Review: Thirst by Varsha Bajaj
Quick Info:
Book type: Chapter Book
Target Age: 10-12 years old
Recommended Age: 10-12 years old
Plot: After 12-year-old Meena’s brother is seen by the “water mafia”—men who steal the limited water in her city and upcharge— he is sent away to stay low. At the same time her mother falls ill decides to stay with her sister in the country side to recover. Meena, must now taking on her mother’s job while trying to maintain her school life and home life but finds she doesn’t need to shoulder this burden alone.
Review:
I loved this book and the messages it gave readers. It was fast paced and Meena’s character and family is incredibly charming. She has a close and loving relationship with her older brother and her parents—especially her mother. Her relationship with her mother becomes even more beautiful in the end after Meena had to care for her household in addition to taking up her mother’s maid job, making her appreciate all that her mother does.
To preface this, the author is not Muslim but the main character’s best friend is a Muslim girl and her character is sweet, loving and fiercely loyal. The girls’ friendship is very wholesome and respectful of one another’s faith. There are a few hiccups with the best friend as she believes in “protective amulets” but then again it is very common to believe that where the girls live. So while not an inaccurate characterization it is still an unfortunate misrepresentation. She is also friendly and teases the main character’s 16-year-old brother, putting her hand on his shoulder to comfort him at one point; however, there is a 4-5 year age gap and the relationship dynamic is more sibling-like than anything else.
There are great themes about working hard in school and being grateful for your opportunities, especially when she begins her technology class. I was also very fond of the message of community as her neighbors and friends help Meena when her mother gets sick by bringing her food, notes from school or merely lending an ear.
Opinion:
I found the themes and messages of this book to be wonderful and I highly recommend this book. While the main character prays to Hindu deities it is not the main theme of the novel. However, be sure to have a conversation with your child about the oneness of Allah SWT, idol worshipping and polytheism. Be sure to debunk the concept of “protective amulets” as only Allah SWT can protect us. Speaking to your older children about gender interactions would also be beneficial.
Content:
The main character is Hindu so she occasionally mentions Hindu gods and goddesses. Twice she mentions praying to them at a temple or feeling similar to them (ex: “I feel like the goddess Shakti…”)
Mentioning of idols
Mentioning of palm reading
Her father believes in the “Three Wise Monkeys (“see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil”)
Bracelets and amulets for protection
Her best friend is a Muslim girl who takes Bollywood dance classes and is friendly with the main character’s teenage brother (there is a 4-5 year age gap and it is more of a sibling dynamic). The Muslim girl actually isn’t an awful character even mentioning once how she prayed to Allah to bless her friend’s family when they are going through hardships.
Mentioning of alcohol
Mentioning of death and killing
Mentioning of the caste system
Excerpts:
Excerpts from books are a glimpse of the content that is found and are not every instance of un-Islamic and/or “iffy” content.
Excerpts with green highlights are scenes I found to be beneficial.
Context:
In hopes for making the water pump give more water the main character’s mother and some other women give the tap an offering of a marigold garland. In Hindu culture, marigolds are believed to symbolize bright, positive energy as they symbolize the sun. They are also believed to ward off negative energy and spirits. Though the main characters do not believe in it working .
Context:
While the two siblings talk about the future the main character pretends to be a palm reader.
Context:
The main character’s father believes in the “Three Wise Monkeys” Buddhist proverb. It means that if you do not hear, see or speak evil, then you will be protected/spared from from evil.
Context:
Faiza is the main character’s 12-year-old best friend. She goes to dance classes learning Bollywood song dances and is playful with the main character’s older 16-year-old brother. Their dynamic plays off as a more sibling-like than anything else.
Context:
After a close call with the water mafia the main character prays to the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Ganesh for protection.
Context:
The main character prays to the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Ganesh once more asking for protection. The idol is covered in marigolds as offerings. In Hindu culture, marigolds are believed to symbolize bright, positive energy as they symbolize the sun. They are also believed to ward off negative energy and spirits. The ringing of the bell is a sign of invoking a deity and a way of cleansing oneself.
Context:
A rakhi bracelet is an ornate bracelet made by a boy’s sister or female cousin which is then tied onto his right wrist during the Raksha Bandhan festival. The bracelet symbolizes her support and is believed to provide protection due to their sibling/family bond.
Context:
The main character’s scolds her brother for jumping across rooftops with his friends. He says when he does it he feels like Hanuman, a Hindu deity what is depicted as a flying monkey.
Context:
The main character helps a friend sell magazines at the side of the road. When the friend refers to “….Bollywood stars looking like goddesses…” it is not clarified if she means literally dresses like Hindu deities or if they just look beautiful.
Context:
After a character is found dead in a gutter rumors spread he died of homemade alcohol. It is later revealed he was probably murdered and never drank alcohol.
Context:
Faiza, the main character’s Muslim best friend, wears an amulet “…to protect her from evil…” It is highly likely to be a “nazar” (🧿) pendant but it is not explicitly clarified.
Context:
As the main character progresses through her technology class she related to a Hindu deity, Shakti.
Context:
I’m sharing this excerpt because I found the friendship between the two best friends as very wholesome and sweet and a good representation of interfaith friendships.
Context:
The main character confides in her Muslim best friend about all the struggles her family is going through. The Muslim’s response is a great example for kids about making dua’a during hardships.
Context:
During the story the main character takes up her mother’s maid job while working and taking care of household chores. While being a maid she made instant noodles for the young girl that she serves. Seeing her mother make her a pack reminds her of her job working at Anita Ma’am and how much she appreciates her mother.
Context:
A big theme of the book is how the main character’s community supports her during her struggles. This is a sweet excerpt of the character realizing how wonderful it is to be surrounded by people who love her. After she wakes up late to school the guard (knowing of her situation) sneaks her in, Faiza (her Muslim friend) brought her lunch and and her neighbor brings her dinner.
