Content: G (mild danger)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
12yo Minni “Meena” and her family eke out a life in the slums of Mumbai, India – within site of some of the richest people in the world. They have little access to clean water and no access to a chance to make a better life for themselves. When Meena’s mother becomes sick, Meena has to perform her job for a rich family or mom will be fired. When Meena’s brother are seen by a gang of water stealers, he and his best friend are sent into the countryside with relatives to hide.
While the publicity I’ve seen talks all about the water thieves angle of this book, I found that part to be the least realistic sounding – the gangsters’ speech felt contrived and I never felt that water was what the book was about. On the hand, the rest of the book was wonderful – the look into Meena’s life was golden – her struggles, the neighborhood banding together to help each other, family problems – all of it was rich and rewarding as a look into a life so different from what my students see.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
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