Roopa Pai has won a Children's Book Trust award for science writing. Among her published works are a four-book science series Sister Sister (PrathamBooks) and two-girl power books Kaliyuga Sita and Mechanic Mumtaz (UNICEF). When she is not dreaming up plots for her stories she goes on long bicycle rides and takes children on history and nature walks in Bangalore.

8 Tarasuns rescued 24 to go! Can the Taranauts pull off another win at Sparkl?

Mithya's eight worlds - Shyn Lustr Sparkl Glo Dazl Shimr Syntilla and Glytr - were plunged into darkness when the wicked Shaap Azur captured all the 32 stars of Tara. All seemed lost until Taranauts Zarpa Tufan and Zvala - three bright brave and gifted mithyakins - set out on the difficult and dangerous quest to bring back light and cheer to Mithya. This time the Taranauts travel to Zarpa's home world of Sparkl to rescue the four Amethysts only to discover that Shaap Azur has upped the stakes like never before. They have to win four deadly games against wily opponents seen and unseen! What's more Shaap Azur's henchman Ograzur Dusht has launched a secret search for a spy in Shoon Ya's camp!

Will Zarpa be able to beat the sandinger at 3-D SeeZee? Can Tufan rout Mog Ambow at Lunascoot Latang? Does Zvala have what it takes to crack the mindbenders in Brain Drain? And can the Taranauts defeat th