Kim
By Barbara Schultz,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic about complex Indian cultures best for older teens.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
The main character in KIM, the masterwork by Nobel Prize-winning author Rudyard Kipling, is Kimball O'Hara, a poor half-Irish boy growing up on the streets of Lahore, India, living off of his wits and keen powers of observation. Kim becomes the "chela," or disciple, of Teshoo Lama, a Tibetan lama who is on a spiritual journey to find the "River of the Arrow." While traveling with the lama, Kim meets a regiment of Irish soldiers who are joined with the British in the Great Game, an ongoing military/political conflict between the British and Russians over power in central Asia. The Irish chaplain sees that Kim is wearing an amulet associated with their regiment and makes the connection that Kim's father was Irish. Once it is noticed that Kim is white, the struggle for Kim's allegiance begins to parallel the cultural conflicts going on in colonial India, revealing much about the country and setting up some difficult choices for the boy.
Is It Any Good?
Among the reasons Kim is so widely revered are the vast amount of cultural and religious ground the novel covers and the brilliant way Kipling embodies political conflict within his main character. This novel is beautifully written and structured -- with relevant and lyrical poems beginning each chapter -- and always stays grounded in the relatable experience of the bright young boy Kim. This is a fascinating choice for teens who are intrigued by world cultures and religions, and an important book, as well, for students of literature and history.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
How are different cultures and religions portrayed in Kim? Does the author seem to favor any one culture over another?
How is Kim's life changed by the white soldiers' discovery of his parentage?
Learn more about Kim's world by reading books about colonial India. Also check out Kipling's other beloved books, such as The Jungle Books or Just So Stories.
Book Details
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Barnes & Noble
- Publication date: October 1, 1901
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 2, 2015
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