annrhub's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
susanw's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 well written, but one of those books that was great while reading it but once put down it didn’t have the pull or draw to rush back to. A serious and sad situation that is made much more readable being told from a child’s POV.
momwrex's review against another edition
5.0
Anappara creates compelling characters. Her descriptions of the different settings are seen through the very matter-of-fact/this-is-reality of the children who are the main characters. Their observations of their life in the basti, and how people live when they sneak out of their basti (neighborhood with limited resources) into the wealthier area of their city are eye-opening. Through the novel, we see Jai, the boy determined to solve the mystery of the disappearing children, transition from sweet naïveté to having to accept horrifying realities of life.
mcgrathprj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
willowbiblio's review against another edition
5.0
"Some people are only here to feast on our tears and words. They'll carry our stories in their lips that stick out like beaks and feed them to their husband or friends who aren't here."
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This was an excellent book. The immersion in the culture of the basti and Indian life through use of dialect and food was fantastic. The choice of Jai, a 9 year old tenant, as the main narrator was fantastic. His lens captured the magic, mystery, and hope of childhood. Watching his naivete shatter was heartbreaking. It was inevitable that tragedy would touch his family directly.
Anappara beautifully captured the experience of being in the middle of a life-altering trauma and not being equipped to handle it, or even to understand all of what is happening around you. Her description of the callous disregard for the lives of the poor, the corruption at all levels of police and government, and the way people will bring down their own community was spot on. I loved that Jai fancied himself a detective, while his friends Pari and Faiz were so much better but still inclusive.
Anappara used wonderfully vivid language of smells and scenes that were utterly normal to those in the basti/India. It was hard to accept that there was no happy ending, even just for Runu-Didi. In that lack of clear closure or resolution, Anappara was faithful to the truth. You may never know the how or why but have to find ways to move forward and reconcile it with yourself anyway.
-----------
This was an excellent book. The immersion in the culture of the basti and Indian life through use of dialect and food was fantastic. The choice of Jai, a 9 year old tenant, as the main narrator was fantastic. His lens captured the magic, mystery, and hope of childhood. Watching his naivete shatter was heartbreaking. It was inevitable that tragedy would touch his family directly.
Anappara beautifully captured the experience of being in the middle of a life-altering trauma and not being equipped to handle it, or even to understand all of what is happening around you. Her description of the callous disregard for the lives of the poor, the corruption at all levels of police and government, and the way people will bring down their own community was spot on. I loved that Jai fancied himself a detective, while his friends Pari and Faiz were so much better but still inclusive.
Anappara used wonderfully vivid language of smells and scenes that were utterly normal to those in the basti/India. It was hard to accept that there was no happy ending, even just for Runu-Didi. In that lack of clear closure or resolution, Anappara was faithful to the truth. You may never know the how or why but have to find ways to move forward and reconcile it with yourself anyway.
clairet386's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cami19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ebgat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
raeleechoins's review against another edition
5.0
Oof. I’m sitting in my car weeping as I’m writing this review, knowing my words will fail, but trying my best. This book is not for the faint of heart, nor the hardened of heart. It is the story of a community in an Indian slum, of the resilience and innocence of children. This book broke me in a way I never want to heal from. When I was about halfway through the book, I started selling it as, ‘9 year old Harry, Ron, and Hermione living in an Indian slum trying to solve the kidnapping of their classmates.’ But this is so so much more than that. In here are deep issues and tragedies told from the perspective of a nine year old Indian boy who watches too many police shows. In here are elements of community that fly way over the heads of those who have never experienced community. I could go on, but I want to go inside.