Project
'I was captivated by this story and raced through the pages, desperate to know what was going to happen next. I liked the mystery and the intrigue; I liked the setting in a part of the world I have never visited; I liked the poetry; I liked the strong, female lead. But what I loved was the strong sibling connection… A brilliant, lyrical debut of a novel which left me with a warm heart and a smile on my face.' Mini Travellers Blog
'This is wonderful! Bringing Back Kay-Kay by @devyani_nk with this very beautiful cover by @taraanandart. Lena's beloved brother Kay-Kay is missing after a train journey back from summer camp, and Lena - frustrated with the lack of urgency from officials, and led by her brother's poetry - sets out to find him. It's the perfect balance of fast and gripping, and descriptive and emotional. Writing and scenery to savour, it's a journey through trains and stations of India. And such lovely characters all the way through, and poetry! LOVED it!' Nicola Penfold
'Instantly riveting & moving middle grade mystery! BRINGING BACK KAY KAY had all the tense nail-biting thrills of the Adventures On Trains series but with a deeper emotional hit. The poetry was an inspired touch & modern India setting was so vividly depicted.' Ramzee
'Bringing Back Kay-Kay is such an exciting debut! It's everything a middle grade own-voice adventure should be. Authentic, lyrical, Indian setting, full of courage, family love and family trouble, it tells the story of a girl setting out on a quest to find her missing brother. Deeply satisfying and recommended. Can't wait to see what Dev Kothari writes next.' Tia Fisher
'Bringing Back Kay-Kay is a fresh and original 'can't-put-it-down' mystery story for ages 9+ (Upper Key Stage 2). It would make a great read aloud or class novel set in modern-day India. Move it to the top of your 'to be read' pile!' ReadingZone
'Bringing Back Kay-Kay is full of adventure and mystery and will appeal to readers of Nizrana Farook, Katherine Rundell and Kiran Millwood Hargrave. It is a thoroughly enjoyable, captivating story and is highly recommended.' ReadingZone
'Dev Kothari is a masterful storyteller.' ReadingZone
'An incredible debut.' World's Smallest Library
'This is one of those really magical books that you come across now and again… This is now on my list of favourite books for 2024 and it has five stars from me.' Margaret's reading shelf
'A gripping, exciting and brilliant adventure.' Books for Keeps
'A well written mystery suffused with sibling love.' Five Books