The Bridge Home

"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning the final page."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestselling Amal Unbound

Four determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut.

Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.

Author: Padma Venkatraman
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Published: 04/14/2020
Pages: 208
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 7.60h x 5.00w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781524738136

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.4
Point Value: 5
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 501239 / Bridge Home


Award: 2020 Golden Kite Winner - Middle Grade Fiction