Oh My Goodness!
Mitali Perkins has written something here that is so fine, so rare, so beautiful, that I am loath to move on to another book too quickly because I want to think and remember and savor this exquisite story.
Chiko only wants to become a teacher. His father is a political prisoner of the Burmese government. The army conscripts Chiko, forcing him into service. Studious by nature, he is unprepared for this brutal life but a friendship with a savvy, streetwise conscript named Tai, saves him while he gains strength to endure the random cruelty of the captain who oversees his unit.
Tu Reh is a Karenni teen who has seen his life, his home and village disrupted and destroyed by the very army that Chiko is now a part of. Their lives intersect and each of them must survive the ugly hand that fate has dealt them.
This is a beautiful tale of faith and hope. I am pondering now the best way to booktalk it. Kids MUST find this book.
Reading time: 2 hrs
Pages read: 272
4 Comments on Book 3: Bamboo People, last added: 6/6/2010
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This was on my tbr list already--I guess I need to bump it up a few notches!
I can't wait to read this one! It's been on my to-read list for a while now.
Good luck with the reading challenge!
Good to hear! I asked about it at BEA, but they didn't have copies to give out there. I think - I hope - they're sending one.
Happy reading!
They must have given away all the arcs at TLA!