Born Behind Bars by Venkatraman, Padma

"Venkatraman has never met a heavy theme she did not like....Borrowing elements of fable, it's told with a recurring sense of awe by a boy whom the world, for most of his life, has existed only in stories."--New York Times Book Review

The author of the award-winning The Bridge Home brings readers another gripping novel set in Chennai, India, featuring a boy who's unexpectedly released into the world after spending his whole life in jail with his mom.

Kabir has been in jail since the day he was born, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. He's never met his dad, so the only family he's got are their cellmates, and the only place he feels the least bit free is in the classroom, where his kind teacher regales him with stories of the wonders of the outside world. Then one day a new warden arrives and announces Kabir is too old to stay. He gets handed over to a long-lost "uncle" who unfortunately turns out to be a fraud, and intends to sell Kabir. So Kabir does the only thing he can--run away as fast as his legs will take him. How does a boy with nowhere to go and no connections make his way? Fortunately, he befriends Rani, another street kid, and she takes him under her wing. But plotting their next move is hard--and fraught with danger--in a world that cares little for homeless, low caste children. This is not the world Kabir dreamed of--but he's discovered he's not the type to give up. Kabir is ready to show the world that he--and his mother--deserve a place in it.

Author: Padma Venkatraman
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Published: 09/07/2021
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.83lbs
Size: 8.58h x 5.84w x 0.99d
ISBN: 9780593112472
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.5
Point Value: 5
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 514294 / Born Behind Bars


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2021
Publishers Weekly 07/26/2021
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2021
Booklist 09/01/2021 pg. 74
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2021 pg. 120
School Library Journal 11/01/2021 pg. 72
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2021 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Padma Venkatraman (padmavenkatraman.com) was born in India and became an American after living in five countries and working as an oceanographer. She also wrote The Bridge Home (Walter Award, Golden Kite Award, Global Read-Aloud), A Time to Dance (IBBY selection, ALA Notable), Island's End (CCBC Choice, South Asia Book Award), and Climbing the Stairs (ALA/Amelia Bloomer List, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People). She lives in Rhode Island.