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marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Debut novelist Deepa Anappara carefully captures the epidemic of child disappearances in Indian slums, told from the perspective of a spirited basti child. An expert on police proceedings due to his religious observance of the TV show Police Patrol, young Jai convinces his friends to conduct the detective work necessary—due to local police incompetence—to find their missing classmates. In the seams of their escapades are the threads of their vibrant community—the culture is palpable in every moment. Jai tells an ultimately sorrowful story with the levity and excitement that can only come from a child; his voice is a bittersweet delight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Trafficking, and Pregnancy