When ten-year-old Arya moves to the sleepy little town of Thumba in Kerala soon after losing Appa, his father, under strange circumstances, he is grieving and angry. Things take a turn when he meets Thatha, former ISRO scientist and Appa’s mysterious uncle. Thatha tells Arya about the many ISRO scientists who have died, been bought off or made to resign. It’s the price, he claims, that India has paid for scientific progress. And maybe it has to do with a fabled vimana, an ancient Indian spaceship, shrouded in secrecy.

What follows is a breathtaking race against time, as Arya and Thatha scramble to finish what Appa had started. They pore over ancient books and manuscripts, including Maharshi Bharadwaaja’s Vymaanika Shaastra, to try and find the vimana. As they try to f igure things out, a dangerous figure is in pursuit. In the end, it’s up to Arya to crack the case and save the day.

Is the vimana real? Whatever happened to it, and what truly led to Appa’s death? Set against the dazzling backdrop of ISRO’s achievements, from its first rocket launch to its mission to the moon, Sarita Mandanna’s Secrets Among the Stars is part science fiction, part murder mystery—a thrilling ride that is sure to delight young readers. This book is part of the Bold Chronicles series, which brings Mandanna’s love of storytelling to younger readers. Spanning a period of 2,500 years, each tale is inspired by a real moment from India’s rich and layered history. At the heart of every adventure is an unlikely young hero or heroine who must summon courage, wit, and heart to make their way through extraordinary times.