Gopal’s family has fallen on hard times. His father owes more to the moneylender than he can hope to repay. They have lost the family farm that was their main source of income and the jobs they do now do not earn enough money. They set out for Mumbai believing jobs and a better life await them, but it is not long before they learn that thousands of others have the same idea.
At 11, Gopal is old enough that he must help his parents. They cannot read and are unsure of themselves in the bustling city. But he is too eager and too trusting and when a boy offers him work, he follows. Soon he is imprisoned with a group of other boys, working long hours with little food and no hope of escape. Gopal dreams of returning to his family but he must first find a way to gain the trust of the others. Without them there can be no hope.
This story about child labor and loss is very different from what most Americans experience. It really draws you into another world. I worry that the topic might not interest all readers, but it would make an excellent assignment or read-aloud as well. At the risk of spoiling things, the book turns out all right in the end, probably better than most in these situations can hope for, but as it is a middle grades book and not YA I am okay with that choice. Sheth offers a glossary and links at the end to help readers who want to know more.
Age Recommendation: Grade 4 and up. The handling of the subject matter here is very age appropriate, so it comes down to the difficulty of the text. I have very advanced third and fourth grade students who would have enjoyed it, but I expect the main audience for this would be slightly older – probably fifth and sixth grade.
Sex, Nudity, Dating –None.
Profanity– None.
Death, Violence and Gore –Someone’s father killed himself because he could not pay off his debt. Gopal is kicked in the stomach by a policeman. Storms can bring flash flooding and death. A boy says he will get slapped if he doesn’t find his uncle. A man hits a boy. He grabs him and leaves welts on his arms. A man hits many boys. Boys fight. Boys are whipped and made to stand in a difficult position for a long period of time. A boys father beat him. A boy’s mother died when he was three. One boy had two brothers who died before they were one. A boy is slapped across the face. A man beat his wife. A boy is beaten until his back bleeds. A boy’s grandmother died; she was the only family he had.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A boy is drugged. A boy’s father returned home “smelling bad”, the implication being that he was drunk. It is later mentioned that he was drunk.
Frightening or Intense Things – People are hungry, nearly starving. When a child is sick, the family must sacrifice everything to pay the doctor’s bills. A family must leave without paying off their debts. A child fears what the moneylender will do in retribution if he is not paid. Gopal’s father leaves to find his uncle and does not return. A boy is kidnapped. Boys are made to go without meals. Boys are held captive and forced to work. A boy has a fever and no one to care for him. The boys are threatened with beatings and that their family will all be punished if they do something wrong.
