Shiva's Fire

( 19 )

Overview

By the Newbery Honor-winning author of Shabanu

On a day when fish leap among the stars and birds soar beneath the waters, a remarkable girl named Parvati is born in a village in the South of India. As she grows, she becomes known for the peculiar events that seem to spring from beneath her dancing feet, and is widely thought to have supernatural powers. When a great master of Indian classical dance comes to see for himself, he recognizes in ...

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More About This Book

Overview

By the Newbery Honor-winning author of Shabanu

On a day when fish leap among the stars and birds soar beneath the waters, a remarkable girl named Parvati is born in a village in the South of India. As she grows, she becomes known for the peculiar events that seem to spring from beneath her dancing feet, and is widely thought to have supernatural powers. When a great master of Indian classical dance comes to see for himself, he recognizes in Parvati a rare talent and invites her to study with him at his gurukulam in the city of Madras. There she commits herself to a rigorous and solitary program of study, dance, and devotion. But when she meets a boy with his own extraordinary powers, her life is turned upside down, and she must question the one thing of which she has always been most sure - that she was born to dance. In this powerful novel rich with mysticism, Suzanne Fisher Staples tells the poignant story of a strong girl who refuses to squander her magical gifts in the face of life's ordinary but perplexing mysteries.

In India, a talented dancer sacrifices friends and family for her art.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
If not for references to modern technology, this tale set in India might defy chronology; the folkloric narrative, primal settings and universal themes confer a timeless quality. Parvati, the heroine, has a mystical aura; some villagers think she carries doom because her birth coincided with an unprecedented cyclone that devastated the entire region. Parvati does not know if she is to blame for the destruction caused by the storm or the famine that followed, but she retains a memory of everything she has witnessed since infancy. As she grows up, animals flock to her, seemingly communing with her, and when music is played, Parvati cannot keep her feet still, no matter how hard she tries. Eventually, Parvati's talent for dance and spiritual gifts win her a scholarship to a gurukulam (a school run by a great teacher). But devoting herself to her studies requires sacrifices Parvati has not even dreamt of. The Hindu concept of dharma is as intricately woven into this saga as decorative threads are woven into Parvati's elaborate dance costumes. Staples's (Shabanu; Haveli) deceptively plain prose conjures a variety of moods, textures and images. Poetically and suspensefully expressing the sorrows and joys of the spiritual life as well as the life of the artist, this is a spellbinder. Ages 12-up. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
From The Critics
Staples, a former UPI foreign correspondent, spent time in Pakistan, the setting for her Newbery Honor-winning Shabanu and its sequel Haveli; and she also served in India, the setting for this lovely, understated contemporary fantasy novel. Strange things occur on the day that Parvati is born. A terrible cyclone all but destroys her village, killing thousands; a crow speaks to her mother while she is in labor; her father is trampled to death by an elephant driven mad by the storm; and the local maharaja's son is born, apparently at the same instant that Parvati opens her eyes upon the world. Strangest of all, however, Parvati is conscious and entirely self-aware from the moment of birth, and she remembers everything. The death of her father reduces the family to poverty and Parvati, her mother and two brothers are forced to live on the sufferance of her uncle and her very nasty aunt. The little girl is recognized by the villagers from very early on as different, someone to be avoided and despised. Fish and birds come at her call. A deadly cobra refuses to bite her. Music is heard whenever she lights a fire. She sees a sandalwood statue of the Lord Shiva actually dancing, surrounded by flames. Most amazing of all, Parvati can dance the sacred bharata natyam virtually from birth and does so, on one occasion, in the middle of a cooking fire without being burned. Parvati grows up poor and an outcast in her village, but one day she receives a visit that changes her life. The Guru Pazhayanur Muthu Kumara Pillai, a master of Indian classical dance, has heard of her and recruits her for his gurukulam in the great city of Madras. Never having left her backward village before, Parvati is at firstawed by the big city, but soon settles in to the convent-like life of the gurukulam, where her waking hours are entirely devoted to chores, basic education and, of course, the sacred dance. Although she again finds herself isolated from the other students, who consider her as strange as did the people of her village, Parvati excels at her studies. The only excitement in her life besides the bharata natyam, occurs when another student, her only friend at the gurukulam, elopes with a famous bandit who has been secretly courting her. In a remarkably short amount of time, Parvati is named a devadasi, a full-fledged sacred dancer, and her fame spreads across India. Soon she is asked to dance before the maharaja, and she and the maharaja's son make a series of startling discoveries about each other. Eventually, Parvati finds she must make an almost impossible choice between the remarkable young man she has grown to love and the sacred dance which is her life. Staples writes beautifully and movingly about South Indian culture, treating the traditions of Parvati's people with respect and conveying just enough information to make her readers comfortable in their understanding of Hindu religious belief and particularly the bharata natyam sacred dance tradition. The horrific events that begin the novel, the cyclone, the deaths of thousands, her family's extreme early poverty, are dealt with in a straightforward, but understated fashion. What's finally at the center of this satisfying and magical book, what drives it to its conclusion, is Parvati's powerful and mystical connection with the Lord Shiva and the sacred dance. 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux, $17.00. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Michael Levy — The Five Owls, September/October 2000 (Vol. 15 No. 1)
KLIATT
The day that began with the Maharaja's birthday festivities ended with a rain so hard that an entire village's way of life was destroyed. On this day, Parvati was born and her father would die. From destruction comes creation, from death, life. So goes Shiva's dance and so begins the tale of Parvati. From the outset, Parvati is different from those around her. Even at a few hours old she seems to be able to read the souls of those who hold her. Her mother's milk never runs dry even though her mother is suffering from malnutrition. She survives when other babies die. And as she grows older other talents become apparent. She is able to communicate with animals and fish, drawing them to her and taming them. She sees movement in statues of the Hindu Gods. And she herself begins to move and dance with extraordinary grace and skill. These abilities and mysteries surrounding her lead people to fear and shun her, until one day a great master of classical Indian dance comes to see her. His offer to study dance with him carries with it a great reward as well as a price. Her family would receive money and she would receive the opportunity to study dance. But it would also mean that she would no longer live with her family and instead would live the solitary life of a devadasi. She accepts and so her life changes. At the gurukulam, she is the best dancer—she learns the steps quickly and performs them with beauty and grace. She quickly moves from novice to master and earns the chance to return to her village and dance her debut performance before the Maharaja. It is there that she meets Rama, the Maharaja's son, who shares her birthday as well as his own unusual abilities. But mostly they share acommon loneliness. Their friendship and romance force Parvati to make a choice between her passion and her love. Staples is a magnificent storyteller who beautifully recreates the colors, sounds and smells of India. Although this story is filled with tragedy it is less dark than Shabanu. Parvati seems to have more control over her fate. Her mother loves her and does not want to lose her, but allows her to choose between living a life of poverty in the village or pursuing dance. At the same time they both recognize that Parvati's decision to attend the gurkulam would mean money for the family and in this sense Parvati is still an object of exchange: she will be sold to the school. Still in the end it is Parvati's choice and this seems a better fate than Shabanu's. While the story is interesting and presents a culture and way of life unknown to many Americans, it is neither a quick nor easy read. Category: Paperback Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2000, HarperTrophy, 276p., Ages 13 to 15. Reviewer: Debra Mitts Smith; YA Libn., Glenview P.L., Glenview, IL
VOYA
Parvati believes her birth caused the cyclone that destroyed her small Indian village, killing her father in an elephant stampede brought on by the storm. Her family is now at the mercy of an aunt who resents their intrusion into her home. When Parvati is twelve, a guru arrives in town to observe the young woman who can enchant animals and dance upon the fire. Few are invited to study classical dance at his gurukulau, but those who are bring wealth to their families. Soon Pavarti's family lives in a fine new home where she visits before dancing for the Maharaja. Parvati meets the son of the Maharaja, Rama, who shares her birthdate. There is a very strong psychic connection between them, but Parvati and Rama both know a future together is not possibleher destiny is to dance. As she begins to dance before Rama and his father, she hears the voice of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, recreation, and dance, softly instructing her, "This is it. You are the magic of possibilities." Parvati knows Shiva has chosen her as one of his own. Staples, the award winning author of Shabanu (Knopf, 1989/VOYA April 1990) and Haveli (Knopf, 1993/VOYA December 1993), has created another mystical, yet human, female character. This novel draws the reader into the exotic setting and spiritual world of sacred Hindu classical dance. The glossary with pronunciation guide helps readers understand Indian terminology. Young readers will relate to Parvati's dislike of being different and to her relief upon finding her place as a master dancer, a place where her unique abilities are honored, not feared. Glossary. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YAappeal;Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 12 to 15, 288p, $17. Reviewer: Ruth Cox
Children's Literature - Children's Literature
Parvati's story begins with the most destructive cyclone in India's history, two mysterious births, and many deaths. From this foreboding beginning, Staples weaves the spell-binding tale of a young girl, magical from birth, whose destiny is to perform with the passion and skill of Shiva, the Hindu god of dance, destruction, and re-creation. Considered dangerously different, Parvati grows up lonely, trying to hide her mystical connections to animals, music, and fire. When a master of dance recognizes her "bad" talents as good ones, Parvati knows that her purpose on earth is to dance. However, when the fate of a maharaja's son becomes cosmically and romantically intertwined, Parvati must make a difficult choice about her destiny. This powerful story has everything--depth, mystery, magic, suspense, and romance. With captivating prose and a page-turning plot, Staples has created a narrative that is both folkloric and contemporary, and full to the brim with the sights, sounds, and smells of India. 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 12 up, $17.00. Reviewer: Betty Hicks
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780064409797
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 11/28/2001
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 288
  • Age range: 10 years
  • Product dimensions: 5.12 (w) x 7.62 (h) x 0.57 (d)

Meet the Author

Suzanne Fisher Staples is the author of Dangerous Skies, Shabanu, and Haveli. She was a UPI correspondent in India, Pakistan, and Hong Kong for many years, and currently lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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Read an Excerpt

"After a year most students are not ready to perform. There is so much to learn! A dancer from this gurukulam cannot go before the public until she is a master."

Parvati's heart ached with disappointment, but she said nothing. The Guru laughed a kindly laugh and Parvati lowered her eyes.

"But you are different," he said.

"How do you mean, 'different,' sir?" she asked. The Guru grew very serious.

"It's easy for me to see why you are impatient. The music is a part of you; it's as if you've always known how to dance."

Parvati wondered whether the Guru knew about her causing the cyclone and dancing in the fire, about the cobra and all the ways in which she was different. She looked back down at the floor for a moment, as if the answers she sought might lie imbedded in the straw mat.

"What is it?" he asked. She swallowed hard before she spoke.

"All my life people have thought of me as 'different.' Some people blame all sorts of things on me. It has caused my poor mother nothing but trouble. That is how I know I am different. Because of me my mother is an outcast in our village. And now you talk as if this 'differentness' is good!"
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 19 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 19 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 21, 2010

    Dance, Magic Dance

    This young adult fantasy novel is a richly descriptive and beautiful adventure in a fictional south Indian state, where a girl named Parvati is born in a poor family and strange, devastating weather strikes the community. Villagers shun her, treating her like a freak and believing that the village's problems are all her fault. She does indeed have magic powers, which she tries to suppress. She has a magical talent for dancing, a talent that goes unappreciated until a dancing guru arrives and asks her to join his school.

    As someone who has visited India, I found the book draws a vivid and realistic picture of the country. The characters come alive, and Parvati is a particularly sympathetic character and a strong heroine who must follow her heart.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 15, 2005

    LOVED IT!

    When i first picked up this book i didn't think it would be this AWESOME but i read it because my friend told me i should & I'm a bookworm w/ a lot of time. I totally loved this book & learned a little bit more about my friend's background because even though she isn't from India(we both wish we were) she believes in dharma and karma and shiva, the god of destruction. AWESOME how that all ties into this and the hugest reason i love this book is because I love 2 dance & after reading this it got me more into my passion! I'm even going to buy a dancing costume liek the one in the book! Love it! A must read!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 16, 2005

    Beauty of a devi dasi

    This story captivated me, the ending is a killer and the beginning and middle ain't to bad either! The beauty in which the art of dance is described brings tears to my eye and I know i'll be hunting this book for my own personaly library.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 4, 2006

    I wish i could dance like that

    I liked the beginning best even though it was kind of gross that the father got smashed. Ever since i read this book for the first time i wished i could dance like Parvati could, i thought it sounded really cool. I have read this book at least 3 times and i never get bored of it. (i lov jewlrey and Parvati's sounds really cool)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 17, 2005

    WOW GRREATNESS

    wow this book was great seriously ppl it takes u from the indian culture to indian classicle dancing its a beutifull tis great

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 5, 2005

    Read This Book!

    Shiva's fire is interesting,captivating, truely magical. It is a fantastic book and I definatly reccommend it. If you dont read it you are missing out. READ IT!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2004

    Beyond 5 stars

    I loved this book. It was brought to my intrest when I saw the cover... I was thinking 'wow! this is the same dance I learn!' so I bought it. The next thing you know I could not put the book down! Staples uses only the highest quality of writing with diferent twists and an allover outstanding plot to keep you into it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 22, 2004

    Fantastic Book

    I, myself as a bharatanatyam dancer, thought this book was fantastic and helped me understand and learn more about the wonderful art. This book is a must!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2004

    great book

    This is one of my all time favorite books. I strongly recamend it to anyone who loves India, the Middle East, and a story you just can't put down. It's great.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 25, 2003

    Shiva's Fire

    When i read this book i feel in love with the it. I read it 3 years ago and today it is still one of my favorite. I will always remember this book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 15, 2003

    I wish I could give it more!!!!!!!!!!

    This book is like a dance itself, skillfully written and danced. It is positively stunning and I look forward to more from this author.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 2, 2003

    Amazing

    This book was amazing!! as the friend of two Bharatha Natyam dancers, i understood it. It inspired me to want to learn all i can about Bharatha Natyam and India. Anyone who loves India, should read this book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 9, 2002

    The Best Book Ever

    As an Indian who takes Bharat Natyam, I understood all of it. When I recommmended it to my friends, I thought they never would be able to understand it but they did. this book is the best book ever. :-)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 7, 2002

    shiva's fire

    this book was so amazing and since i am from india i really enjoyed this book. i have also taken barat natyam which is what kind of dance parvati does in the book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 30, 2001

    i loved this book

    This was a very good book, and since i enjoy reading about other countries, i really enjoyed this book, also as a dancer and animal lover, it was even more amazing, it was a very well written book, and i will read more of Staples's books.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 20, 2001

    Dance! Read! Read THIS!

    Parviti is very talented and I'm am just like whoa i wish I could dance like that and have the animal's communicate with me. But what would YOU do if your best freind was kidnapped by some cukoo crook?

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 2, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 31, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

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