Secrets of the Great Fire tree is the story of Kai, a little Chinese boy who is left behind in his village when his parents have to move to the city to find work. Having recently seen a documentary on the self-same topic, I was most favorably disposed towards this story line. As it happens, I ended up loving this book. There is no magic or no fire-breathing dragons in this book but the very fact of all the characters in this story being common, everyday people made it that much special. The story is told in an engaging yet simple manner that is always egging the reader on to believe in something better coming around the bend. 

It is written in simple language while introducing the reader to a culture that is not so different from our own. As a children’s story it works brilliantly to bring to attention the helplessness of the parents who are trying their best and that of the child trying to understand all the upheaval in his life and trying to make both sides agree see each other's points of views. It also highlights the everyday bravery of many such families like Kai's who must choose to make hard decisions in order to survive this life.

The village life that the author describes seems a bit too idyllic at times and the fact that everyone is so nice to each other, while lovely to read about, seems a bit too sugar-coated. However, one also feels that it is required in order to give some hope to the little boy who would otherwise certainly have simply sunk into a deep depression. There is also the point that we never really know which tree the author is referring to in this story. Is it a real tree or a made-up one? And the part where everyone calls the tree by different names is so true in India as well, where it is sometimes impossible to pin down which tree/ shrub someone is talking about unless you have a horticulturist to help you out. Even Google may fail you at such times.

Also, the fact that the author has subtly managed to convey how a child should always try and share his/her misgivings and problems with elders and trust them to understand and help him/her out. Things don’t always turn out so hunky-dory in real life, but it is nice sometimes to just read about characters who do everything just right. And seen from a young reader’s perspective it is certainly a very good book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one go. Will not lie though, I was expecting some kind of fire-breathing dragon to make an appearance at some point of the story or something even more tragic to happen at some other points in the narrative, but I was very glad that the author did not succumb to including these tropes to make the story more darker and morose.