Thursday, December 9, 2021

Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman - ADVISABLE

Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman
, 272 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2021. $18 

Content: G (mild danger) 

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

9yo Kabir knows nothing except life behind bars, in an Indian jail with his mother. His Amma was accused by her employer of stealing a diamond necklace and has not had the money for a lawyer. When a new warden comes to the jail, he kicks Kabir out for being too old. While his father’s last known address is in faraway Dubai, his father’s parents are in Bengaluru – much closer, but still almost an impossibility for a boy who knows so little of the outside world. Kabir meets some danger and a lot of kindness along the way. 

Venkatraman brings us another look at the all-too-real lives of children in other countries. Her Climbing the Stairs is for a slightly older audience, but still haunts me to this day. The author has understandably prettied things up a bit, though there is a short scene with a man who wants to exploit Kabir. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

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