Age rating and parents' guide:The Serpent's Secret
by Sayantani DasGupta
Ages 9–11
The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta is best for children aged 9–11. It has moderate violence, some scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Monster battles.
Kiran discovers she is an Indian princess and enters a magical realm to rescue her parents from a demon king.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Moderate
- Scary moments
- Moderate
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Monster battles
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- Part of the Kiranmala series
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Some emotionally heavy moments
- A good pick for reluctant readers
- Indian author, setting or story
Great for kids who like
- Fantasy & Magic
- Mystery & Detective
- Action & Adventure
Reading mood
- Adventurous
- Mysterious
- Imaginative
Good to talk about
- Indian heritage
- Fantasy & Magic
Books like The Serpent's Secret
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 8–12
The Magic of the Lost Temple
by Sudha Murty
Nooni's summer in a Karnataka village becomes an adventure in friendship, local traditions and a mysterious stepwell.
Ages 9–14
Aru Shah and the End of Time
by Roshani Chokshi
A fast-paced fantasy adventure inspired by the Mahabharata, with a modern Indian-American heroine and mythic stakes.
Ages 9–11
The Land of Stories
by Chris Colfer
Twins Alex and Conner enter a fairy-tale world where familiar characters face new dangers and unfinished stories.
Ages 9–13
Asha & the Spirit Bird
by Jasbinder Bilan
Asha's journey through the Himalayan foothills blends family, migration, grief and Indian landscape with magical realism.
Ages 9–14
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
by A.F. Steadman
Skandar enters a secret academy for warrior unicorn riders while hiding a forbidden magical bond.
On these book lists
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.
