pickett22's review against another edition
3.0
I would have really liked this book except for the line, "I don't think I'd have given a boy a chance." It's kind of... missing the point.
Otherwise a really good book.
Otherwise a really good book.
tcbueti's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this title even better than Perkins' [bc:Tiger Boy|21929297|Tiger Boy|Mitali Perkins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415583092s/21929297.jpg|41228389]Tiger Boy, possibly because there are fewer issues swirling around this one. Rickshaw girl, Naima wants to help her family make money, (especially after her idea of driving a rickshaw disguised as sa boy goes awry and the rickshaw n needs repair) but being stymied by traditional roles for girls. You still get a vivid picture of life in a village in Bangladesh (traditions of decorating homes, clothing, and the sound of her mother's bangles), but this one is shorter, has larger print, and features a girl.
heathero621's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read this children/middle grade book because it was a past pick from Brave Writer and I like going through her picks because there are usually some good ones in there. This story is about a Bangladeshi girl who is a great painter, but as a girl there are hardly any jobs she can take, so she's trying to figure out how she can help her family. It was a short story with a good message about trying to help out and how women are capable. I learned some about this culture that I didn't know before and I liked how the author has a section at the end that goes over some of the words that were in the book and what they are or meant.
a2412z's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
theblessedeveryday's review against another edition
4.0
A short little book that was included in our homeschooling curriculum. Particularly when read alongside A Long to Water, this generated good discussion about the challenges facing girls in particular in many Third World countries and the ways in which factors like micro financing and water projects can help women find new opportunities.
stacikristine's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved reading about a different culture with my kids. We stopped reading to look up videos and pictures multiple times. We also had some great conversations about gender inequality, choices/consequences, and more.
jennybeastie's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the Bangladeshi setting, loved the message of change in girl's contributions and abilities, love that Naima excels at art, and her family supports that, and also that in the end she can only get the rickshaw painting job because she is a girl.
crhogan's review against another edition
5.0
for my fantasy class
-down with the patriarchy
-cute as all hell
-naima only deserves the best
-down with the patriarchy
-cute as all hell
-naima only deserves the best
kevinhendricks's review against another edition
3.0
This short children's novella gives a glimpse into the life of a girl in Bangladesh, struggling against poverty and gender stereotypes. Naima wants to help her family earn more money, but her ideas don't always work out and she laments, "If only I had been born a boy." It's a glimpse into a different culture and illustrates the power of micro loans as empowerment over poverty.