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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
dgrachel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
This is a novel that broke my heart. When a classmate goes missing, 9 year old Jai, who is obsessed with detective shows on TV, gathers his two best friends to investigate the case. As other children go missing, Jai and his friends take bigger risks to try to discover the truth behind the disappearances. Told from Jai’s perspective, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, is both amusing and horrifying. As an indictment of the treatment of the poor and “other” in India, the novel sheds light on how the poor are barely considered human, but it also showcases the resilience of the people, particularly the children. Happiness and hope weaves throughout the suffering. It’s a beautiful, if heartbreaking, novel and I cannot recommend it enough. Also, the audiobook is phenomenal. I switched between audio and print, and the narrator is fantastic.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment