#Review: The Magic of the Lost Earrings by Sudha Murthy

The Magic of the Lost Earrings is a gentle, travel-infused narrative that blends mystery, memory, and cultural history in a manner characteristic of Sudha Murty’s storytelling for young readers. The novel follows Nooni, whose holiday with her grandparents turns into a cross-continental journey after a pair of antique earrings comes into her possession. What begins as a simple object-led mystery gradually unfolds into a trail of stories spanning Ujjain, Amritsar, Delhi, and London.

Murty’s prose is straightforward and accessible, prioritising clarity over embellishment. The strength of the book lies not in high-stakes suspense but in its emotional texture—loss, inheritance, and the quiet endurance of love are explored with restraint. The episodic structure allows each location to introduce a fragment of history, making the narrative educational without appearing instructional.

However, the pacing remains deliberately mild, and readers seeking dramatic twists may find the resolution predictable. Character development, particularly of secondary figures, is functional rather than layered. Yet, this simplicity aligns well with the book’s intended middle-grade audience.

Overall, The Magic of the Lost Earrings is a warm, reflective read that foregrounds heritage and memory over spectacle, making it a suitable introduction to culturally rooted storytelling.

Find this book here.