Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh…
3.9Overall Score
The Bridge Home
Reader's Review Highly rated, this is a touching story of a young girl's bravery and determination to survive on the dangerous streets of India, while protecting her disabled sister. However ...
Reader’s Review
Highly rated, this is a touching story of a young girl’s bravery and determination to survive on the dangerous streets of India, while protecting her disabled sister. However there are numerous issues which make it a questionable choice – namely the parents, and the perspective the book presents on faith in God.
To look out for
- Islamic Values: The main characters’ father is a drunkard and abusive both towards his wife and his children. He frequently lashes out at them physically. The mother makes excuses for him, and eventually Viji gives up and runs away. She finds a home for her and her sister on the streets with two other boys. They become very close, treating each other as family. In addition, Viji hates religion because she saw how her mother used her faith to turn a blind eye towards abuse. She can’t join faith in God with the oppression she sees around her. Eventually the author comes to the conclusion that for Viji it is not important what faith she chooses, but her religion is to do good to others.
- Language: reference to seeing ‘butt crack’ of boys, and use of similar language on a few occasions. Different groups of kids in the city call each other names.
- Romance: Drunken man takes interest in the girls.
- Violence: Children talk about being abused, beaten and enslaved. In the city, children they meet die. A boy talks about how a tsunami killed his entire family. Children must work in slimy garbage dumps to earn a living.
Purchase on: Book Depository
