Boys without Names

by Kashmira Sheth

Trapped. For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve , his baba has warned. They flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer. ?But there is no factory, just a stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to work for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Locked away in a rundown building, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again. But late one night, when Gopal decides to share kahanis , or stories, he realizes that storytelling might be the boys' key to survival. If he can make them feel more like brothers than enemies, their lives will be more bearable in the shop—and they might even find a way to escape.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, India, Fiction, Cultural, Contemporary

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2009

About the author

Kashmira Sheth grew up in Bhavangar, Gujarat, for eight years, when she was three she joined Montessori school. She lived with her grandparents, because her parents lived in Mumbai three hundred miles away from Bhavangar.
At eight years Sheth, left Bhavangar, for Mumbai.
She did her studying there until she was seventeen. She left Mumbai, to go to college, in Ames Iowa to do her BS at Iowa State University. Many people ask her why she chose Iowa. "I chose Iowa State, because my uncle worked there as a professor." is the answer.
She is the author of 7 books, two of them are picture books, called "My Dadima Wears a Sari." and "Monsoon Rains"

She has three books meant for teens.
The fist one is called "Blue Jasmine"; which is about a girl named Seema who moved from India to Iowa.
The second one is called; 'Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet'; this book is about a girl who is sixteen named Jeeta, her two sisters are married
and now its her turn. Trouble is she does not want an arranged marriage.
The last one and the most currents one is called, "Keeping Corner". This one is about a girl who is thirteen, named Leela, is widowed. She was married at age nine, and was about to be sent off to live with her husband. But her husband gets bitten by a venomous snake, and dies. Leela faces hardship, anger, and frustration. She is forced to shave her head, and never ever wear jewellery or colors. This takes place in the Gandhi era.
Sheth is publishing a book called "Boys Without Names." in 2010
Kashmira Sheth is now with her two daughters; Neha and Rupa, her husband in Madison Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Adji · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a part of summer reading, this is one of the two books I read over summer. This is an A-MA-ZING book that I highly recommend reading. This book's protagonist, 11 year-old Gopal, really reminded me that even though you are in a bad position, there is always a way to persevere. I mean this boy was kidnapped for over 3 months, yet he somehow managed to escape which is amazing. Read this book people!! Seriously.. it'll teach you so many things.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 11yo son & I read this book as part of his 6th grade reading challenge list. We both liked it very much. Dealing with the very real issue of child labor in countries like India, but in a way that is age appropriate, this book is well-written and enjoyable as middle grade literature. Slight spoiler on the ending: it ends in a "happy ending" as much as the subject matter can, and while as an adult it's not quite satisfying and seems a bit canned, for 6th graders it seems age appropriate, like justice has been served.

The only negative my son identified was that he wished he could know a little more after the ending. An epilogue would have been nice.

[La Crosse County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published July 2012

Boys Without Names by Kashmira Sheth is a story about a young boy who perseveres through tragedy with his love of storytelling and love of his family. The story is told by an eleven year old boy named Gopal, whose family, like many others in a small village outside of Mumbai, suddenly find themselves in a debt they can’t pay back.

They have lost their land and can no longer survive on their crops. His father makes the decision to move them into the city where there is more opportunity for work and they have a place to stay with Gopal’s uncle.

Taking only what they can carry and very little money, the family, mom, dad, Gopal, and six-year-old twins, reluctantly head out on this journey that will change their lives forever. As they make it into the city, they soon realize it’s much different than their quiet village, with people everywhere and traffic so thick you can hardly make it across the street.

With the boy being the only one in the family who can read, he feels a heavy sense of responsibility to take care of the family. He keeps the twins entertained with his storytelling, and is always there to calm his mother and help her however he can while his father goes out to try to find a way for them to get to his uncle’s house.

His desire to take care of his family and help them survive is what leads him to some unfortunate events. By trusting the wrong people, he unknowingly finds himself enslaved and will do whatever it takes to get back to his family. This book is a children’s novel that’s about family love, determination, and how children can make a difference.

It was a great book, and thanks to the patron that recommended it to me! We sometimes forget as adults that there are many great books to read in the children’s and young adult sections of the library! It seems to be a trend that more and more adult fiction authors are writing books for children and young adults.

See also:

Another one I’ve added to my list to read, by the recommendation of one of our youth services librarians, is Virals. This is the first in a series of three, by Kathy Reichs, adult fiction writer of the forensic anthropologist Temperence Brennan novels.

Virals is about Tory Brennan, Temperence’s niece, a leader in a group of teenagers who rescue a caged dog that was used for medical testing. They are unknowingly exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that will change their lives forever.

Be sure to stop in and visit the La Crosse County Library with branches in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem and check out our website at lacrossecountylibrary.org for all your library needs.

Find this book and other titles within our catalog.

[Andrew Munroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book a few years ago and didn't pick it up until now and wish I read it earlier. to be honest once i started I figured out what the ending would be like even without reading part of it. It was a fairly decent book and I want to read another book like it.

[Liv 🍒⋅˚୨୧ 💋]

🩶🌌 Pre read:

The things I have to read for school is insane 😫 rip me guys wish me luck 😔

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sole difficulty with this book was the fact that it may have caused me to grind me teeth into tiny nubs. Gopal has moved with his family from rural India to an unsanitary and rather packed area of Mumbai with a relative. Having lost his father along the way, Gopal is determined to set out and earn money for the family himself. Unfortunately his intrepid nature sets him up to be a perfect kidnapping object. Next thing he knows he's in a small attic with five other boys, forced to put beads on frames. Gopal retains hope that he can rally the boys together to overthrow their captor, but how do learn to trust others when they won't even tell you their own names? Admittedly, Sheth indulges in some fairly long-winded sections in this book. There were times when I found myself wishing she'd just get on with it and allow Gopal to be kidnapped. Yet the minute he was I was on the edge of my seat. I literally had to flip to the end of the book to make certain he'd be okay. Sheth really makes you care about the characters here, and her storytelling is above par. An unpredictable, fascinating little realistic story. - B

[Mathis Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple fast read with a whole lot of heart. The premise is about a poor 13 year old Indian boy who gets kidnapped and sold into child labor making picture frames in India. The story is grim and heavy, but reads very quickly. The writing is vivid and tugs on the heart strings. I finished this novel in two sittings... very engaging. You can't help but to root for the protagonist to get out his dire situation. I would recommend this book if you enjoy books such as Room by Emma Donoghue. I'll give this 3 stars. A good Read.

[†⁠♡✧Aliza⁠✧♡† · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my type of book but it was still good. SUPER slow burn type of book tho!

[Madeline Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pageturner especially for those who like realistic fiction about our current world problems.

[Sarah Valler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in poverty, debt etc. This book is underrated because it is so addicting! Each chapter is easy to remember.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Boys Without Names
Author: Kashmira Sheth
Publisher: ‎ Balzer + Bray (19 January 2010)
Language : ‎ English
Hardcover : ‎ 320 pages
Dimensions: ‎ 13.97 x 2.67 x 20.96 cm
Price: (Paperback)

শিশু ও নারীপাচার চক্র বিশ্ব জুড়ে সক্রিয়। ভারতের মতো উন্নয়নশীল কিন্তু আসলে দরিদ্রের দেশে দেহব্যবসা এবং ভিক্ষাজীবীর সংগঠিত চক্র নিদারুণভাবে সাম্রাজ্য চালায়। কিডনি-পাচার চক্র, এমনকী, মৃতদেহের বেআইনি ব্যবসাও প্রবল আকারে চলে। এ এক অন্ধকার বৃত্ত।

২০১০ সালে প্রকাশিত কাশ্মীরা শেঠ রচিত 'Boys Without Names' এই অন্ধকার জগতের এক নির্মম খন্ডচিত্র মেলে ধরেছেন পাঠকের জন্য।

এই অভাগা দেশের কোটি কোটি নিম্নবিত্ত পরিবারের একটির গল্প বলেছেন লেখিকা। রাতের দুর্ভেদ্য অন্ধকারে গোপাল তার ঋণ জর্জরিত পরিবারের সঙ্গে গ্রাম ছেড়ে পাড়ি দে স্বপ্নমাখা মুম্বাই শহরে।

নিদারুন অর্থাভাব ক্লিষ্ট গতদিনের সুখী পরিবারটির মাথা গোপালের বাবা, গ্রাসাচ্ছাদন সংগ্রহের আশায় মুম্বাইনিবাসী সহোদরের সন্ধান করতে গিয়ে বিচ্ছিন্ন হয়ে যান পরিবারের থেকে। অচেনা শহরে, বিধাতার নির্মম পরিহাসে বাবার সন্ধান করতে গিয়ে গোপাল শিশু শ্রমিক দালালদের এক চক্রের খপ্পরে আবদ্ধ হয়ে যায়। জীবনের অর্থ, স্বপ্ন, ভবিষ্যৎ সবটাই পাল্টে যায় ছেলেটার।

মনস্বী পাঠকের হয়তো স্মরণে থাকবে যে , অষ্টাদশ শতকে শিল্পবিপ্লবের পরে গোটা ইউরোপ ও আমেরিকায় কলকারখানা তৈরি হতে থাকে। এই সময় আধুনিক চিকিৎসাবিদ্যা এবং প্রযুক্তির হাত ধরে বেড়েছিল জনসংখ্যাও। গ্রাম থেকে দলে দলে মানুষ কলকারখানায় আসতেন কাজের খোঁজে।

এই সময়ে মালিকেরা দেখলেন এক জন পূর্ণবয়স্ক শ্রমিককে বেতন দিয়ে কাজ করিয়ে যতটা লাভ হচ্ছে তার থেকে অনেক কম বেতনে শিশু ও মহিলা শ্রমিকদের কাজে রাখা যায়।

এবং তাদের দিয়ে যতক্ষণ ইচ্ছা কাজ করিয়ে নেওয়া যায়। তাতে লাভ বাড়ে। পাশাপাশি, শ্রমিক পরিবারগুলিও এটা মেনে নিতে বাধ্য হত। কারণ, মূল শ্রমিকের যে সামান্য মজুরি মিলত তাতে ঠিকমতো সংসার চলত না।

ফলে, পরিবারের ছোটদের এক প্রকার বাধ্য হয়ে অমানবিক পরিবেশে কাজে পাঠাতে হত। তথ্য বলছে, শিশু শ্রমিকদের ফি-দিন সামান্য মজুরি দিয়ে ১৬ ঘণ্টার কাছাকাছি কাজ করানো হত।

এর জেরে শিশুরা অপুষ্টিজনিত রোগে ভুগত। অমানবিক খাটুনিতে শরীরও দ্রুত ভেঙে পড়ত। সেই সময়ের সাহিত্যে, যেমন, চার্লস ডিকেন্সের উপন্যাসে শিশুশ্রমের এই ছবিটি দেখতে পাওয়া যায়।

এমনই এক অন্ধকার কয়েদখানার বাসিন্দা হয় গোপাল। ছবির ফ্রেমের ওপরে পুঁথি গাঁথার কাজ গোপালের। শিশু শ্রমিকের খুদে হাত ছাড়া এই কাজ সম্পন্ন হয়না। আধপেটা খেয়ে , দিন রাতের হিসাব ভুলে এই একই কাজ করতে থাকে শিশুটি। দিনের পর দিন। সে এক অন্ধকার অস্তিত্ব। ক্ষমতাবানের পারস্পরিক সমীকরণ শেষ পর্যন্ত মানুষকে দু’দলে ভাগ করে রাখে। সর্বহারা আর সর্বময়ক্ষম। গোপালের শৈশব, পড়শি বাড়ি, পড়শি গাঁ, পড়শি রাজ্য — কেউ কারও বন্ধু নয় সেখানে। হীনতা নিজ সংজ্ঞায় সংস্থাপিত। কেউ উদ্ধার করতে আসেনা তাকে।

লেখিকা তাঁর টেক্সটের মধ্য দিয়ে দেখিয়েছেন যে শিশুশ্রম এক নিরবচ্ছিন্ন অভিশাপ।

১৯১৮-১৯২০ সালের দিকে আমেরিকায় শিশুশ্রমকে ‘বেআইনি’ ঘোষণার চেষ্টা হয়। শেষ পর্যন্ত ১৯৩৮ সালে সরকারি ভাবে শিশুশ্রমিক নিয়োগ বেআইনি ঘোষিত হয়। পরে ইউরোপের বিভিন্ন দেশেও শিশুশ্রম বন্ধের জন্য নানা আইন প্রণয়ন করা হয়েছে।

ভারতবর্ষের প্রচলিত আইন অনুসারে ১৪ বছরের নীচে কোনও শিশুকে শ্রমিক হিসেবে ব্যবহার করা আইনত দণ্ডনীয়। তবে তথ্য বলছে, এখনও ভারত, নাইজেরিয়া, মায়ানমার, সোমালিয়া, কঙ্গো, লাইবেরিয়া, পাকিস্তান, চাদ, বাংলাদেশ, ইথিওপিয়া প্রভৃতি দেশগুলিতে কোথাও সরাসরি কোথাও ঘুরপথে শিশু শ্রমিককে কাজে লাগানো হয়। এর একটি কারণ অবশ্যই দারিদ্র।

দরিদ্র পরিবারে এই কারণে সন্তানের সংখ্যা বেশি হয় বলে মনে করেন অর্থনীতিবিদদের একাংশ। কারণ, পরিবারে সদস্য সংখ্যা বাড়া মানে কাজ করার লোকের সংখ্যাও বাড়া।

এর পাশাপাশি, সচেতনতার অভাব এবং আইনের প্রয়োগের শৈথিল্য তো রয়েই গিয়েছে।

গোপাল নিজের মুক্তি মার্গ নিজের মনের অভ্যন্তরেই খুঁজে পায় অবশেষে।

বাবা মা, পরিবারের সাথে মিলিত হবে কি গোপাল ? অন্ধকারের বুক চিরে আবার আলোর সন্ধান পাবে কি সে ?

পড়ুন এই অসামান্য উপন্যাস।

সমাপতন স্রেফ এইটাই যে আজ ১২ জুন (শনিবার) বিশ্ব শিশুশ্রম প্রতিরোধ দিবস। উপন্যাসটির শেষ চল্লিশ পাতার মতো আজকেই শেষ করলাম।

সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা দৃঢ়মূল করে অর্থনৈতিক সাফল্য। সামাজিক সুবিধার সুষম বণ্টন। স্বাধীন ভারতে আজও শিক্ষা, স্বাস্থ্য, বাসস্থান, কর্মসংস্থানের মতো মৌলিক ক্ষেত্রগুলি সুস্থিত নয়। এই ২০২১ সালেও।

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gopal and his family move from his village to the city of Mumbai to avoid the neverending cycle of debt his father has been drawn into. However, once in Mumbai, his father disappears while trying to find the way to his brother's house, leaving the rest of the family alone with very little money. After waiting a few days, they make it to Uncle Jama's house, but their father isn't there. Worried about money, Gopal decides to look for a job. What he finds is a world of child labor in an unhealthy, hot, airless building with little food and a cruel taskmaster. How will he ever escape? What I especially like about this story is the way Gopal is smart enough to realize that he and the other boys he works with need to join together for survival, and, one day, maybe, escape. But how can they do that, when the boys don't even speak to each other or know each others' real names? He cleverly uses stories, or kahanis, which he tells to the boys after their work for the day is done, to introduce them to his ideas. But will that be enough? Read and find out!

Kashmira Sheth has written a vivid description of the cruelties of child labor in India--child labor that produces items that we Americans buy with no thought for the people who made them. I've been aware of this for some time, and wish there was an easy way to identify which items are made in sweatshops when I go shopping. Combine this book with Susan Kuklin's Iqbal Masih and the Crusaders Against Child Slavery abd Francesco Adamo's Iqbal. Highly recommended!

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in the United States we often forget about the atrocities that go on around the world, such as child labor. Gopal and his family must sneak off in the middle of the night from their tiny village and go to Mumbai. The family has borrowed money and the interest is keeping them in debt. Gopal’s uncle has left them traveling money. On the way the family realizes they don’t have enough money. The father leaves them on the street alone while he tries to reach his brother’s house. He gets lost. Gopal takes the lead and gets his mother and sisters to the uncles house, where the uncle will try to locate their missing father. Gopal wants to help his Uncle and family and he searches for work. He meets a young man who promises him work if they leave right then. Against better judgement he leaves with the boy where he is drugged and taken to live with five other boys making beaded picture frames. Gopal plans his escape as their captor starves and beats them. Gopal looks for the right opportunity to get help for all of them. This was a good book but one that was hard to read. The emotional impact when you realize this stuff still happens today is a bitter pill to swallow. One to recommend to my students.

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and introduced you into the lives of six boys who live in India who were beaten and worked without pay, forced to stay in a small building making beaded frames for their boss who kept them there away from their families after kidnapping them. The book is fiction but is based on all the children who are being labored around the world in harsh environments rather then growing up and being with their families. The book took place over a few months from when the main character arrived at the bead factory to when he was liberated by the police along with the five other boys who he had become close friends with while working there, the only way they kept their old selves with them was the power of story telling. The story put into perspective how lucky many kids are who can go to school to get an education and have a good childhood while others are being dehumanized and are slowly dying, working in these disgusting places, and it brings to light the situation going on in the world even today and that these types of things need to be stopped.

[Alexeena · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subject matter of this novel had great potential. It tells the story of Gopal's family who are forced to flee their village and try to find work in Mumbai, to avoid usurious moneylenders. Whilst the protagonist is likeable, plot action is slow: the first eighty pages, for example, comprises only their trip to the city. Soon after their arrival Gopal is tricked into working in a sweatshop, which highlights the horrendous conditions experienced by children in this situation. At the end, a number of sub-plots are unresolved for the reader and I finished it feeling that it could have been told far more effectively and powerfully in half the number of words.With a front cover mimicking that of 'Trash', I felt this novel didn't deal as well or as engagingly with the issue of child poverty as 'Trash' did - even though the publishers seemed to be attempting to draw a connection between the two texts. A laudable topic but plot elements were a little weak.

[Debbie McNeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This haunting and relevant tale sheds light on children of poverty in the third world. The characters come so alive that when their story is resolved (albeit a a bit too quickly), I find myself still thinking about the boys and wondering about their future.

[Sunshinecoast · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first the story was something where I wasn't sure how all of a sudden he was going to end up as a slave in a factory, when he was with his family for a majority of the book. But it took a turn about half way in and I believe that it was one of the best books that I have ever read.

[Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, an eleven-year-old boy read this book as a class reading assignment. This book has everything. Suspense, comedy, brotherhood, and a great storyline for most ages. This book is relevant for ages 11 to 14 and will make for a good read or reading goal. You can feel, and imagine the setting and personalities of the characters. Once you are invested in this book, it will feel like a movie. It is simple and easy to understand with exciting plots and amazing writing. Empathizing with the protagonist, Gopal is straightforward to do and you can feel the struggle and emotions he is going through. If you are stuck and can not find any good reads, this book could be the one.

[Mani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the best book ever! This book immediately gripped me to it, once I started reading it I could not wait to finish! One of the reasons was probably because the writer, Kashmira Sheth, made me empathize with the characters really deeply. I feel like the writer explained the surroundings really well, and that automatically made me create an image inside my head. The plot was unexpected but very interesting. For me I would recommend this book to people age 9+, as you can see by the rating this book is really good for almost every age! Over all I definitely would recommend!

[Nathee · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS IF YOU WISH TO READ THIS BOOK I ADVISE YOU TO NOT READ THIS REVIEW!






This book is absolutely amazing! My grade 5th teacher read this book to the entire class and everyone loved it. We wrote a summary for each chapter and each boy. The teacher also assigned the class to read a chapter at home sometimes near the end. I love how the boys all became friends in the end and how they escaped. I think child labor like in this book is absolutely terrible. I think it linked to our learning as we were learning about child labor. I think it would be appropriate for all ages.

[Amita Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in middle school. I don’t really remember it, but I remember it was really good and moving.

[Lionel A · Rating 5 out of 5]

My teacher read it to me and my class. It was great and interesting.

I recommend it to people who are over 10 and to teachers to read it to their class. It's a good book for every age, about a child getting captured in child labor, and its little bit sad and sometimes happy.

[Funmilayo (FUNMI) · Rating 5 out of 5]

in my opinion, Boys Without Names is one of my favorite books
this book should be appropriated to an age of 10+
reading this book as a class makes the feeling of labor sadder so I recommend this book to be read with a friend's parents Teachers or others!

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Jacqueline Woodson described this book as “not a heartbreaking story, even if there are moments that break the heart.” This is absolutely true and one of the reasons I would consider this as a read-aloud selection in 3rd or 4th grade.

It tells the story of an 11yr old boy in India whose family has lost their farm and travels to Mumbai looking for jobs that will help sustain them as well as provide education for their children.

Gopal, thinking he has found a job to earn money for his family is instead abducted and locked in a house with 5 other boys. They are forced to make beaded frames and are fed very little and beaten for any behavior their slave owner decides requires it.

The cruelty is very clearly described without being as graphic as, for example, the story of Iqbal. Also, the end of Gopal’s story is a happy one, seeing him reunited with his family. For younger readers this is an appropriate choice: the book having introduced them to an important injustice does not then put them in a position of feeling hopeless about it.

It’s an extraordinary story, well-written and plotted. It provides much material for discussion and could easily be a springboard for learning about a variety of child labor, Indian social strata, farming economics, etc.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I buy books specifically to fit a curricular need. There's a local assignment that requires 5th or 6th grade students to read about contemporary children growing up in a foreign culture. When this ARC arrived in the mail, I pegged it as one to recommend for that assignment.

Fortunately, the book also happens to make compelling reading. I had to know what happened to Gopal, an optimistic, storyteller of a boy whose family is forced by a debt collector from their Indian farming village into Mumbai. Gopal wants to help his family by working, so he accepts what he thinks is a day job in a factory. Instead, Gopal becomes a child slave, imprisoned with 5 other boys in a shack. How they survive and if they will escape, along with the whole outrage of child labor, moves the plot along while also skillfully developing the characters.

I'd have given this 5 stars if only a few changes of heart in the enslaved boys were just a little clearer to me. Overall extremely readable and highly recommended--whether you're assigned it or not.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately for eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, his life in their poor Indian village is over. Gobal's family includes his Aai, Baba, and his twin brother and sister Naren and Sitta. They flee to the great city of Mumbai because of their poverty and great debt. They will stay with Gopal's uncle Jama. But on the way, they are faced with many problems. These include losing their beloved Baba and not enough money to travel all the way to Mumbai. Gopal, eager to find work to help Jama pay for the whole family, is promised work in a factory. When Gopal is drugged and taken to the "factory" it is nothing but small sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to make beaded frames and they are not allowed to talk or say names. If they do not do so, they are punished. These punishments include no food for the day, getting beat up, or worse of all: getting whipped. But one night, Gopal decides to share stories with the 5 other boys. They become friends, rather than enemies. This is their only chance of hope to escape.

[Alan Kussainov · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this book and I truly loved it. I liked the plot because it had many twists to it, and made everything seem easy while it really wasn't, characters were a little bit shady, which was great because that made me wonder and think a lot about those people really were, whether Gopal should trust them or avoid them, where they came from, how did they possibly ended up working on the factory with Gopal and etc. The ending was simply awesome, when the police arrived and saved the boys from the hard journey of child labour, that is something I have been waiting for a long time! And when it finally came, I got the epic, "in your face!" kind of a feeling! This book really deserves a solid five!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a young boy who goes to Mumbai with his family to seek a better life but gets kidnapped into slavery instead. Through his story he is able to make a connection with the other boys, but how can they ever get free?

I found this book to be so powerful and beautiful. You explore the new sights and sounds as Gopal is introduced to Mumbai and you feel his excitement at being able to help his family. When he realizes he has been kidnapped your heart breaks with him and you continue to feel a part of him as you read his story.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling middle grade fiction about boys in Mumbai sold into child slavery. Gopal befriends the five other boys trapped in a sweatshop making picture frames. Makes you think about where our “stuff” comes from.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story.