Overview
Molly's Metamorphosis in India tells the story of thirteen-year-old Molly Ward and fourteen-year-old Penelope Smythe as these two girls tour India with their parents. In today's vernacular, Molly would be called a "jock." Penelope is a precocious bookworm. These two girls, very different in personality, are not always the best of traveling companions for one another, but as the story progresses, they learn to accommodate to each other. Actually, Molly's metamorphosis comes about, in part, because of her contact with Penelope. In the book the two families visit some of India's most famous sites, and they learn a little about Indian art, architecture, mythology, history, literature, dance, and food. They also find it can be fun to bargain for purchases. While Molly and Penelope are the story's central characters, this is not a book for adolescent girls only; its appeal is nonage specific, and for one contemplating a first trip to India, this novella presents a comprehendible introduction to an exotic culture.