The Mission and the Mangoes

The story takes place in 2050, when global warming and pollution have nearly destroyed the earth, and our planet is devoid of water. Thumba Space Research Station, situated in Kerala, is in charge of an international space mission to Tian-a recently discovered planet-in order to find water and save the dying earth. The book is an interesting analysis of why the earth has found itself in such a troublesome situation. The captivating story warns the young generation about the bleak future if we don't respect our Mother Earth.

About the Author: Hena Parveen, the author, is a 12-year-old seventh-grade student in Chennai. She grew up listening to the vibrant stories of rivers, birds, and the famous tropical rain forest, "The Silent Valley" in Kerala. But, during visits to her parent's home in a village in Kerala, she was disappointed to see the current state of the Kunthi Puzha, a river that originates in the "Silent Valley". She saw only a dry riverbed with no sand, caused by years of sand mining. Listening to the stories of global warming, she wondered whether the neem tree with lots of sparrows near her bedroom window would survive when she grew up.