Kavitha Mandana
DescriptionThe Chowtas ruled over Ullal and surrounding areas of coastal Karnataka.Many rulers in this dynasty were women, and at least two carried the nameRani Abbakka. They have gone down in history and folklore as fearsomewarriors who fiercely defended their tiny kingdom, and repeatedly defeatedthe Portuguese. This is the story of Abbakka III.Abbakka grows up knowing she will rule over the kingdom one day-the onethat was ruled by her grandmother Abbakka II and her mother Rani TirumalaDevi. Abbakka trains with all her heart in everything a queen needs to know,and never tires of hearing the tales of sea battles that her grandmother wagedagainst the firangis. But Abbakka is also a young girl who loves adventure.She sets out on dangerous missions to track down spies on the seas. Sheaccompanies her mother in a secret plan to outwit the Portuguese as theytry to capture the kingdom’s precious pepper crop. And then there is thehandsome, mysterious boy from Mangalore, who she likes enormously...Steeped in the culture and history of the region, The Teenage Diary of Abbakkais the fictional diary of an unusual girl growing up during an exciting time-agirl who would eventually go to any lengths to protect and defend herkingdom. 3
