Review By Nathan:
This book is about a boy named Gopal and his family of five, his parents and his younger brother and sister. They live in a village in India. But one year they are not able to get enough money from the onion crop they grew. They are soon in debt and decide to go to the city of Mumbai where they have a family member who has done OK. But on the way to the family member's house, they are separated from Gopal's father.
A little while after they make it to the relatives house (his father has still not shown up) Gopal is too trusting in a stranger boy and ends up kidnapped and forced to work in a bead frame "factory". (really just a rundown house) There are also several other boys that are forced to work. They are not allowed to share their names let alone talk. Gopal eventually brings the boys together by getting most of them to share their names and by telling stories. But this is not enough for them to escape and Gopal takes a risk to hopefully help the police find them. But their "boss" gets word of an impending police raid and hides them when the police come. Will Gopal and the other boys be freed or will they be broken up and sent to factories all over the city?
I liked this book, especially in the way that Gopal was persistent. This book also gives a look into the sad truth of child slavery. I think this is a book people should read.
Age Range: 12+ Book Category: Realistic Fiction
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