The Carpet Boy's Gift Book

This book touched me deeply, and it deeply disturbed me, as I'm sure it is meant to do.

First off I want to say that in the back of this book there is an extraordinary and incredibly useful section of resources: books, websites, organization, all devoted to helping the reader learn what they can do to help, to make a difference. I was very grateful for the included information. Any readers, child or adult, can choose at least one more thing they can do to improve conditions for children who are forced to work before they should have to do so.

This is a historical fiction story, based on a real Pakistani boy who escaped the carpet factories and was an activist for other children, encouraging them to leave their slave laboring and go to school, but who was murdered for his efforts. He's a peripheral character in this story. The main children characters reap the benefits he reveals to them.

The circumstances in this story are so horrific and disturbing that I recommend this only for older children. It tells of children as young as four years old and children of all ages who've been sold to a master, who has them working as slaves. I personally would not introduce this book until children are in fourth grade. Fourth through sixth grade children can handle this information, and will hopefully be inspired to take action. They might also appreciate their life as a school student more when they've read about how other children long to go to school.

I didn't love the art but the illustrations do fit the book very well, and I did very much appreciate some of them.

I felt completely wrung out after reading the story and, even though the story has a partly happy ending, the extra material at the end is really necessary to avoid sinking into despair.

Another worthy offering from the wonderful publisher Tilbury House.