• Age: 10 to 14
• Grade: 4

In Outlaw in India, the fifth volume in the best-selling Submarine Outlaw series, Alfred and his crew of Seaweed the seagull and Hollie the dog begin their exploration of India with a piece of bad luck when they surface behind a frigate and bring the wrath of the Indian navy down upon them. After a near fatal encounter off Kochi, Alfred befriends a ten-year-old homeless and illiterate but highly intelligent boy, and is given the chance to explore the changing face of India through the eyes of one of its “untouchables.” Discovering India to be an ancient land filled with extremes of beauty, wealth, tradition and danger, Alfred is tricked into making an overland pilgrimage to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest cities. Along the journey he witnesses practices which deny human equality and dignity, but also happy events that celebrate the spirit of new beginnings, as personified in Ganesh, the Hindu god with four arms and the head of an elephant. Alfred cannot help falling in love with India, the most beautiful place he has ever seen. And for the first time, he leaves a part of himself behind.

Philip Roy continues to travel back and forth between Nova Scotia and Ontario, keeping residence in both places. For some half-dozen years now, he has been presenting orally a series of stories at local schools, fairs, and markets called “Happy the Pocket Mouse.” The first of the series, Mouse Tales, illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara, will be released by Ronsdale Press in spring 2014. This series of picture books complements Philip’s “Submarine Outlaw” series for young adults, which is now up to volume six. Recently he travelled to Australia to research the materials for the next book in the series, Eco Warrior, to appear in the fall of 2014. Travelling makes for great adventure, Philip contends. The only thing better is writing about it and visiting schools and libraries to share the stories with young readers. Visit Philip Roy’s website at www.philiproy.ca

Philip Roy's profile page

• Nominated, Best Books for Kids & Teens

“Perhaps the most imposing character in Outlaw in India is not a character at all. It is India. The country, as Alfred experiences it, is a living entity, a complicated being of the expected (e.g., the heat and amazing foods) and the surprising (e.g., discrimination and kindness). Though the series could easily be promoted as a great adventure series for boys, the Submarine Outlaw books will continue to garner fans of both genders for its great characters and adventure with a frisson of the impossible and the hope for everything working out well (a.k.a. the happy ending). Readers will continue to find all that here in Outlaw in India, fresh and engrossing, just as each new book in the series has offered.” — CanLit for Little Canadians

“Outlaw in India . . . is a stand-alone novel that can be enjoyed without reading the others. . . . The plot is full of incident and excitement. . . . This fifth volume is the best Submarine Outlaw book yet. It’s a fast-paced, fun read with interesting themes that will appeal to anyone who likes travel and adventure. Highly Recommended.” — CM Magazine

“[T]houghtful and philosophical . . . a Humanities curriculum would be well served to add . . . [Outlaw in India] . . . to a list of recommended reads in multicultural literature.” — The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature

Outlaw in India

In this volume of the popular and award-winning Submarine Outlaw Series, daring teenage explorer and environmentalist Alfred sets out once again in his personal submarine, this time for India. He soon discovers a fascinating traveling companion in an old boathouse on the south coast of India. Ten-year-old Radji is an impoverished Untouchable who had run away from a violent father years earlier. Together the fast friends experience gripping adventures, shocking discrimination against Radji’s caste and touching kindness as they journey to the holy city of Varanasi on the Ganges River. The fast-paced, engrossing plot culminates as the two engaging characters meet some good friends from Canada, as well as a warm-hearted widow who provides Radji with a loving home in India.

A Journey of Philosophical Depth

by Isabella

Outlaw in India is Philip Roy's fifth novel in the Submarine Outlaw series. Roy's fourth novel in the series, (Ghosts of the Pacific), may well be my favourite, but Outlaw in India really deserves first prize for being the most well-written. I said before that Roy's writing improves with each new book in the series, and Outlaw in India is really a case in point. And it is a truly beautiful tale, too, filled with life lessons and a journey that is quite memorable (even months after finishing the story with my kids.) Roy has created probably the most enduring character in the series yet, (aside from Alfred, Ziegfried, and Sheba, of course), through a ten-year-old Untouchable Indian boy named Radji. Radji is sweet and intelligent, and Roy examines the racism of the caste system in India quite deftly, with admirable sensitivity, empathy and awareness. My kids were astonished by what they learned about racism through this novel. This is probably also the novel in which Al grows the most as a human being. So the book offers a parallel journey of sorts to the reader--a real gift! My kids and I are eager to read the next book in the series--Seas of South Africa. I hear it will be coming out this summer (2013). We'll definitely be ordering the book in advance, as soon as we get wind of when it's about to hit the shelves!

Outlaw in India Reviews

by reviewposter

“Perhaps the most imposing character in Outlaw in India is not a character at all. It is India. The country, as Alfred experiences it, is a living entity, a complicated being of the expected (e.g., the heat and amazing foods) and the surprising (e.g., discrimination and kindness).Though the series could easily be promoted as a great adventure series for boys, the Submarine Outlaw books will continue to garner fans of both genders for its great characters and adventure with a frisson of the impossible and the hope for everything working out well (a.k.a. the happy ending). Readers will continue to find all that here in Outlaw in India, fresh and engrossing, just as each new book in the series has offered.” –CanLit for Little Canadians

“Outlaw in India…is a stand-alone novel that can be enjoyed without reading the others….The plot is full of incident and excitement…This fifth volume is the best Submarine Outlaw book yet. It’s a fast-paced, fun read with interesting themes that will appeal to anyone who likes travel and adventure. Highly Recommended.” –CM Magazine

“….[T]houghtful and philosophical…. a Humanities curriculum would be well served to add…[Outlaw in India]…to a list of recommended reads in multicultural literature….”—The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature

Outlaw in India Review

by Olivia

I was lucky enough to buy this at a fair before it even hit the bookstores! I read it straight through from beginning to end--and it was a really touching story. It dealt with class and race issues, and I loved the ten-year-old Indian boy, (and Untouchable), Radji. I can't wait for the next novel in the series. Apparently, it's going to take place in South Africa!