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Title details for The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman - Available

The Bridge Home

by Padma Venkatraman
Padma Venkatraman
Audiobook
4 of 5 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
4 of 5 copies available
"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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    February 5, 2019

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781984845108
      • File size: 131411 KB
      • Duration: 04:33:46

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 680
    • Text Difficulty: 3

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Author Padma Venkatraman narrates her own work, displaying the depth of feeling and caring between 11-year-old Viji and her 12-year-old intellectually disabled sister, Rukku. They flee an abusive home only to face new vulnerability in the city of Chennai when their money is stolen and they must live on the streets. Venkatraman describes the developing bonds as the sisters form a new family with two homeless boys while all of them desperately search a garbage dump to find salable scrap. In particular, Venkatraman portrays how Viji's controlling relationship with her sister turns to tenderness and respect as Rukku's necklace making supports them. Venkatraman's Indian accent adds to the tone and setting, but it's the range and believability of emotions that will draw listeners into Viji's journey from despair to hope. A great family listen to launch important conversations. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:680
  • Text Difficulty:3

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