I bought this for my middle school library collection! Is a great addition to our Realistic genre section.

Viji and her sister, Rukku, who has a mental disability, run away from home, they find a new home under a bridge. With two friends, Muthi and Arul, the four children form a bond and become a family. As Viji, Muthi, and Arul dig through trash heaps, Rukku makes bead necklaces and with the money they earn, they buy food. They often go hungry, but have each other. When they are forced from their new home, they find another one in a graveyard. However, with mosquito bites and becoming continually sick, are they willing to risk their freedom for help.

This powerful middle grade read will open kids eyes to the challenges of homelessness, child labor, and the importance of recognizing the real meaning of family. It was a good choice for Global Read Aloud 2019.

Viji and her sister Rukku flee an abusive father and find themselves in the city on their own. The city is a scary place and they encounter people who could hurt them. However, they also find friends. There is a friendly teashop lady who gives them food and supplies. They also meet Arul and Muthu, two boys living under a bridge, who help show them the ropes. They learn to pick recyclables out of the trash heaps around the city and sell them. They also learn how to survive on the streets on their own. But then the rainy season comes and Rukku and Muthu get sick. They are forced to ask for help from a charity to get medical attention.

This is not a happy story but it does have hope. Viji learns who she is meant to be during this difficult time and comes to appreciate the things she has and the family she makes. The author based the story off of her mother's work with children in India and from stories she learned from kids on the streets of India. None of these children have happy backstories, but some of them do have happy futures and that is what is important.

I almost didn't finish Venkatraman's story because the hardships faced by Viji and her sister Rukku seemed overwhelming. I'm so glad I continued to read. Viji's retelling of how she, Rukku, Arul, and Muthu form a makeshift family, living together on a bridge, is both joyful and sorrowful. The harsh realities of the lives of street kids in India are tempered by moments of fun and ultimately moments of hope. Highly recommended.