Child of Spring

Basanta, an Indian girl balanced on the edge of childhood and young adulthood, narrates Zia%E2%80%99s second novel (after The Garden of My Imaan) with a vivacious voice. She lives in a hut in a small village with her parents and younger sister, begrudgingly working alongside her mother at the %E2%80%9CBig House%E2%80%9D as a servant. A keen observer, Basanta views the world as rich with imagery; her employer%E2%80%99s privileged daughter, Little Bibi, can be %E2%80%9Cfiery as a mango pickle,%E2%80%9D while a jamun tree %E2%80%9Crained down fat berries that splattered the ground with purple.%E2%80%9D After finding a lost ring belonging to Little Bibi, Basanta decides to keep it for herself. Guilt gives her a %E2%80%9Cworried heart,%E2%80%9D and she slowly matures, using her good fortune to help less fortunate friends who often go hungry. While the plot moves a bit too rapidly and feels overstuffed with characters, Zia delicately explores themes of developing a sense of morality, learning the value of hard work, recognizing inequality, and empathizing with others. The author smoothly incorporates Hindi words and phrases into Basanta%E2%80%99s narrative and also includes a glossary. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. (Mar.)