Outside In

May 29, 2017
In an inspiring and multilayered story partly based on the life of Nek Chand, a self-taught Indian artist, a homeless teenage orphan scrapes by with his wits on the streets of Chandigarh, a “young” city “built as a symbol of hope and new beginnings.” Running away from a gang of rich boys from whom he won money playing a game called gilli, Ram accidentally drops his winnings and watches Nek, a factory worker, discover the windfall. Intending to steal the money back, Ram follows Nek to a hideout in the woods, where he sees the man using found materials to create a small city with houses, gardens, and an army of laughing statues on property that doesn’t belong to him. From Nek and other friends, Ram learns the story of Rama, which Nek describes as “the story of all of India.... It is every story ever told wrapped into one.” In Ram, Bradbury (River Runs Deep) creates a gutsy, compassionate protagonist who longs to be “more than just a kid who has been left behind.” Ages 8–12.

April 1, 2017
In Chandigarh, a town in northern India, is Nek Chand's Rock Garden, a magnificent, 40-acre garden of some 5,000 sculptures made from recycled ceramics, industrial waste, and discarded household scrap--and the real-life inspiration for this historical novel. Bradbury (A Moment Comes, 2013, etc.), who worked as a teacher in Chandigarh, offers a thoughtful novel based on this story, featuring 12-year-old dark-haired (and presumed dark-skinned) protagonist Ram. A shrewd orphan street kid, Ram accidently discovers Nek Chand's secret, built over years on unused government land, and is delighted to help him make those beautiful figurines. When the situation turns desperate and the garden is threatened, Ram shows them to his friend Daya and her father, Mr. Singh, an art-loving urban planner who helps save this incredible folk art from being demolished. Intertwined with Ram's story, and printed on pages with a patterned background, is an incomplete version of the Ramayana, the mythological legend of Rama, Sita, and the 10-headed demon Ravana, as it parallels Ram's life. Some details do not conform to the norms of traditional Indian society. Why does Mr. Singh allow his daughter to roam the streets with homeless urchin Ram? Why doesn't Ram address Mr. Singh and Nek Chand with proper respect, as Singhji and Nekji? Apart from this, Bradbury immerses readers in Ram's world, authentically describing the sights, smells, and sounds of Chandigarh's streets and the daily lives of its inhabitants. Readers will wish for visuals to complement Bradbury's descriptions of Chand's creations; she does provide further information on both it and the Ramayana in an author's note. A compassionate story of homelessness and friendship, recycled art and community. (glossary) (Historical fiction. 9-13)

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May 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-After Ram loses his bag of winnings from playing a stick-and-ball game called gilli, he stumbles upon an art garden in the middle of the jungle, created by a mysterious man named Nek. Nek introduces him to stories from the Ramayana, which enthrall, educate, and inspire the young homeless boy. When Nek's health takes a turn for the worse, threatening his livelihood and his ability to curate his sculpture garden, Ram enlists the aid of his well-off friend's father to save Nek's statues. Ram and Nek's relationship deepens as Ram becomes more engrossed in the artwork and the stories. The selected tales from the Ramayana are skillfully woven throughout the novel. Although the class lines between Ram and his wealthy friend's father seem a bit too blurred to be completely believable and the happy-ever-after ending is not the most likely one for a homeless child in India, the generosity and concern shown to Ram are uplifting. The difficulties of street life and the experiences of the working poor are apparent. Despite Ram's hard life, the examples of kindness displayed throughout and the story's ultimate triumph make this a hopeful tale that will be enjoyed by readers of a wide variety of ages. An author's note explains Bradbury's personal connection with India and the actual Nek Chand's Rock Garden. Hindi words are italicized. VERDICT Recommended for those seeking modern-day stories in India that don't shy away from the harsh realities of homeless youth.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

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