Gupta, Ruchira. I Kick and I Fly. Scholastic. 04/2023. 352pp. Fiction. GRADES 7-12. OUTSTANDING. $18.99. 978-1-338-82509-1.
Heera, maybe twelve or thirteen, lives in extreme poverty in Forbesganj, Bihar, India. Her life seems to be going nowhere, and she’s destined to be sold at the Girl’s Bazaar. Luckily, her mother pushes for her to attend school, where she gets her one real meal of the day, and the matron of a local girl’s hostel (orphanage) provides assistance. Good luck, tenacity, and perseverance see her out of the gutters (literally) and into learning karate and winning contests. This results in improved living situations, outlook on life, and even helps her family see value in her as more than a sex worker. This is one of the most powerfully written, though both depressing and uplifting, stories about real things happening around the world. Gupta includes an author’s note that explains much of the truth behind the story, and offers resources for readers about sex trafficking. Review based on an ARC.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library