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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
ubalstecha's review against another edition
3.0
Solid, if short, novelization of Iqbal's life. While some of the events and characters are fictionalized, the story does a really good job capturing the working conditions of child labourers in Pakistan's carpet industry. By giving Iqbal friends within the factory, author D'Adamo gives young readers an ability to engage in the story. Good for helping young people understand the human cost of child labour.
plants_and_bees's review against another edition
I just know that I read this book quite a few years ago if not many, and that i absolutely loved it.
I just can remember being really moved by this story.
I just can remember being really moved by this story.
lydslibros's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
svanjensen's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this in my critical literacy class and it was a little painful. Also I got a weird grade on my essay for this so I might be a little bitter and biased. I liked the concept and the fact that it’s a true story, but it wasn’t perfect and it was a little long winded.
jennybeastie's review against another edition
2.0
Child slavery is a rough topic, so I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book, but my main objections to it are the voice, which is not particularly believable as the voice of a child, and the fact that it is unrelentingly depressing. I think it's fair for it to be unrelentingly depressing given the subject matter, and maybe other people would find Iqbal's story inspiring. This particular book just really didn't work for me.
claudia_09's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
eugthinks's review against another edition
3.0
hmm
I don't really know how to rate this since I don't read much non-fiction, so I'm going with the following: how I would rate it as if it were a fictional book (2 GR stars: it was okay) plus a bonus star for the information level (not much) and for the cause (good cause). Maybe it deserves a higher rating, I don't know. I found it pretty shallow and fairy tale-like, but should it be blamed for that, given that at least the skeleton of the story consists of just real life events? I dunno.
I don't really know how to rate this since I don't read much non-fiction, so I'm going with the following: how I would rate it as if it were a fictional book (2 GR stars: it was okay) plus a bonus star for the information level (not much) and for the cause (good cause). Maybe it deserves a higher rating, I don't know. I found it pretty shallow and fairy tale-like, but should it be blamed for that, given that at least the skeleton of the story consists of just real life events? I dunno.
artransvet's review against another edition
5.0
Iqbal is a story about an amazing boy and how he escaped working in a carpet factory as a slave. He went on to help others do the same. He was a brave boy that knew what was right and gave up everything fighting for it. This story was touching and heartbreaking. It was hard to put down and then when I got to the end I just sat in silence and tried not to cry. This story is one that must be told. Children should never be forced into slavery because of poverty.