Born Behind Bars

By Padma Venkatraman

A boy escapes jail to find freedom, but the streets hold unexpected challenges and allies.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,604 ratings

288 pages

$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Kabir, born in jail, is thrust into the chaotic streets of Chennai when he's released. With no family or home, he must navigate a world that seems indifferent to his plight. A street-smart girl, Rani, becomes his unexpected ally, but survival is tough for homeless, low-caste children. As Kabir dreams of proving his and his mother's worth, he faces a harsh reality. Can he find a place in a world that has always been against him? Kabir's journey is one of resilience and hope, as he fights for a future he never imagined possible.

From the publisher

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 turns out to be a fraud, so Kabir runs away as fast as his legs will take him. How does a boy with nowhere to go and no connections make his way? Fortunately, another street kid, named Rani, takes him under her wing. But plotting their next moves are hard 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.

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