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1 of 1 copy available
The author of the award-winning The Bridge Home brings readers another gripping novel set in Chennai, India, featuring a boy who's unexpectedly released into the world after spending his whole life in jail with his mom.
Kabir has been in jail since the day he was born, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. He's never met his dad, so the only family he's got are their cellmates, and the only place he feels the least bit free is in the classroom, where his kind teacher regales him with stories of the wonders of the outside world. Then one day a new warden arrives and announces Kabir is too old to stay. He gets handed over to a long-lost "uncle" who unfortunately turns out to be a fraud, and intends to sell Kabir. So Kabir does the only thing he can—run away as fast as his legs will take him. How does a boy with nowhere to go and no connections make his way? Fortunately, he befriends Rani, another street kid, and she takes him under her wing. But plotting their next move is hard—and fraught with danger—in a world that cares little for homeless, low caste children. This is not the world Kabir dreamed of—but he's discovered he's not the type to give up. Kabir is ready to show the world that he—and his mother—deserve a place in it.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 7, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593454404
- File size: 133101 KB
- Duration: 04:37:17
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 720
- Text Difficulty: 3
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Reviews
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July 26, 2021
Nine-year-old Kabir Khan has known nothing but the Chennai prison where he was born. But when a new warden arrives, he’s forced to leave it—and the mother he believes innocent of the crime for which she was imprisoned. With the help of a Kurava teen named Rani and her talking parrot, Kabir narrowly escapes a man who plans to sell him into slavery. Focused on proving his Hindu mother innocent and finding his father—a Muslim man who went to work in Dubai to finance his mother’s defense—Kabir and Rani travel to Bengaluru, encountering danger, disappointment, and hope along the way. As the two navigate a water shortage and the journey, Rani teaches Kabir about the caste system and how to make it on the streets, while Kabir shares his own knowledge through singing and storytelling. Twining themes of perseverance, friendship, and prejudice (“Funny to think rich people... build fancy cages to live in. Probably because they’re afraid of poor people like us”), Venkatraman (The Bridge Home) renders the gripping circumstances surrounding Kabir and Rani’s journey with a keen attention to character and plot, making for an immersive reading experience. Ages 10–up. -
February 1, 2022
Gr 5-8-Kabir was born in a Chennai jail. He's never met his dad, and his mom is doing time for a crime she didn't commit. Then a new warden arrives, and Kabir is told that he is too old to live in the jail. Sent to live with his uncle-a man who turns out to be a fraud who intends to sell the boy-Kabir escapes and finds himself living on the streets. He meets Rani, a street kid with a parrot. Rani teaches him the rules of the streets. But Kabir still wants to find his dad and rescue his mom from her unfair imprisonment. Will he succeed? Narrating her own book, Venkatraman brings to life her beautifully written tale with endearing characters. Her narrative and writing styles work well together to bring listeners into Kabir's world. The plot is well developed and charming. Themes of hope and idealism will tug at listeners' heartstrings. VERDICT A must-listen for middle grade listeners who enjoy realistic fiction. Recommended for any library collection.-Jessica Moody
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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