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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
I really liked this book. The story is engaging and the characters are very likable. I love how at the end it talks about Taj's ability go back and help his family. It brings to light several questions like: was the orphan keeper justified in taking Taj from his family to give him a better life, and did God have a hand in Taj's life to be able to go back and help his people? Overall a great book. I recommend this for 13 and up due to the topic.
Fascinating story of a boy, with a family, who is sold to an orphanage and then adopted by an American Family. I loved the descriptions of his family life - and I loved the opening quote about sacred families. While based on a true story I would really like to know if some of the remarkable coincidences were true or condensed for dramatic purposes.
Loved this.
Loved this.
5 Heartwrenching, Cry Through The Night, Not Enough Kleenex in this House Stars!!!!!!!!!
If this book isn't on your to-read list yet, add it!!! This is based on the true story of Chellamuthu, who was kidnapped as a child in India and sold to an orphanage, then adopted by a family in America. Sadly, his story is not the first to happen to children in India, nor it will it be the last. What his story will do is offer you hope in mankind (I know that sounds odd given what this is about, however there are a lot of good people in this book who help him on his journey) and hopefully give another child who doesn't know where they come from a map to follow to find out who they are. This story goes full circle so you get as many answers as are available with those left alive. There were times in this story that my heart just broke, literally broke in half. And there were moments I laughed but all the time I cheered on Chellamuthu (name changed to Taj) the entire time of his life story.
If this book isn't on your to-read list yet, add it!!! This is based on the true story of Chellamuthu, who was kidnapped as a child in India and sold to an orphanage, then adopted by a family in America. Sadly, his story is not the first to happen to children in India, nor it will it be the last. What his story will do is offer you hope in mankind (I know that sounds odd given what this is about, however there are a lot of good people in this book who help him on his journey) and hopefully give another child who doesn't know where they come from a map to follow to find out who they are. This story goes full circle so you get as many answers as are available with those left alive. There were times in this story that my heart just broke, literally broke in half. And there were moments I laughed but all the time I cheered on Chellamuthu (name changed to Taj) the entire time of his life story.
This book is excellent! The journey of this boy to track down his family was just incredible. Written so well as if you were watching it all unfold in front of you.
This amazing story was based on true events. It was so heart-breaking and incredible to read an account of someone being kidnapped at a young age and raised by a different, loving family, all the while knowing he had another family that he belonged to. Because I have a kiddo around Chellamuthu's age when he's taken, I found it particularly difficult, though important, to contemplate. Stories like this are so important; they take me out of my little safe bubble and remind me that there are truly bad people out there not afraid to use and harm children to further their own interests. Only by hearing these kinds of stories are we able to ever face them and do something about them. I do think there's power in being made aware. Without awareness, at the very least, nothing will ever change.
The story was good, but the writing seemed a bit too detailed and arduous. It took so long to discover what would become of Chellamuthus. I should have felt compelled the entire time, but it just got too bogged down for me in some parts.
Overall, I recommend you read this book
The story was good, but the writing seemed a bit too detailed and arduous. It took so long to discover what would become of Chellamuthus. I should have felt compelled the entire time, but it just got too bogged down for me in some parts.
Overall, I recommend you read this book
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I’m torn about this one. I thought the plot was interesting and I was engaged for the first half and then about 2/3 of the way through I realized what was bothering me. From the writing it was so clear to me that the author wasn’t Indian and didn’t have first hand knowledge of the culture he was describing. And then in the epilogue I learned the story is a true story and that fictionalized it. It made me wish more I could read this story written by someone else. So while I thought the topic was compelling, the writing left something to be desired for me.
Like the rent collector, this is a novel based on a true story and I don't really like that genre. However, this was interesting. I found the 10 year time jump jarring and wished his parents had been more honest with him. Or inclusive of his culture. I think I would have liked it more if it wasn't based on a true story. Knowing it is real just ups the Angst factor.