I really love this book, I don't even know how to begin my review. My tears simply started to flow with this first few sentences.
This is the first book from the Anak-anak Mamak (Mama's children) tetralogy. Each book tells us about each of the four Mama's children.
Si Anak Spesial (The Extraordinary Child) tells us about Burlian's childhood, from around the age of seven. He lives in a rural village of Sumatra with his three siblings and his parents, and a village of farmers. The village is barely accessible via road, they need to travel a few hours to the nearest city, there's only one dilapidated primary school with one temporary teacher (who's been there for years), they are surrounded by farms, forest, and accompanied by a river.
The book is described to be suitable for reader six years and older. It surely begins rather peacefully, a story about kids being kids - curious, adventurous, and at times bored of school. They played everywhere - in the farm, football field, river, forest, and even the train track.
But after some time, you are confronted with reality. Through his adventures and the stories from the people in the village, Burlian understood why his father was very strict when it comes to school attendance, why he should not play in certain parts of the river, why some areas of the forest were said to be "protected by spirits", why there is only one teacher in his school.
Looking at the book cover, the target audience, and most importantly, the simple yet beautiful story telling, I did not expect to be entirely heartbroken by the book. I'd be reading away and then suddenly things go downhill, or come to a dreadful realization.
Thing is, I think I would not be this shattered if I read this book when I was 10, simply because I have seen and experienced so much more throughout the decades.
I couldn't stop being amazed how the author put so many lessons and reflections about life in a children's book. Subjects like protecting the environment, the unconditional and endless love of a mother, the importance of formal education in the current era, the different kinds of danger of living near forests, the risks of gambling, corrupt "democratic" process, corrupt government and its outcome to children's education and life, the price of service to the people, the love of a father, even when he has to work thousands of miles away from his beloved family, are all covered in this book.
Plus point - the author also elaborated on some Islamic principles without sounding preachy.
I don't think I could say more without spoiling the book, but I have to state this again: I really REALLY love this book. I finished reading this beautiful book two months ago, yet writing this review just made me cry again.
Very highly recommended.