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heathere19's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Although I know this is more about the real situations going on in India, and I feel for these children, it just did not keep my attention. I thought it would be more of a mystery based on the synopsis.
kdawn999's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book about kid detective friends in India. The story is told from a 9-year-old’s perspective. The narrator was convincing, and the book descriptions are creative, lyrical, and comic. The subject matter is pretty serious, and I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. If only there had been more mystical play toward the end like there was at the book’s opening. This is an author I’m happy to have read and want to read again!
mjk20a's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line came to my attention when it was named as one of the long list books for the Women's Fiction Prize this year. This novel is set in India and focuses on 3 young kids (about 10 years of age) who begin to look into why kids are disappearing from their poor neighborhood.
This book was a searing look at life in Indian slums. The kids keep their adventurous spirits and wit throughout despite the circumstances of their lives.
This book was a searing look at life in Indian slums. The kids keep their adventurous spirits and wit throughout despite the circumstances of their lives.
ruth24's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When children start to go missing from his basti, 9-year-old Jai begins to investigate with his friends, emulating the detectives he watches on his favourite TV show, Police Patrol.
More 'Coming of Age' than plot-driven Mystery, the story follows Jai as he interprets the world around him and tries to figure out what's happening in his community. According to the afterword, journalist Deepa Anappara set out to tell the story of the 180 children who go missing in India every day - not only to bring this issue into the spotlight, but to tell the human side of the children, their humour and resilience, which didn't find a place in her journalistic reporting.
I really enjoyed getting to know the basti, Bhoot Bazaar and the book's many characters (particularly Pari and Runu). I also enjoyed the chapters written from the perspectives of the missing children, the railway journey (despite the title, the Purple Line is rarely mentioned) and how Anappara wove in some wider issues (like domestic violence, religious conflict, addiction, poverty, class differences etc.) I was intrigued by the mystery, but overall found the pacing very slow, with not much plot driving it. At first I felt the story was more for a younger audience, what with naive 9-year-old Jai as the protagonist, but as the story progresses, it becomes darker and darker, with more adult themes. The ending was a little disappointing (one of those times when you flip the pages to make sure it's really the end), but I understand why Anappara ended it as she did.
Overall I would rate the book 3.5 stars out of 5. Reminded me a bit of [b:Anita and Me|483330|Anita and Me|Meera Syal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328752479l/483330._SX50_.jpg|1150967], [b:Brother|36672820|Brother|David Chariandy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511801797l/36672820._SY75_.jpg|18475129], and [b:The Wrong Boy|839356|The Wrong Boy|Willy Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356446280l/839356._SY75_.jpg|824916].
When children start to go missing from his basti, 9-year-old Jai begins to investigate with his friends, emulating the detectives he watches on his favourite TV show, Police Patrol.
More 'Coming of Age' than plot-driven Mystery, the story follows Jai as he interprets the world around him and tries to figure out what's happening in his community. According to the afterword, journalist Deepa Anappara set out to tell the story of the 180 children who go missing in India every day - not only to bring this issue into the spotlight, but to tell the human side of the children, their humour and resilience, which didn't find a place in her journalistic reporting.
I really enjoyed getting to know the basti, Bhoot Bazaar and the book's many characters (particularly Pari and Runu). I also enjoyed the chapters written from the perspectives of the missing children, the railway journey (despite the title, the Purple Line is rarely mentioned) and how Anappara wove in some wider issues (like domestic violence, religious conflict, addiction, poverty, class differences etc.) I was intrigued by the mystery, but overall found the pacing very slow, with not much plot driving it. At first I felt the story was more for a younger audience, what with naive 9-year-old Jai as the protagonist, but as the story progresses, it becomes darker and darker, with more adult themes. The ending was a little disappointing (one of those times when you flip the pages to make sure it's really the end), but I understand why Anappara ended it as she did.
Overall I would rate the book 3.5 stars out of 5. Reminded me a bit of [b:Anita and Me|483330|Anita and Me|Meera Syal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328752479l/483330._SX50_.jpg|1150967], [b:Brother|36672820|Brother|David Chariandy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511801797l/36672820._SY75_.jpg|18475129], and [b:The Wrong Boy|839356|The Wrong Boy|Willy Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356446280l/839356._SY75_.jpg|824916].
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
1.0
I think this was not what I expected. Do not expect a resolution. It was an exploration of what can befall slum children in India and regularly does. It is shocking and needs to be addressed.
neethya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
claumyr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75