Reviews for The Carpet Boy's Gift

The average rating for The Carpet Boy's Gift based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-03-03 00:00:00 Michael Hehl Sold by his parents to the owners of a carpet factory for a loan of 1,000 rupees, Nadeem was a bonded laborer, forced - together with many other children - to work from sun up to sun down every day, in a dark workshop choked with wool dust. Longing to breathe the fresh air, and feel the sun on his face, to play soccer with his little brother Hakim, and most of all, to go to school, Nadeem lived for the day when his family's debt, their peshgi, was paid back. But how would that day ever come, when the Master kept finding ways of fining him (thereby increasing the peshgi), every time he got too close? Could Iqbal, a young boy and former bonded laborer whom Nadeem met at a protest march, have the answer? If it was true, as Iqbal claimed, that bonded labor was illegal, why did no one stop the Master? And what could Nadeem do...? This fictionalized account of a bonded child laborer incorporates the story of the real-life figure of Iqbal Masih - a young Pakistani boy who was sold into bonded labor as a carpet weaver at age four, escaped at age ten, became an international spokesperson on the issue for the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, and was assassinated at age twelve - and presents some very difficult realities in a sensitive but honest way for young readers. Iqbal's murder factors in the plot of The Carpet Boy's Gift, and Pegi Deitz Shea is to be commended for not glossing over the heartbreaking reality of the situation, while still providing hope, with the conclusion of her tale. With a moving story, beautifully complemented by Leane Morin's lovely illustrations, and extensive notes at the rear, that give further information and ideas about how young readers can get involved, this is a book that I highly recommend!

Review # 2 was written on 2010-12-10 00:00:00 John Grace 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.