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chava_in_oz's review against another edition
4.0
What a touching story. It sparked a lot of conversation at my house with everyone agreeing that we would now make sure we only buy ethically made clothes & items
karmen12's review against another edition
3.0
Iqbal is an ok book. It is not one that I would read if I would read if I was just reading it by myself. I'm glad that I read it though. It was interesting to read about child labor. Iqbal came and made all of the kids at the rug making factory a little happier. He told the narator Fatima that they would go and fly a kite one day. And they did and it was great.
star63's review against another edition
5.0
Iqbal is the story of Iqbal, Fatima, and other child slaves in Pakistan. What makes this book riveting is that it is a modern day story of child labor/slavery. Poor villagers in Pakistan are often forced into situations where the only way to pay their debt is to send a child to work in the brickyards, carpet factories or mines for which they get paid nearly nothing and end up in a never-ending cycle of bondage.
Iqbal escapes from the master and brings liberators to the carpet factory. He then speaks to audiences in Sweden and the United States about the real life issues of these children. The author doesn't sugar coat the realities but neither is she overly graphic which makes this book a great classroom option.
As a personal aside, I don't think that I could ever purchase a hand-knotted carpet after reading this novel. I will never look at them the same. Machine knotted is okay-fine by me.
Iqbal escapes from the master and brings liberators to the carpet factory. He then speaks to audiences in Sweden and the United States about the real life issues of these children. The author doesn't sugar coat the realities but neither is she overly graphic which makes this book a great classroom option.
As a personal aside, I don't think that I could ever purchase a hand-knotted carpet after reading this novel. I will never look at them the same. Machine knotted is okay-fine by me.
i_mishu_so_much's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
abbylynn000's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
museofbibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
The fact that this book based on true story... Very heart wrenching and heartbreaking :'')) I couldn't imagine how iqbal (and other child labour children) must felt. I don't think any words could describe that. May he rest in peaceš„ he might be gone almost 30 years ago, but his story will always inspire people who knows it for eternity
mahajamalkhan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
quoththegirl's review against another edition
3.0
This young adult novel about child workers in Pakistan was recommended to me by a friend, or I probably wouldn't have run across it. It was quite good, for what it was, and I wasn't really familiar with that particular cause so it was interesting.
ledreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25