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Kids trapped inside a board game are forced to complete challenges to get to escape.
But itsalsothe plot of Karuna Riazis new novel,The Gauntlet.
Jumanjiis one of those 90s movies that was totally formative.
EW spoke to the debut novelist about crafting the world ofThe Gauntlet.
It would be a totally miserable experience.
There wouldnt be any good food.
So I thinkThe Gauntletgot the most inspiration from that.
Even in historical references, they discuss how it took from other forms of Islamic architecture.
The Taj Mahal is the huge recognizable one.
One scene that I loved and was really important for me to write was when they first enter Paheli.
Farah is supposed to be scared and feel like this is a strange world that shes been pulled into.
She knows shes not entirely lost.
[But] she and Vijay are the Alan and Sarah figures.
Hes the one that stayed in the game.
Shes the one whos left behind and confused.
So thats all that shes been able to do with herself.
Its kind of sad in a way because she did not get to move on from her childhood.
Shes kind of like the kid interrupted in a way.
She didnt get a chance to be fulfilled the way Farah is.
She didnt get that chance to go and set things right.
Farah also genuinely cares about her younger brother and is constantly thinking of him.
Im the eldest in my family, and were always picking up the younger ones.
Its this extended thing.
We call our cousins our cousin brothers and cousin sisters.
Because, you know, theyre literally other siblings.
Not to mention the fact that I have a younger brother.
So maybe I didnt grow up with that feeling that you dont look out for your younger sibling.
I couldnt relate to a lot of middle-grades books where the younger siblings get on your nerves.
You dont turn your back on them and leave them to fend for themselves.
Actually, we all kind of get along.
He was just hanging out with us and chilling.
Thats probably the feeling that came through with Ahmad and Farah.
The Gauntletis currently available for purchase.Order it here.
