Oliver Twist meets Slumdog Millionaire in this tale of four determined homeless children making a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut.
Padma Venkatraman was born in Chennai, India, and became an American citizen after attaining a Ph.D. in oceanography from The College of William and Mary. She is also the author of A Time to Dance (IBBY selection, ALA Notable, CCBC Choice, Notable Books for a Global Society winner, and South Asia Book Award Honor Book), Island's End (ALA Best Book of the Year, ALA/Amelia Bloomer List selection, and CCBC Best Book), and Climbing the Stairs (Julia Ward Howe Award, Bank Street Best Book, YALSA BBYA selection, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and CCBC Choice).
* “Venkatraman’s middle-grade debut tackles sisterhood, chosen
families, and loss. . . . Viji’s narration is vivid and sensory. .
. . The novel also touches on social justice issues such as caste,
child labor, and poverty elegantly, without sacrificing narrative.
A blisteringly beautiful book.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Exquisitely narrated novel set in Chennai, India. . . .
Venkatraman vividly sketches the group’s precarious economic
situation. . . . This is a poignant portrait of love, sacrifice,
and chosen family in the midst of poverty.”—Publishers Weekly,
starred review
* “The four individual children and their tightknit relationship
are portrayed with conviction and finesse. Written in the form of a
letter from Viji to her sister, the affecting narrative transports
readers to a faraway setting that becomes vivid and real. While the
young characters face unusually difficult challenges, together they
find the courage they need to move forward. The author of A Time to
Dance, Venkatraman offers an absorbing novel of love, loss, and
resilience.”—Booklist, starred review
* “In her stellar middle grade debut, Venkatraman brings
compassionate attention to the plight of India’s homeless children.
. . . Venkatraman’s depiction of the streets of Chennai is a
sensory experience. Her elegant prose tells a heartfelt, wholly
captivating story while encouraging readers to consider larger
issues including religion, poverty, and the caste system. An
unforgettable tale of families lost, found, and moving ahead
without leaving those they love behind.”—School Library Journal,
starred review
* "Hopeful yet heartbreaking. . . . Venkatraman weaves a
breathtaking story which takes the reader to the streets of India,
where millions of homeless children fight to survive each day. . .
. It is a story that must be told, and Venkatraman does a beautiful
job describing everyday life and showing that a 'home' and 'family'
doesn’t always correspond to a house with a white picket fence.
This is a story that must be shared."—School Library connection,
starred review
“An author’s note attests to the reality of all of the situations
described in the book as having been drawn from first-person
accounts; the tenderness of Viji’s love for her sister and her new
‘brothers’ will break hearts and inspire activist longings.”—The
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Readers will be captivated by the message of love and the true
meaning of home and family. The book demonstrates how people, even
if they are not related, can form a family.”—Voice of Youth
Advocates
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