THE HAPPINESS TRAIN [Paperback] Nayar, Nandini

"Happiness means different things to different people at different times."This statement is so true and the story showed it too. This book had innocence of childhood, the mischief, building friendship and love of family. It is story about what is happiness for you.Happiness for Suraj is boarding the gorgeous Happiness Train which promises to take through adventure, a train which Amma calls is evil and carries people away. Suraj wants to experience the freedom and he ignores everyone's warning and boards the train. He realises that it is a trap to lure children in and there he meets others who are trapped to. They are hoping to escape but how?This story shows how you shouldn't judge anything by its cover and how appearances can be misleading. The story flows smoothly and have characters that will teach you something. It has a pull towards it and mystery to keep you hooked. I really liked the ending and Radha's character, how she is brave and stands up for wrong. As for Suraj he takes impulsive decision but turns out to be leading everyone to safety.The author throws light to gender issues how some things are okay for Suraj and not Radha. She highlights important values through this book which is perfect for children. I totally recommend this.

Review by Lavanya P Kesan:What does happiness mean to you?Do you take pleasure in little joys?Or, do you think it's only the big stuff that can make you happy?This book makes you introspect on all this. More so, makes you look back at what had made you happy as a child and makes you wish to go back to those times.The story begins Iike this – ‘Happiness means different things to different people at different times’Nothing can be more perfect!It's primarily the story of four boys who try to escape from their mundane lives by hopping on to the Happiness Train only to painfully realise that there was sheer magic in all the mundane and routine that their lives had offered. The book is set in the British colonial period when Trains were introduced for the first time and were a huge fascination.How they entangle themselves in an unexpected misery, what they realise about life and the importance of relationships, and finally, how they make their way out is what this book is all about. The author has deftly carried it all through the book.The best part of the book is its simple language suited for children and the way it teaches many a lessons to them.