Parents' Guide to

The Bridge Home

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Heartbreak, hope in fierce story of homeless kids in India.

Book Padma Venkatraman Coming of Age 2019
The Bridge Home Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

KaiiFox
KaiiFox Adult
September 28, 2022
age 12+

Amazing book, depends on the maturity of the child.

Amazing book, I would say a 12 year old or a mature 10 year old could read it. Shows that running away isn't always bad and you should try your best to get away from an abusive person. Overall fantastic, I have read the book multiple times and never got tired of it! :) There is a lot of violence though, so you might want to read it before your kids if you have any. I don't have kids myself though so read through it, my parents were never really strict about what I read when I was a kid!

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
Too much violence
uplift
uplift Parent of 8, 12 and 13-year-old
July 7, 2022
age 13+

Average writing, not what I thought it would be…

Waste of money. Abusive situation and children run away from mom who loves them.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE BRIDGE HOME, 11-year-old Viji and her 12-year-old developmentally disabled sister, Rukku, flee their abusive father and their village in India for the city, where they find friendship and shelter by pitching a makeshift tent atop an abandoned bridge. Soon, like millions of other homeless kids in that part of the world, they're spending their days slogging through piles of trash hoping to find something they can sell to stay alive. With two boys about their age and a stray dog they've rescued, they form their own family, help each other, and have a lot of pride. But danger is everywhere, from violent people to disease and injury.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

Spirited tween narrator Viji tells a harrowing tale of love, loss, and looking out for each other as homeless kids in India face appalling hardship with dreams and determination. Drawing from the real stories of the street kids the author's mother worked with in her native country, The Bridge Home finds vulnerable kids struggling to survive amid violence, disease, dirt, and deprivation -- and also moments of sweetness and unexpected kindness. Some sensitive readers may find it too intense, but Viji's engaging, determined voice and refusal to give up will appeal to many, and her struggles will inspire empathy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about stories that take place in India, like The Bridge Home. What others have you read? How do they compare with this one? What do you find intriguing about India? How is it treated in stories?

  • Viji and Rukku's family belong to a low caste, which adds to their troubles. What do you know about the caste system in India, and the effect it has on people's lives? Do you see similar things happening in your own culture and community?

  • In the story, a rich girl convinces Viji to accept a gift of food because it allows the rich girl to do a good deed, and so Viji is actually doing her a favor. Have you ever let somebody do something for you and had it turn out that you were actually doing something for them? What happened?

Book Details

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