KLASS by Prita Yadav: Book Review

KLASS is a sports school in Pune where our protagonist, Jolene Jordan, is forced to join, by her father. Jo is determined to behave as bad as she could at her new school, hoping she will be soon expelled by the school authorities. However, the events that follow bring unexpected turns in her life and the book temporarily ends at the end of the first year of her schooling, making the readers curious for the next in the KLASS series. 

Halfway through the book, without the reader’s realization, she/he would be watching a vivid movie about KLASS. The narration is so full of life that the reading experience surpasses beyond words to render an in-depth visualization of the scenes. Friendship, rivalry, hatred, love, passion – human emotions have been well-placed throughout the plot. 

Most part of the book is in the form of conversation between the n number of characters of students and teachers at KLASS. Yet, each character is marked as a unique personality. And that’s where author Prita stands out as an extraordinary debut author. 

The plot begins with Jo joining KLASS disheartedly. She is portrayed as a bold and straightforward character who doesn’t care who she is talking to. Be it a senior, a popular figure in the school or the principal, she speaks to them with utmost disrespect. Most often, fellow students get snapped with her ‘Mind your business’ dialogue even before they attempt to speak to her. With her rude behavior, she hopes to get ridden out of the school soon, as she is in a heightened state of rage towards her father for having been forced to join KLASS. Other than this piece of information, nothing much is revealed about her family life until half way through the book when on her seventeenth birthday, an unfortunate event happens, marking an important change in her relationship with her fellow mates and with KLASS.

The idea of setting a sports school as a background is an interesting take and it was fascinating to note that a game is considered as a major at KLASS while an academic stream is a minor subject. However, except for an inter-school football match, there isn't much description of sports as such in the book, though the second part in the series is expected to include more of it.

Characterizations sweep the content of the plot. Despite her outward rudeness, the subtle empathy she shows towards Tejaswee and Jogesh who suffer family problems, makes Jo an admirable character. In the initial days, Jo is looked upon by many as a scowl dog. However, with time, people identify the inherent goodness in her that Jo, Tejaswee, Jogesh, Nikhil and Ankit gradually make a warm gang of friends. The reality of school friendships where friends could turn foes, while formal relationships could become amiable companions, is well brought-out. The very few teachers who make limited, majestic appearances are sure to impress the readers. I appreciate the author for having given equal importance to the evil gang of the school as much as to the good friends :P

There is a single noteworthy point that has given KLASS a mature ambience. Unlike common school stories, there aren't several couples at KLASS. Instead, the silent crushes that run amongst KLASS students make it an interesting read. Specifically, the number of crushes on Jo, being a handful, would make readers curious to know who is finally going to win her love; even more curious to know if she would ever fall in love at the first place. 

However, as the secret pasts of Jo’s childhood and that of her parents’ dramatically unwind, the plot slightly begins to lose its grip. The mood of the flashback didn't seem to do justice to the rest of the narration. Nevertheless, Jo's comeback to KLASS gathers the reading momentum again. 

Narration is strikingly cool. Writing seems an effortless and natural art to Author Prita. Nowhere in the book, one would feel reading a debut work. Though scenes could have been made a little shorter at a few places, the narrating style makes it all lively. Also, towards the later part of the book, a few descriptions (like, "face turning red") are used too often to get noticed. 

KLASS is simply Lively!

 

Reviewed for the Author

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Special thanks to the author for the signed copy.

Title: KLASS: A Man Is Lifeless Without A Passion In His Life!

Author: Prita Yadav

Publisher: Self-published through White Falcon Publishing

Pages: 312

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About the Book

Jolene Jordan has been forced to join KLASS by her father and she dislikes the fact that she has to toe his line. She makes up her mind to be extremely rude, disobey the teachers and break all rules; so that she would be expelled from school and her father would be humiliated. For sometime Jo is the 'Mind your own business' girl and the bottom performer in her class until a sudden unfortunate twist in her life makes the girl change over a new leaf. The story revolves around Jo's whirlwind journey through KLASS, her dilemma to choose a game as her MAJOR, her resolve to get thrown out of KLASS as a rebuke to her father and her struggle to overpower her notion to be friends with anyone at KLASS.

About the Author

Born and brought up in Pune, Prita Yadav is extremely passionate about sports, especially hockey. She has represented Maharashtra State in hockey and is currently part of a women’s hockey club. She developed an interest for reading books at a very young age and was especially fascinated by the ones from the fiction genre. The fond memories for her alma mater, plus the zeal to master as many sports as she can, motivated her to write this book on a sports school.