I'm always looking for diverse books for my middle grade readers. This was a great story that students will enjoy reading and discussing.

Kabir has been in jail since he was born. His mom was falsely convicted of a crime she didn't commit but due to her being of a low caste, she doesn't have money to pay for a lawyer. With a new warden taking over the prison Kabir is told he is too old to stay. He gets handed over to an uncle who turns out to be a fraud. So Kabir does the only thing he can run away as fast as his legs will carry him.

This is a story of injustice and class differences but it is also the story of kindness and good people doing what they can to help each other. The people Kabir meets along the way provide both Kabir and the read with hope for a world that at times seems so unjust. I enjoyed the fact that this was based on a true story (although I hate that anyone had to live through this). It is so good for kids in areas where I live (mostly white and privileged) to read these types of stories and to realize that their privilege is not universal. I also love that it shows Kabir taking charge of his own life. He might be young and small for his age but he has a voice and he can use it.

Kabir has had a hard life for the short 9 years he has lived it. So far, he has grown up in jail, then was let out only to be given to a man who tries to sell him. Running away from that situation, he was rescued by Rani, another child who lives on the street–or rather up in a tree. She teaches him how to make money, eat squirrel and crow, and survive until they are fortunate enough to receive enough money to take them to the right city where Kabir’s family is from. This is a sad story with a happy ending, and while parts of the tale were based on true events, the sweet ending is almost too good to be true.

Despite innumerable opportunities/possibility of having his character minimized, Kadir experiences his world with awe and wonder; culturally lovely, sensitive, and educational. A solid tale to be read aloud as it incorporates elements of folklore and fable while also demonstrating the survival power of story..

This is an author whose books I look for, read right away, and recommend to all students/teachers I come across. It may not replace The Bridge Home in my heart, but a stunner in its own right.

Thank you to netgalley for this copy which I reviewed for the WNDB blog prior to its launch! I am a fan of Padma's "A bridge home" and while that still remains my favourite, BBB is as heartrending and offers the readers a truly unique pov. Recommended reading for sure.

Wonderful and heartwarming story about Kabir, a young boy who has only known life in jail because his mom was wrongfully imprisoned before he was born. At a certain age he is forced to leave prison and has to survive on his own in the world. He meets Rani, a young Roma girl, who takes him under her wing and together they look for Kabir's family. I loved learning a bit about the caste system, the justice (or lack of it) system in India, the tension between Muslims and Hindus, the water crisis and so many other areas of life in India

This story is so moving. The main character is incarcerated and her young son lives in the cell with her. Once he is old enough, he is forced out into the world on his own. The problem is, he was born behind those bars. He doesn't know anyone and has never been outside of them. Can he survive and help his mom get out? It's an amazing story.

If you want to read a really good middle grade book about survival and acceptance, get this one!

Chapters are short. Characters are good. The plot is okay but I feel things are a bit too convenient for the child main characters.

9yo Kabir Khan has been in jail in India all his life. He was born there, as his mother was accused of stealing and sent to prison without a trial. Small for his age, the Warden let Kabir stay with his mother longer than other children have been allowed, but a new warden quickly locates an Uncle who comes to the jail in Chennai and picks him up. Unfortunately, he's not really Kabir's uncle and has planned to sell him. When Kabir overhears the plot he manages to escape, and meets Rani - a 12yo fortune teller with a real parrot. She invites Kabir to stay with her; her home is a tree, and they are living on the streets. Kabir knows he has grandparents in Bengaluru, but they probably don't know about him, and raising enough money for train tickets seems almost impossible. But Kabir and Rani are smart and resourceful.

Kabir is so sweet and has such a positive attitude despite terrible circumstances. Venkatraman has framed the social systems perfectly, and creates an environment for the reader without needing too much background knowledge. I remember learning about India's caste system when I was in Junior High, but this story tells it so much better, I was both heartbroken, and uplifted. The great author's note shouldn't be missed.

Heartbreaking and eye-opening. Padma Venkatraman has such a way of telling a story that will make your heart hurt, help you grow, and make you a better person all while still keeping a middle grade audience in mind. The world needs more books like this.

Padma Venkatraman weaves such beautiful and realistic stories about children who must live on their own and rely on their own street-smarts to make it in the world. This title is set in India, where Kabir is literally born behind bars - his mother was sent to prison for a "crime," and the warden allowed the youngster to stay with his mother inside the prison. Kabir was able to attend school and was cared for by his loving mother and other inmates who became part of his family. When the prison got a new warden, though, it was decided that, at age 9, Kabir could be released from the prison (but not his mother).

Arrangements are made for an uncle to pick up Kabir, but outside the prison walls, the man only tried to sell Kabir! The child escapes with his wits, but not much else. Now alone in a big, bad world, Kabir struggles to survive.

This book is an EXCELLENT middle-grade novel, full of suspense and adventure, terror, and hope. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

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

3.5 stars. As soon as I saw the author of The Bridge Home had a new middle grade novel, I wanted to read it. I loved the last exploration of life on the streets in India, despite the sad realities of the situation.

With Born Behind Bars, I found it was a book of two parts. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two thirds of the novel, describing Kabir's life in prison and his adventures with Rani. I adore the character of Rani! She is so vibrant, resourceful and positive, despite her situation, and she had a wicked sense of humour. I'd love to see her story fleshed out in future.

However, I didn't enjoy the last third as much. Everything seemed a little convenient, falling into place for Kabir too easily. The tension in the story was gone. I did enjoy the cameo from The Bridge Home.

Overall, this is still a great story and one I would love my students to read. Once again, the author has based her novel on research of real stories, real situations that arise in India. I weep at the injustice and love that she points out this is not limited to India, we all need to look a little closer to home as well.

A riveting story of a boy who lives with his mom in jail in India until the new warden decides he must move out. After escaping from the man who claimed to be his uncle, Kabir befriends another orphan who takes him under her wing and teaches him to survive on the streets. Together they search for Kabir's grandparents in hopes of finding a stable home and getting his mom out of jail. Will he succeed? Middle grade fans will devour this fast-paced story that will challenge them to think about family, poverty and childhood in new ways.

Full of detail about caste systems and how life is determined by them, it’s a fascinating read. You’ll love the protagonist and find yourself hoping for the best despite the challenges he faces. I learned a lot from this book and it left me thinking about it, weeks after I finished it.

This book is amazing. Kabir has been in jail since he was born since his mother supposedly committed a crime. He ages out of the system and gets sold to his uncle. He doesn't know the outside world, and is suddenly released and expected to behave with a new set of rules. This is a wonderfully written book.

This story of Kabir, born in a jail, brings an unfamiliar world to its readers. After his release and with no resources Kabir begins his search for his father. With intermediate grade readers in mind, it has enough danger and suspense about his perilous life to keep the readers attention. It ends on a good note.

This was a beautiful story that tells a tale of the unthinkable life of the main character, who was born in an Indian prison, and raised there for many years of his life. The prison feels like a home to him, and the other prisoners and their children like family. The storytelling is top notch, and this is a must read for all middle grade libraries.

Born Behind Bars follows the story of Kabir, a boy who was born while his mother was in jail and has lived there his whole life. Kabir’s mom never actually committed a crime but also never got a trial to clear her name. When the jail gets a new warden, Kabir is kicked out because he is deemed too old to live there anymore. Scared and on his own, Kabir sets out in hopes of finding his dad and freeing his mom. When an “uncle” comes to help Kabir, he knows he must escape if he’s going to have a chance to follow his dreams. This book does a good job of showing the problems with the caste system in India and how unfairly the low caste people are treated. Definitely a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy,