Bamboo People
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins is a reprint edition published by Charlesbridge on July 1, 2012, featuring 288 pages in English. This coming-of-age novel explores the lives of two boys against the backdrop of modern-day Burma, where a refugee and a child soldier confront the harsh realities of war. Through their intertwined journeys, the narrative delves into themes of courage, compassion, and the impact of political turmoil on personal lives.
Readers will find a poignant portrayal of Chiko, a book-loving boy whose father is imprisoned for resisting the government, and Tu Reh, who yearns to fight for freedom after witnessing the destruction of his home. As their paths cross in the Burmese army, the story examines the transformation of timidity into bravery and anger into empathy. With a focus on social themes, friendship, and the political landscape of Asia, Bamboo People offers a thoughtful exploration of the choices that shape identity and resilience in the face of adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
Top Ten ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults
Junior Library Guild Selection
Starred Reviews in Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal
BookPage’s “Top Ten Middle Grade Novels”
A refugee and child soldier challenge the rules of war in this coming-of-age novel set against the political and military backdrop of modern-day Burma
Bang! A side door bursts open.
Soldiers pour into the room. They’re shouting and waving rifles.
I shield my head with my arms. It was a lie! I think, my mind racing.
Girls and boys alike are screaming. The soldiers prod and herd some of us together and push the rest apart as if we’re cows or goats.
Their leader, though, is a middle-aged man. He’s moving slowly, intently, not dashing around like the others. “Take the boys only, Win Min,” I overhear him telling a tall, gangly soldier. “Make them obey.”
Chiko isn’t a fighter by nature. He’s a book-loving Burmese boy whose father, a doctor, is in prison for resisting the government. Tu Reh, on the other hand, wants to fight for freedom after watching Burmese soldiers destroy his Karenni family’s home and bamboo fields.
When Chiko is forced into the Burmese army and subsequently injured on a mission, the boys’ lives intersect. Timidity becomes courage and anger becomes compassion as both boys discover that everything is not as it seems. Mitali Perkins delivers a touching story about hopes, dreams, and the choices that define who we are.
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