Loot by Tania James

LOOT by Tania James is an intriguing work of historical fiction originally published this past Spring and well-reviewed by The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor. It begins in India in the late 1700’s when a young man, Abbas, is apprenticed to a European clockmaker. Together they build a near life size mechanical tiger for Tipu Sultan, Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. Although the tiger (complete with sound effects produced by an organ hidden in its body) is shown mauling an English soldier, the unique artifact is plundered and shipped to England where another series of adventures begin. James readily transports her readers to a totally different place and time; the story, with implied commentary about colonialism, is quite absorbing. LOOT received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly (“At once swashbuckling and searing, this is a marvelous achievement.”).