The Council of Good Friends

About this book

Vinay and his three best friends live on the same estate and are inseparable. They are 'his crew, his council' and can be relied on in any situation.

But, when Vinay’s cousin Nikesh comes over from India to live with him, Vinay feels that Nikesh is dominating everything he treasures; his room, the top bunk and even his friendship group. The council meet to decide whether to solve this problem with diplomacy, or with aggression. They choose the latter, but after a prank goes badly wrong, realise that there may be more significant reasons behind Nikesh’s behaviour than they had realised.

This funny, fast-paced book tells a story of jealousy, friendship and understanding in a very believable child voice. From the first page, the friend’s interactions feel real, with Shukla using modern slang and age-appropriate references expertly. Because of this realism, the underlying message of empathy does not feel at all condescending and is more impactful.

Vinay, his friends and his cousin all come from families who have immigrated to the UK, and aspects of their everyday cultural heritage are celebrated throughout the book – especially with reference to Indian cooking and domestic life.

Combined with Rochelle Falconer’s punchy illustrations, Nikesh Shukla has achieved a perfectly judged book, filled with comedy and recognisable situations, which will engage children (especially boys) with its underlying emotional themes.