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| Albert Whitman Teen |
by Irfan Master
3 Scribbles
Is it ever acceptable to tell a lie?
Ask that question in a crowded room and you’d fracture the
crowd into multiple camps of opinion, but ask that same question of Bilal’s
best friends, and they would all agree—sometimes a lie is the right thing to
protect the one you love. Thirteen-year-old Bilal isn’t so sure, but he’s sworn
to control his own destiny. His father is dying of cancer, and it’s 1947. The
India they have always known is about to split down the middle along religious
and political lines. Hundreds and thousands will likely die, and the proof is
in the streets—long time friends are fighting and minor skirmishes abound—India
is a literal powder keg of tension. To protect his father from the knowledge
that the country they love might also suffer a sort of death, Bilal, with the
help of his band of friends, denies his father any visitors who may inform him
of the upcoming Partition. Is this lie
of omission the right thing to do?
While this novel is translated into English, there are many
universal elements to the narrative. For instance, Bilal’s’ relationship with
his friends is one that guys will certainly appreciate. And while the
environment might make the day-to-day activities and hangouts of the boys a bit
strange to teens in the U.S. of 2012, the banter and harassment between Manjeet,
Vickesh, Jaghtar, Saleem, Chota and Bilal, as well as their fierce loyalty is a
“guy trait” that boys can recognize and respect despite the distance in time or
language. Secondary characters, like the
Doctorji, and Mr. Mukherjee, are also important and well-developed,
illustrating India’s heart, and the feelings of those who prefer peace over Partition.
The author admirably uses irony, symbolism and humor, especially when Bilal,
wise beyond his years, “calls out” the three holy men of the town who seek to
scold him for his secrets. Mature
readers will get a laugh out of this scene and at the same time appreciate
Bilal’s humility, even though the holy men are clearly deserving of the
criticism. From the first signs of
division at the vendor’s stalls to the violent cock fight in the cemetery,
readers will be on edge wondering about Bilal’s fate, and the fate of his
father and friends. This novel will take readers on a journey to an India they
might never experience. Those who are curious about world culture and history,
or those who just want a great story about the bonds between boys who live like
brothers should definitely add this book to their reading list.
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