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The Orphan Keeper, Adapted for Young Readers
Based on a remarkable true story
Seven-year-old Chellamuthu’s life—and his destiny—is forever changed when he is kidnapped from his village in Southern India and sold to the Lincoln Home for Homeless Children. His family is desperate to find him, and Chellamuthu anxiously tells the Indian orphanage that he is not an orphan, he has a mother who loves him. But he is told not to worry, he will soon be adopted by a loving family in America.
Chellamuthu is suddenly surrounded by a foreign land and a foreign language. He can’t tell people that he already has a family and becomes consumed by a single, impossible “How do I get home? But after more than a decade, home becomes a much more complicated idea as the Indian boy eventually sheds his past and receives a new Taj Khyber Rowland.
It isn’t until Taj meets an Indian family who helps him rediscover his roots, as well as marrying Priya, his wife, who helps him unveil the secrets of his past, that he begins to discover the truth he has all but forgotten. Taj is determined to return to India and begin the quest to find his birth family. But is it too late? Is it possible that his birth mother is still looking for him? And which family does he belong to now?
From the best-selling author The Rent Collector, this is a deeply moving and gripping journey about discovering one’s self and the unbreakable family bonds that connect us forever.
Seven-year-old Chellamuthu’s life—and his destiny—is forever changed when he is kidnapped from his village in Southern India and sold to the Lincoln Home for Homeless Children. His family is desperate to find him, and Chellamuthu anxiously tells the Indian orphanage that he is not an orphan, he has a mother who loves him. But he is told not to worry, he will soon be adopted by a loving family in America.
Chellamuthu is suddenly surrounded by a foreign land and a foreign language. He can’t tell people that he already has a family and becomes consumed by a single, impossible “How do I get home? But after more than a decade, home becomes a much more complicated idea as the Indian boy eventually sheds his past and receives a new Taj Khyber Rowland.
It isn’t until Taj meets an Indian family who helps him rediscover his roots, as well as marrying Priya, his wife, who helps him unveil the secrets of his past, that he begins to discover the truth he has all but forgotten. Taj is determined to return to India and begin the quest to find his birth family. But is it too late? Is it possible that his birth mother is still looking for him? And which family does he belong to now?
From the best-selling author The Rent Collector, this is a deeply moving and gripping journey about discovering one’s self and the unbreakable family bonds that connect us forever.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 2, 2022
20 people are currently reading
2387 people want to read
About the author
Camron Wright
11 books820 followersCamron Wright was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has a master’s degree in Writing and Public Relations from Westminster College.
He has owned several successful retail stores in addition to working with his wife in the fashion industry, designing for the McCall Pattern Company in New York.
Camron began writing to get out of attending MBA school at the time, and it proved the better decision. His first book, Letters for Emily, was a Readers Choice Award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Letters for Emily has been published in North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, and China.
His next book, The Rent Collector, won Best Novel of the Year from the Whitney Awards and was a nominee for the prestigious International DUBLIN Literary Award. The Orphan Keeper won Book of the Year, Gold accolades in Multicultural Fiction from Foreword Reviews, and was winner of Best General Fiction from the Whitney Awards. His newest book, In Times of Rain and War releases in early 2021.
Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, just south of Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. He is the proud father of four children, all girls but three.
He has owned several successful retail stores in addition to working with his wife in the fashion industry, designing for the McCall Pattern Company in New York.
Camron began writing to get out of attending MBA school at the time, and it proved the better decision. His first book, Letters for Emily, was a Readers Choice Award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Letters for Emily has been published in North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, and China.
His next book, The Rent Collector, won Best Novel of the Year from the Whitney Awards and was a nominee for the prestigious International DUBLIN Literary Award. The Orphan Keeper won Book of the Year, Gold accolades in Multicultural Fiction from Foreword Reviews, and was winner of Best General Fiction from the Whitney Awards. His newest book, In Times of Rain and War releases in early 2021.
Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, just south of Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. He is the proud father of four children, all girls but three.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 15, 2022
⭐⭐⭐ -- Such a pretty cover on this one!
Let me start by saying this version of this book has been adapted for a younger audience. Which is fine, I knew that going in. However, for ME, it was lacking some depth and grit that I assume the "adult" version has. It felt like this version just skimmed the surface of the story. If that makes sense? That said, it was still a great read and if it opens up such a poignant story to younger readers to appreciate, well that is a win all around!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Let me start by saying this version of this book has been adapted for a younger audience. Which is fine, I knew that going in. However, for ME, it was lacking some depth and grit that I assume the "adult" version has. It felt like this version just skimmed the surface of the story. If that makes sense? That said, it was still a great read and if it opens up such a poignant story to younger readers to appreciate, well that is a win all around!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
October 4, 2022
“Seek dharma, child. Find out how you fit in, who you are. Remember that everything around you has a purpose. Even you.”
I loved this adaptation of the The Orphan Keeper for young readers. This powerful story is a must read realistic fiction based on the true story of Taj Rowland. As a young boy in Erode, India, Chellamuthu gets into the normal scrapes of growing up. He learns difficult lessons as less than savory companions tempt him to steal and do things he knows his mother wouldn’t approve of. But Chellamuthu is a good boy at heart who tries to do his best and sacrifices his own happiness to help others. When he is kidnapped and taken to an orphanage several hours away from his home, he pleads with them to take him back to his family. He knows his family wouldn’t give him up and he knows he’s not an orphan, yet he is deceptively sold to an unknowing family in America and promised a better life.
Chellamuthu’s new life in America consists of teasing, learning a new culture and language, and slowly losing his memories from home. Though his adoptive family is kind and loving, he still wants to find a way back to India. With the new name of Taj Rowland and through the years, his memories gradually slip away, yet he recognizes something is missing in his life. A study abroad to London, meeting a spunky psychology student Kelly, and being surrounded by Indian culture bring back old memories long forgotten. From this time on, Taj makes a plan to return to India and find his family.
This story was so touching. I could easily identify with Chellamuthu’s mother who goes to great lengths to find her missing son. I could also sympathize with Eli and the other orphanage’s owners who thought they were giving a better life to Chellamuthu and the children who were brought or kidnapped and placed in the orphanage. But, there’s something about understanding one’s family and roots. The ache for Taj is palpable and I can’t imagine what it was like for a little boy to be pulled from everything he loved and understood and placed in such a different culture. His survival and thriving is a great example to both young adults and adults. His search for his family is miraculous and the way he gives back to his village and family once he finds them shows he truly found “dharma.”
Highly recommend this book! It’s an inspiring, uplifting story that will touch your heart. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
I loved this adaptation of the The Orphan Keeper for young readers. This powerful story is a must read realistic fiction based on the true story of Taj Rowland. As a young boy in Erode, India, Chellamuthu gets into the normal scrapes of growing up. He learns difficult lessons as less than savory companions tempt him to steal and do things he knows his mother wouldn’t approve of. But Chellamuthu is a good boy at heart who tries to do his best and sacrifices his own happiness to help others. When he is kidnapped and taken to an orphanage several hours away from his home, he pleads with them to take him back to his family. He knows his family wouldn’t give him up and he knows he’s not an orphan, yet he is deceptively sold to an unknowing family in America and promised a better life.
Chellamuthu’s new life in America consists of teasing, learning a new culture and language, and slowly losing his memories from home. Though his adoptive family is kind and loving, he still wants to find a way back to India. With the new name of Taj Rowland and through the years, his memories gradually slip away, yet he recognizes something is missing in his life. A study abroad to London, meeting a spunky psychology student Kelly, and being surrounded by Indian culture bring back old memories long forgotten. From this time on, Taj makes a plan to return to India and find his family.
This story was so touching. I could easily identify with Chellamuthu’s mother who goes to great lengths to find her missing son. I could also sympathize with Eli and the other orphanage’s owners who thought they were giving a better life to Chellamuthu and the children who were brought or kidnapped and placed in the orphanage. But, there’s something about understanding one’s family and roots. The ache for Taj is palpable and I can’t imagine what it was like for a little boy to be pulled from everything he loved and understood and placed in such a different culture. His survival and thriving is a great example to both young adults and adults. His search for his family is miraculous and the way he gives back to his village and family once he finds them shows he truly found “dharma.”
Highly recommend this book! It’s an inspiring, uplifting story that will touch your heart. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
May 19, 2023
This book is AMAZING!! I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good book.
October 17, 2022
The original book of this one, The Orphan Keeper, is one of my all time favorites. It’s so great to see it be adapted for younger audiences. And I thought that this version was just as well done. This story just jumps off the page. And it’s crazy to think something like this could happen, anywhere in the world!
Chellamuthu is the main character. A young boy living in India. He’s not the best behaved boy. But he is a good person at heart. One day his is kidnapped off the street. Taken from his family, put in an orphanage and eventually sent to America to an adopted family. And renamed Taj. This book is quite a journey!
The author did such a great job with this adaptation. I love that the story still seems to jump off the page. And that readers are drawn to the characters in the story. I love that Taj is able to learn about himself, who he is, both with his biological family and without. That’s something we all really need to do.
This book is so well done. I highly recommend it!
Chellamuthu is the main character. A young boy living in India. He’s not the best behaved boy. But he is a good person at heart. One day his is kidnapped off the street. Taken from his family, put in an orphanage and eventually sent to America to an adopted family. And renamed Taj. This book is quite a journey!
The author did such a great job with this adaptation. I love that the story still seems to jump off the page. And that readers are drawn to the characters in the story. I love that Taj is able to learn about himself, who he is, both with his biological family and without. That’s something we all really need to do.
This book is so well done. I highly recommend it!
October 17, 2022
This is Chellamuthu's story. He might have lived a poor life in India, but he had a family that loved him. One day, that is all taken away from him when he is kidnapped from the street and adopted by a family in America. But that love between a child and their mother can never be broken. It might be lost for a little while, but it can be found again.
This was a beautiful read. While fictionalized, it is based on a real person and the events surrounding their life. I can only imagine what it was like for both Chellamuthu and his mother - both searching for one another but not knowing where to look. I loved that she never lost hope and even sought readings from astrologers and psychics to try and ease her mind if her son was alive or not.
Chellamuthu (aka Taj) was sent to America when he was approximately eight years old. It took him a long time to fit in, learn the language, and adapt to his new family. He didn't forget about his life in India right away, but slowly the images and memories faded. That is until much later in life when little things start triggering the memories. Once the memories started flooding back, it felt like he couldn't find them quickly enough. He went to great lengths to find them, and this was a time before social media, cell phones, and email was a new thing.
I enjoyed reading this book and could relate to many of the characters and the emotions they felt at different times in their lives. I especially liked Taj finding his family and how they blended his American family with his Indian family. There are even photos at the end that were fun to look at.
This would be a good book for young readers 10 and older.
We give this book 4 paws up.
This was a beautiful read. While fictionalized, it is based on a real person and the events surrounding their life. I can only imagine what it was like for both Chellamuthu and his mother - both searching for one another but not knowing where to look. I loved that she never lost hope and even sought readings from astrologers and psychics to try and ease her mind if her son was alive or not.
Chellamuthu (aka Taj) was sent to America when he was approximately eight years old. It took him a long time to fit in, learn the language, and adapt to his new family. He didn't forget about his life in India right away, but slowly the images and memories faded. That is until much later in life when little things start triggering the memories. Once the memories started flooding back, it felt like he couldn't find them quickly enough. He went to great lengths to find them, and this was a time before social media, cell phones, and email was a new thing.
I enjoyed reading this book and could relate to many of the characters and the emotions they felt at different times in their lives. I especially liked Taj finding his family and how they blended his American family with his Indian family. There are even photos at the end that were fun to look at.
This would be a good book for young readers 10 and older.
We give this book 4 paws up.
October 3, 2022
A young, mischievous boy of seven lived in a small village in India. Chellamuthu hung out with a gang of unsavory boys which eventually led to him being kidnapped and sold to an orphanage. This novel is based on the true life story of Chellamuthu, who was later named Taj Rowland by his adopted American family.
The Orphan Keeper is the heartbreaking story of a boy who only wants to return home but finds so many obstacles in his way. As he journeys to America and becomes assimilated into a new family and life, his Indian life, memories, and self disappear.
Hidden deep within Taj he knows there's something there that's a clue to his past. It isn't until he's going to college in London and living with an Indian family, that memories start coming back to Taj. It's really quite amazing how little things like people's accents, certain smells, and foods are triggers for him. With divine intervention and help from family and friends, he eventually finds his family. His Indian mother never gave up hope about her son being alive and returning someday.
The Orphan Keeper is such an emotional journey for the reader as you feel the grief of a lonely boy, the heartache of a mother losing a son, and the steadfast man who longed to find his family and home. The novel is written so well and so very enthralling it's hard to put down. There are many life lessons for readers about bravery, perseverance, and never losing hope. This version of The Orphan Keeper is a great read for teens and adults. If you haven't read this novel before or it's been a long time since your first read of the original, I highly recommend this book be the next one on your list to read.
The Orphan Keeper is the heartbreaking story of a boy who only wants to return home but finds so many obstacles in his way. As he journeys to America and becomes assimilated into a new family and life, his Indian life, memories, and self disappear.
Hidden deep within Taj he knows there's something there that's a clue to his past. It isn't until he's going to college in London and living with an Indian family, that memories start coming back to Taj. It's really quite amazing how little things like people's accents, certain smells, and foods are triggers for him. With divine intervention and help from family and friends, he eventually finds his family. His Indian mother never gave up hope about her son being alive and returning someday.
The Orphan Keeper is such an emotional journey for the reader as you feel the grief of a lonely boy, the heartache of a mother losing a son, and the steadfast man who longed to find his family and home. The novel is written so well and so very enthralling it's hard to put down. There are many life lessons for readers about bravery, perseverance, and never losing hope. This version of The Orphan Keeper is a great read for teens and adults. If you haven't read this novel before or it's been a long time since your first read of the original, I highly recommend this book be the next one on your list to read.
October 20, 2023
I listened to the adapted for young readers version of this book because I couldn’t find the original version on audiobook through my library’s Hoopla or Libby apps. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable listen, and as a mother who deeply loves her children, the end had my eyes sweating. My heart both ached and burst for all parties involved. An amazing story.
April 29, 2022
The Orphan Keeper is a story about a boy from India who is kidnapped and placed in an orphanage, and then adopted by a family in the United States. The story begins with Chellamuthu's early childhood, which is a mix of memories and realistic fictionalized events that may have occurred or were typical of this time period and location. While waiting for his father to complete some business, Chellamuthu is kidnapped at about age 7 and taken to an orphanage under the impression that he has no living family. Despite Chellamuthu's attempts to alert the organizers to the fact that he has a family, he is eventually adopted to a family in the states in a fairly sketchy adoption. Chellamuthu's adoptive parents provide him a home and family and support him but also make some mistakes that affect him for most of his life.
This edition is a young readers edition and while I have not read the adult version so I can't make comparisons, I do feel that this book is interesting for both young and adult readers. The book is very well written and easy to comprehend. Despite some jumping back and forth in time periods and locations, it is easy to follow. The storyline is interesting and captivating, especially closer to the end when he begins a search for family. I would recommend this book to middle and highschool grade teachers interested in exploring racism and the "white saviour" mindset that was common in the past and still shines through today. I would also recommend this book to anyone interested in adoption memoirs, stories about finding lost family members and coming of age stories for teens and adults who have experienced traumatic childhoods. I so appreciate Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this awesome book!
This edition is a young readers edition and while I have not read the adult version so I can't make comparisons, I do feel that this book is interesting for both young and adult readers. The book is very well written and easy to comprehend. Despite some jumping back and forth in time periods and locations, it is easy to follow. The storyline is interesting and captivating, especially closer to the end when he begins a search for family. I would recommend this book to middle and highschool grade teachers interested in exploring racism and the "white saviour" mindset that was common in the past and still shines through today. I would also recommend this book to anyone interested in adoption memoirs, stories about finding lost family members and coming of age stories for teens and adults who have experienced traumatic childhoods. I so appreciate Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this awesome book!
October 12, 2022
The Orphan Keeper is an amazing look into the life of Chellamuthu, takes readers on a ride to India, America, and back again. There is so much in the pages of this novel. Emotions, traditions, adaptation, culture and more. It really opens your eyes to what must sometimes happen for these children that are adopted from outside the US. This fresh perspective is something that moved me, and will stay with me for a long time to come.
I highly encourage parents to read this with their children. Discuss some of the key components to the story, and look up some of the cultural facts online. I think it will open both of your eyes to a world we never thought was there, and you'll be better for it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I highly encourage parents to read this with their children. Discuss some of the key components to the story, and look up some of the cultural facts online. I think it will open both of your eyes to a world we never thought was there, and you'll be better for it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 1, 2022
#TheOrphanKeeper #NetGalley
I've read the adult and young reader edition of The Orphan Keeper. The story is well written, and held my interest. The story is told by Chellamuthu, is an eight year old boy from, India. When Chellamuthu is kidnapped, an taken to an orphanage, he tries to tell the director that he has a family, but he won't listen He is adoptedi n the United States. There are life lessons to be learned in this novel.
I've read the adult and young reader edition of The Orphan Keeper. The story is well written, and held my interest. The story is told by Chellamuthu, is an eight year old boy from, India. When Chellamuthu is kidnapped, an taken to an orphanage, he tries to tell the director that he has a family, but he won't listen He is adoptedi n the United States. There are life lessons to be learned in this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
The Orphan Keeper is a mostly true account of a young boy named Chellamuthu who is kidnapped from his family in India. Chellamuthu grew up in Erode, India with his family. When he was about 7, he was kidnapped and taken to an orphanage. The people there treated him well, fed him, and gave him clean clothes. But Chellamuthu knew he had a family and wanted to get back to them. He tried escaping a few times, but eventually realized he wouldn’t be able to make it on his own. He was eventually adopted by a nice family in America. They were told he was 3 and an orphan. When they realized Chellamuthu had a family, they tried getting information from the American consulate in India. Although he had a good life and his family loved him, Chellamuthu always felt he was missing something. His journey of life in America, and back to India is a powerful one. He had many setbacks and hard times, but his dream was always to go back to India and find his family. His story is nothing short of courageous, and amazing.
July 16, 2024
Excellent true story! I didn’t realize I had chosen the version adapted for young readers, but I didn’t even know that until the end of a young boy stolen from his family in India and adopted by an American family is touching, exultant, and a study in determination. I enjoyed learning more about the Indian culture.
August 21, 2024
The story of a child kidnapped from India and adopted by an American family. His journey from India to America and back again as he tries to find his way home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2023
This is a touching story, and it’s crazy to me that it really happened!
It started off a little slow but once I figured out who is who, I was drawn right in.
4.5 stars 😊
It started off a little slow but once I figured out who is who, I was drawn right in.
4.5 stars 😊
June 7, 2024
I completed my first book out of 24 for our Battle of the Books competition for next year! This was an interesting read about Taj’s life. It made me tear up and heart broken for their family. There are some slow parts so I’m interested to see what the students think overall.
April 28, 2022
DRC from Edelweiss and Shadow Mountain publishing
Interesting story (based on a true story) about an Indian boy who is kidnapped, sold to an orphanage, and then adopted by an American family. Chellamuthu is always getting into trouble for being places when he is supposed to be doing other things. On day he is waiting for his father when a friend users him into a van and the van takes off. The next thing he knows, he is in an orphanage. He tries to tell the staff he is not an orphan, but they don't believe him. Time passes and he is adopted by an American family who change his name to Taj and treat him well. It isn't until 10 years later, when he does a semester in London and stays with an Indian family, that parts of his past come back to him. Taj is determined to find his roots and his family. With the help of a business partner and his wife's family, he does.
Interesting story (based on a true story) about an Indian boy who is kidnapped, sold to an orphanage, and then adopted by an American family. Chellamuthu is always getting into trouble for being places when he is supposed to be doing other things. On day he is waiting for his father when a friend users him into a van and the van takes off. The next thing he knows, he is in an orphanage. He tries to tell the staff he is not an orphan, but they don't believe him. Time passes and he is adopted by an American family who change his name to Taj and treat him well. It isn't until 10 years later, when he does a semester in London and stays with an Indian family, that parts of his past come back to him. Taj is determined to find his roots and his family. With the help of a business partner and his wife's family, he does.
April 20, 2022
Chellamuth’s life is forever altered after he is kidnapped from his Southern India village and sold to the orphanage, Lincoln Home for Homeless Children. While Chellamuth is desperately trying to tell the staff of the orphanage that he has a family, his family is on the outside searching for him. Soon Chellamuth is adopted to an American family and thrown into the foreign land, language and lifestyle. After a decade of living a lie and seeking for answers on how to get back to hi homeland, Chellamuth now has a new name, and has met another Indian family who brings him back to his culture.
Talk about a page turning, tear filled time with this one! This is based on a true story and is filled with so much emotion and love. Chellamuth is a beautiful young boy who grows into a strong young man and never looses hope and his heart for his family. So happy that this book was adapted for a younger audience!
Talk about a page turning, tear filled time with this one! This is based on a true story and is filled with so much emotion and love. Chellamuth is a beautiful young boy who grows into a strong young man and never looses hope and his heart for his family. So happy that this book was adapted for a younger audience!
April 16, 2022
This novel is based on a true story.
It is intense at times, heartbreaking and yet a hopeful story.
A seven year old boy, named Chellamuthu is kidnapped from his small, poor village in India and taken to an orphanage.
He is old enough to understand that he has been taken and is missing his family, yet is unable to escape and return to his home despite attempts while in this "home" he has been taken to.
He is adopted by an American couple in the US and eventually learns the language and is well taken care of.
Yet... he knows and remembers snippets at times of his past, and wonders if he will ever figure out what really happened over in India.
I truly enjoyed this story.
It is well written and definitely an intriguing story that held my interest and had me entwined in Chellamuthu's life.
It is intense at times, heartbreaking and yet a hopeful story.
A seven year old boy, named Chellamuthu is kidnapped from his small, poor village in India and taken to an orphanage.
He is old enough to understand that he has been taken and is missing his family, yet is unable to escape and return to his home despite attempts while in this "home" he has been taken to.
He is adopted by an American couple in the US and eventually learns the language and is well taken care of.
Yet... he knows and remembers snippets at times of his past, and wonders if he will ever figure out what really happened over in India.
I truly enjoyed this story.
It is well written and definitely an intriguing story that held my interest and had me entwined in Chellamuthu's life.
November 16, 2022
The Orphan Keeper (Middle-Grader Version) is an amazing story! Chellamuthu was only eight years old when he found himself pulled into a van, kidnapped, and being driven hours away from home. He’s taken to an orphanage where he desperately tries to tell everyone he doesn’t belong—he has a mother and a family!! No one listens. In fact, the orphanage adopts him out to live with a family in the United States. It isn’t until much later in his life that he begins to question what has happened to him and starts his journey to find his long-lost family.
Mr. Wright’s masterful storytelling skills shine throughout this book. He weaves an amazing tale that sucks you in at the very beginning and keeps you turning pages until the end. The writing style is engaging and easy to read and understand. The descriptions of Chellamuthu’s hometown, the orphanage, and England make you feel as if you are right there with him.
The characters make this story! Chellamuthu may be a bit of a troublemaker, but he comes across as such a relatable kid. He wants to fit in and have friends. His efforts at the orphanage to help the other children melted my heart. The older, college-age Taj isn’t quite as endearing. He’s a little harder to relate to because he comes across as bitter, angry, and apathetic. Then, when you get to the older Taj, he kind of finds himself and you just want to help him in his quest.
This book is based on a true story. It happened. It’s crazy and sounds like a Hollywood movie, but it makes it even better that it’s true. This story may seem depressing at first, but I love how much hope and love and friendship and family shine through also.
This is the middle-grader version of this book. I think the middle-graders and YA can learn a lot from this book! There are some great lessons, and it’s always good to learn about different people and different ways of living. It’s rated PG+ (no profanity, “intimacy,” or violence but some heavier themes) and recommended for middle-graders and up. You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.
Mr. Wright’s masterful storytelling skills shine throughout this book. He weaves an amazing tale that sucks you in at the very beginning and keeps you turning pages until the end. The writing style is engaging and easy to read and understand. The descriptions of Chellamuthu’s hometown, the orphanage, and England make you feel as if you are right there with him.
The characters make this story! Chellamuthu may be a bit of a troublemaker, but he comes across as such a relatable kid. He wants to fit in and have friends. His efforts at the orphanage to help the other children melted my heart. The older, college-age Taj isn’t quite as endearing. He’s a little harder to relate to because he comes across as bitter, angry, and apathetic. Then, when you get to the older Taj, he kind of finds himself and you just want to help him in his quest.
This book is based on a true story. It happened. It’s crazy and sounds like a Hollywood movie, but it makes it even better that it’s true. This story may seem depressing at first, but I love how much hope and love and friendship and family shine through also.
This is the middle-grader version of this book. I think the middle-graders and YA can learn a lot from this book! There are some great lessons, and it’s always good to learn about different people and different ways of living. It’s rated PG+ (no profanity, “intimacy,” or violence but some heavier themes) and recommended for middle-graders and up. You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.
July 13, 2022
Every once in a while you come across a book that helps you realize what a blessed life you lead.
This edition of The Orphan Keeper was written as an adaptation for young readers. It follows the life of Chellamuthu, a young Indian boy who is very good at getting into trouble. Because of some of his associations, he is kidnapped and adopted by a family in the United States.
This story is really about hope. His mother in India prays for her lost son, while his family in the United States gives him an education that eventually helps his family in India. I felt good as the story came to its conclusion.
This book will take children on an adventure in India, to a childhood in the United States, and to school in London. I am reminded of the chorus to the song "The Circle of Life."
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own,
This edition of The Orphan Keeper was written as an adaptation for young readers. It follows the life of Chellamuthu, a young Indian boy who is very good at getting into trouble. Because of some of his associations, he is kidnapped and adopted by a family in the United States.
This story is really about hope. His mother in India prays for her lost son, while his family in the United States gives him an education that eventually helps his family in India. I felt good as the story came to its conclusion.
This book will take children on an adventure in India, to a childhood in the United States, and to school in London. I am reminded of the chorus to the song "The Circle of Life."
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own,
October 5, 2022
Plot:
Chellamuthu looks like a typical Indian child, growing up in the streets of Erode, India. His mother loved him, his father wanted him to go down the right path, feet were constantly dirty, and he was always getting into trouble. Chellamuthu may not have the american standard of life, but he was happy. His parents practice traditional teachings, such as burning of the feet when Chellamuthu was going down a dark path stealing from vendors. Chellamuthu knew his family was not rich, but he was loved. So when an older boy lured Chellamuthu away to a van, which drove him three hours away to an orphanage, Chellamuthu knew it was a mistake. Sure he ate better, had clean clothing, and a comfortable mat to sleep on each night, Chellamuthu knew he did not belong, that he had a family to go back to. Eli, the Commissioner for the Lincoln Home of Homeless Children, tried to explain to Chellamuthu that his parents could not take care of him anymore, thus selling him to this home which was going to adopt him out to American couples; he knew they were lying. Only once Eli had him, passport in hand, on a plane to Linda and Fred Rowland, that Chellamuthu knew his life was over. Going by an easier to pronounce name of Taj Khyber Rowland, Taj forgot all of his Indian roots, and grew up the all american boy. Feeling distant from his American family, Taj does a year abroad to London, where he begins to relearn his Indian culture. Determined to find out what happened to him, Taj begins to embrace his Indian side, dates Indian girls, and scrap and save to get himself back into Indian, and tries to piece together where he came from, and who his parents are.
Thoughts:
Camron Wright rewrites the tale of Chellamuthu into a young-readers novel, so middle grades youth can also enjoy this awe inspiring story. Starting the novel off with a “dear young readers” letter from Taj, the story is told from a third person point of view of Chellamuthu as he grows up in India, his way to the United States, becoming Taj Rowland, and how as an adult he goes back to India to figure out who he was. As this story takes place both in India and the United States, Wright writes in a sense of the importance of Taj’s multiculturalism. How he is both Indian, but also American, and how those sides of him make up who he is as a whole. You really feel the sense of Taj being lost, both in America as he was the only Indian for miles, but also lost in London/India surrounded by a culture he was unfamiliar with. This book, about Taj’s life, has the underlying message of the quest to claim your identity, and discover who you are through going back to your heritage and roots. With easy to understand writing, Wright keeps this book smooth by going through Taj’s life at a pretty rapid pace. With twists and turns to keep the plot interesting, you really feel like you grew up with Taj after meeting him at age 7, and leaving with him as an adult. With pictures included to show readers Taj’s real life, this book is worth the read for young readers and others.
Chellamuthu looks like a typical Indian child, growing up in the streets of Erode, India. His mother loved him, his father wanted him to go down the right path, feet were constantly dirty, and he was always getting into trouble. Chellamuthu may not have the american standard of life, but he was happy. His parents practice traditional teachings, such as burning of the feet when Chellamuthu was going down a dark path stealing from vendors. Chellamuthu knew his family was not rich, but he was loved. So when an older boy lured Chellamuthu away to a van, which drove him three hours away to an orphanage, Chellamuthu knew it was a mistake. Sure he ate better, had clean clothing, and a comfortable mat to sleep on each night, Chellamuthu knew he did not belong, that he had a family to go back to. Eli, the Commissioner for the Lincoln Home of Homeless Children, tried to explain to Chellamuthu that his parents could not take care of him anymore, thus selling him to this home which was going to adopt him out to American couples; he knew they were lying. Only once Eli had him, passport in hand, on a plane to Linda and Fred Rowland, that Chellamuthu knew his life was over. Going by an easier to pronounce name of Taj Khyber Rowland, Taj forgot all of his Indian roots, and grew up the all american boy. Feeling distant from his American family, Taj does a year abroad to London, where he begins to relearn his Indian culture. Determined to find out what happened to him, Taj begins to embrace his Indian side, dates Indian girls, and scrap and save to get himself back into Indian, and tries to piece together where he came from, and who his parents are.
Thoughts:
Camron Wright rewrites the tale of Chellamuthu into a young-readers novel, so middle grades youth can also enjoy this awe inspiring story. Starting the novel off with a “dear young readers” letter from Taj, the story is told from a third person point of view of Chellamuthu as he grows up in India, his way to the United States, becoming Taj Rowland, and how as an adult he goes back to India to figure out who he was. As this story takes place both in India and the United States, Wright writes in a sense of the importance of Taj’s multiculturalism. How he is both Indian, but also American, and how those sides of him make up who he is as a whole. You really feel the sense of Taj being lost, both in America as he was the only Indian for miles, but also lost in London/India surrounded by a culture he was unfamiliar with. This book, about Taj’s life, has the underlying message of the quest to claim your identity, and discover who you are through going back to your heritage and roots. With easy to understand writing, Wright keeps this book smooth by going through Taj’s life at a pretty rapid pace. With twists and turns to keep the plot interesting, you really feel like you grew up with Taj after meeting him at age 7, and leaving with him as an adult. With pictures included to show readers Taj’s real life, this book is worth the read for young readers and others.
October 4, 2022
The Orphan Keeper
Adapted for Young Readers
By Camron Wright
Chellamuthu had a family but, like many left to their own devices, was getting himself into the wrong crowd. This unfortunate troublemaking group of boys leads to Chellamuthu being stolen off the streets of his village in India. When Chellamuthu is bartered off to a home for orphans, he tries to get those in charge to realize that he has a family and needs to get home.
But Chellamuthu is a commodity who is about to be sent to a family wanting a child. But not to a family in India but one far away in America. Years pass, and Chellamuthu becomes a blending of his old and new life with a new identity and a new family. But can he truly leave behind who he was?
The Orphan Keeper is a moving story about a little boy, lost, who searched and found what he was looking for. Was he better for the trials and losses he experienced? Or were the lost years something that would forever mark him, keeping him from truly ever being part of either world that he knew? This book is based on the true events of Chellamuthu's (Taj's) life. There are definite moments of heartbreak as a family is torn apart, and yet there are moments of triumph, as well, as Chellamuthu becomes Taj and his story comes full circle.
This book is adapted for younger readers and recommended for those 8 years and older. When it is time for book reports that are supposed to be biographies or from another culture, keep this book in mind as it fits both well. This book doesn't come across as dry or boring, in my opinion. It is well written and well-detailed without getting stuck in the detailing. I highly recommend it to readers, whether they be 8 years old or 88 years.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.
Adapted for Young Readers
By Camron Wright
Chellamuthu had a family but, like many left to their own devices, was getting himself into the wrong crowd. This unfortunate troublemaking group of boys leads to Chellamuthu being stolen off the streets of his village in India. When Chellamuthu is bartered off to a home for orphans, he tries to get those in charge to realize that he has a family and needs to get home.
But Chellamuthu is a commodity who is about to be sent to a family wanting a child. But not to a family in India but one far away in America. Years pass, and Chellamuthu becomes a blending of his old and new life with a new identity and a new family. But can he truly leave behind who he was?
The Orphan Keeper is a moving story about a little boy, lost, who searched and found what he was looking for. Was he better for the trials and losses he experienced? Or were the lost years something that would forever mark him, keeping him from truly ever being part of either world that he knew? This book is based on the true events of Chellamuthu's (Taj's) life. There are definite moments of heartbreak as a family is torn apart, and yet there are moments of triumph, as well, as Chellamuthu becomes Taj and his story comes full circle.
This book is adapted for younger readers and recommended for those 8 years and older. When it is time for book reports that are supposed to be biographies or from another culture, keep this book in mind as it fits both well. This book doesn't come across as dry or boring, in my opinion. It is well written and well-detailed without getting stuck in the detailing. I highly recommend it to readers, whether they be 8 years old or 88 years.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.
June 25, 2022
I would first like to thank Netgalley for granting me permission to read the early release of the book The Orphan Keeper by Camron Wright. The Orphan Keeper was such a compelling story and the fact that is based on a true story makes it even more incredible. It has elements of just about every genre in it: Action/Adventure; Historical Fiction; Multi-Cultural Fiction; Mystery Fiction; Romance Fiction; Realistic Fiction and Biography/memoir. It's horrifying to realize that this situation actually happens on a daily basis in India, but, alas, it does. The very beginning of the book was able to explain the psychological trauma that poor Chellamuthu went through just to survive the whole ordeal. It was heartbreaking to read about. It was interesting to see how that trauma affected him when he became a teenager. The search for his home and his family was intense. Once I reached that part of the book, I could not put it down. I was so invested in the characters that I did not want to wait for the reunion, and I just kept reading the book as fast as I could. The ending was a complete full circle to the story. The book also contained pictures at the end of the story which was just the icing on top of the cake. I loved seeing the photographs of the actual people the characters were based on. This book was the young adult adaptation, so it was written for a younger audience. I would recommend this book to anyone from middle school and above and would give this book a Five out of Five stars.
July 16, 2022
This book was really, really emotional, and it opened my eyes to a problem that I wasn't even aware the world had (seriously, I truly didn't realize it occurred).
Chellamuthu is barely 8, but with his parents working tirelessly to make ends meet, he's able to get up to a lot of mischief. One day, as a consequence of his misadventures, he gets kidnapped and sold to an orphanage - where no one will believe that he has an actual family. And from there, he's off to the States via adoption. No one in the USA understands him, and what's more, he's bullied because of his dark skin. By the time we fast forward to 10 years later, he's completely forgotten his heritage - his dark skin is the only indication he's not American-born. Now known as Taj Rowland, he's a rebellious teenager intent on finding his place in the world. With his journey of self-discovery comes a series of misadventures and a truly satisfying and emotional conclusion.
Multiple times have I come close to crying - and actually have shed a few tears. The author does an amazing job of turning Chellamuthu/Taj's biography into an incredible and compelling story filled with lush details. He makes the story so heartfelt and moving, and I truly hope that this book raises more awareness to such a serious cause.
Note: I think the cover looks better suited for a fantasy. I love it, but I just don't think it represents the book very well.
*4.4 stars
Chellamuthu is barely 8, but with his parents working tirelessly to make ends meet, he's able to get up to a lot of mischief. One day, as a consequence of his misadventures, he gets kidnapped and sold to an orphanage - where no one will believe that he has an actual family. And from there, he's off to the States via adoption. No one in the USA understands him, and what's more, he's bullied because of his dark skin. By the time we fast forward to 10 years later, he's completely forgotten his heritage - his dark skin is the only indication he's not American-born. Now known as Taj Rowland, he's a rebellious teenager intent on finding his place in the world. With his journey of self-discovery comes a series of misadventures and a truly satisfying and emotional conclusion.
Multiple times have I come close to crying - and actually have shed a few tears. The author does an amazing job of turning Chellamuthu/Taj's biography into an incredible and compelling story filled with lush details. He makes the story so heartfelt and moving, and I truly hope that this book raises more awareness to such a serious cause.
Note: I think the cover looks better suited for a fantasy. I love it, but I just don't think it represents the book very well.
*4.4 stars
March 15, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced e-arc of this book.
This book captured my heart from the beginning. We follow a little boy in India. Challamuthu is his name and he is a character. He gets into the typical kind of mischief that little boys do but he also has a very tender and sweet heart as he helps his mother care for his baby sister who is very sick. One day while he is waiting for his dad, he is grabbed and taken away. He is taken to a place that claims to be an orphanage. Challamuthu tells them he has a family and is not an orphan but they would not listen. He tries to escape but his kind heart brings him back to the orphanage. He is then sold to a family in America who is looking to adopt. The story then follows him as he adjusts to life in Amercia. He soon forgets many things about his childhood and decides to embrace his new family. When he is in college he longs to connect with his Indian culture and finds his way home again.
This is a very well written story. I enjoyed the character growth of Challamuthu. I was happy that it ended on a happy note. It also caused me to think about the many adoptions that take place and a part of me wonders if they are really legitimate. How heartbreaking to be taken from you home, even though you are given to a loving family, there is no replacement for home. Great book but if adoption is a hard issue for you it may not be the best.
This book captured my heart from the beginning. We follow a little boy in India. Challamuthu is his name and he is a character. He gets into the typical kind of mischief that little boys do but he also has a very tender and sweet heart as he helps his mother care for his baby sister who is very sick. One day while he is waiting for his dad, he is grabbed and taken away. He is taken to a place that claims to be an orphanage. Challamuthu tells them he has a family and is not an orphan but they would not listen. He tries to escape but his kind heart brings him back to the orphanage. He is then sold to a family in America who is looking to adopt. The story then follows him as he adjusts to life in Amercia. He soon forgets many things about his childhood and decides to embrace his new family. When he is in college he longs to connect with his Indian culture and finds his way home again.
This is a very well written story. I enjoyed the character growth of Challamuthu. I was happy that it ended on a happy note. It also caused me to think about the many adoptions that take place and a part of me wonders if they are really legitimate. How heartbreaking to be taken from you home, even though you are given to a loving family, there is no replacement for home. Great book but if adoption is a hard issue for you it may not be the best.
September 21, 2022
The Orphan Keeper is now thankfully in Young Adult format and is a wonderful, wonderful true story about a young boy from India who was kidnapped, sold to an orphanage and then sent to America to live with his adopted parents. The writing is gorgeous, the details are rich and emotive and the story itself is incredible! It took my heart on a roller coaster ride and entranced me the entire time. Not only is the kidnapping story one of terrible heartache but also of fierce determination, cultural and racial attitudes of the main character and others, what family means and the promise of hope. Though geared for youth, I enjoyed it tremendously as an adult.
Chellamuth was born in India. Described in detail are his parents and home life, one of poverty. He was kidnapped at the age of eight and sold to an orphanage. He was then sent to live with his new adoptive parents in America where his life could not be more different. Even his name changed to Taj for ease. Eventually as a teen and young adult living on his own in London he believed himself to be Indian in colour only. He started having flashbacks and with the woman of his dreams was compelled to returned to India to find his family and roots.
My favourite aspects of the story are multi-fold including learning more about India's culture, reflecting on the horrible reality of kidnapping there, the writing style, suspense and the vivid details. The photographs and letters are a lovely personal touch as are the author's notes of what happens after.
My sincere thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this extraordinary book, one that should be on every reader's list!
Chellamuth was born in India. Described in detail are his parents and home life, one of poverty. He was kidnapped at the age of eight and sold to an orphanage. He was then sent to live with his new adoptive parents in America where his life could not be more different. Even his name changed to Taj for ease. Eventually as a teen and young adult living on his own in London he believed himself to be Indian in colour only. He started having flashbacks and with the woman of his dreams was compelled to returned to India to find his family and roots.
My favourite aspects of the story are multi-fold including learning more about India's culture, reflecting on the horrible reality of kidnapping there, the writing style, suspense and the vivid details. The photographs and letters are a lovely personal touch as are the author's notes of what happens after.
My sincere thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this extraordinary book, one that should be on every reader's list!
May 20, 2022
NOTE: I was given early access to this manuscript in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. Scheduled Publication: October 4, 2022.
An important clarification. This review references the YOUNG ADULT version of a longer adult novel by the same name, THE ORPHAN KEEPER, that was published in 2016. And I, for one, am glad this story is now accessible to a younger audience.
Based on a true story (there are photos at the end of the book), the novel tells the story of one child in India who is adopted and raised in the United States. Chellamuthu’s transition from Indian poverty to American middle class isn’t what you might expect. Though not a victim of physical abuse or mistreatment, Chellamuthu’s is a victim of clandestine and economically-driven adoption practices that unfairly uproot a powerless seven-year-old boy, who just happens to be in the wrong place and the wrong time.
It’s a rich and at times suspenseful story about someone who struggles with identity and often feels like an outsider. About his internal struggle between two cultures and about a young person trying to reckon two parts of oneself. There’s a protagonist that is easy for younger readers to identify with and the novel raises some challenging questions to ponder about diversity, race, and identity. Not to mention the issues involved in adopting a child of a different racial or cultural identity.
This is a plot-driven book with plenty of action that follows Chellamuthu from child to adult. It would be an excellent book to assign to a middle school class to read and discuss as a group.
An important clarification. This review references the YOUNG ADULT version of a longer adult novel by the same name, THE ORPHAN KEEPER, that was published in 2016. And I, for one, am glad this story is now accessible to a younger audience.
Based on a true story (there are photos at the end of the book), the novel tells the story of one child in India who is adopted and raised in the United States. Chellamuthu’s transition from Indian poverty to American middle class isn’t what you might expect. Though not a victim of physical abuse or mistreatment, Chellamuthu’s is a victim of clandestine and economically-driven adoption practices that unfairly uproot a powerless seven-year-old boy, who just happens to be in the wrong place and the wrong time.
It’s a rich and at times suspenseful story about someone who struggles with identity and often feels like an outsider. About his internal struggle between two cultures and about a young person trying to reckon two parts of oneself. There’s a protagonist that is easy for younger readers to identify with and the novel raises some challenging questions to ponder about diversity, race, and identity. Not to mention the issues involved in adopting a child of a different racial or cultural identity.
This is a plot-driven book with plenty of action that follows Chellamuthu from child to adult. It would be an excellent book to assign to a middle school class to read and discuss as a group.
June 5, 2022
This book tells the novelized real life story of the main character. First published in 2017 as an adult novel, it has now been adapted for young readers, the version I read. I think it worked well as a young readers version although perhaps some of the things that I found just average about the plot and the characterization could come from a possibly simplistic adaptation. Having not read the original version, I do not know if this is true or not.
This book can be split into two primary portions, childhood, and young adult years. The main character loves his family but struggles in the endemic poverty of his small Indian village as well as the alcoholism of his father. One day he finds himself kidnapped by people who work for a Christian orphanage many hours away and through this, even though he repeatedly tells people that he has a family, ends up adopted by a couple in the United States. The second half of the book picks up as he is about to head to college and finds himself in a study aboard program in London and through an interesting turn of events returning to India and finding his birth family.
This book read quickly. I did not mind the read but I did not really feel challenged in any way either.
This book can be split into two primary portions, childhood, and young adult years. The main character loves his family but struggles in the endemic poverty of his small Indian village as well as the alcoholism of his father. One day he finds himself kidnapped by people who work for a Christian orphanage many hours away and through this, even though he repeatedly tells people that he has a family, ends up adopted by a couple in the United States. The second half of the book picks up as he is about to head to college and finds himself in a study aboard program in London and through an interesting turn of events returning to India and finding his birth family.
This book read quickly. I did not mind the read but I did not really feel challenged in any way either.
September 19, 2022
The Orphan Keeper by Cameron Wright
Youth Adaptation
I will preface this by saying I have yet to read the original version so I don’t know how it compares. However, this book has been on my TBR for years so when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the adapted version, I jumped on it.
The Orphan Keeper is a fictionalized story based on the real life experiences of a boy kidnapped from his family in India and then adopted by a couple in the United States.
I wish I had read the story sooner! It is so good. It’s hard to grabble with my feelings on this one. Losing a child is a mother’s worst nightmare. What Taj experienced, horrible. And while it could have been so much worse, that doesn’t discount the awfulness of the situation. Torn from the only home you’ve ever known and taken across the globe to entirely new culture where there’s not a single person who looks like you or speaks your language, would be enough to break anyone. But this story is laced with faith and filled with hope. Truly breathtaking.
The story felt a little disjointed at times and I still have a few questions but the writing is beautiful and the journey worth it.
Content: poverty, theft, kidnapping, death
Youth Adaptation
I will preface this by saying I have yet to read the original version so I don’t know how it compares. However, this book has been on my TBR for years so when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the adapted version, I jumped on it.
The Orphan Keeper is a fictionalized story based on the real life experiences of a boy kidnapped from his family in India and then adopted by a couple in the United States.
I wish I had read the story sooner! It is so good. It’s hard to grabble with my feelings on this one. Losing a child is a mother’s worst nightmare. What Taj experienced, horrible. And while it could have been so much worse, that doesn’t discount the awfulness of the situation. Torn from the only home you’ve ever known and taken across the globe to entirely new culture where there’s not a single person who looks like you or speaks your language, would be enough to break anyone. But this story is laced with faith and filled with hope. Truly breathtaking.
The story felt a little disjointed at times and I still have a few questions but the writing is beautiful and the journey worth it.
Content: poverty, theft, kidnapping, death
October 31, 2022
Language: PG (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Seven-year-old Chellamuthu gets into a lot of trouble for stealing money, playing with elephants instead of getting his sister’s medicine, and generally not being where he should be. When his father tells Chellamuthu to stay put, he isn’t very surprised to come back and find his son is gone. But this time, Chellamuthu has been sold to an orphanage, and he might not ever make it home again.
Chellamuthu is a real boy who was kidnapped and then adopted by an American family who renamed him Taj. This book tells his story of being denied his family, his language, and his culture and his journey to rediscover who he is and where he came from. Taj’s story is miraculous. I couldn’t believe how things came together – though after much struggle and effort on Taj’s part – and I rejoiced with him and his families after every triumph.
Chellamuthu/Taj and his biological family are Indian, and Taj’s adoptive family is American. The other characters are Indian, American, and English. The language rating is for non-English swearing; the mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, and implied sexual abuse; and the violence rating is for child abuse.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Seven-year-old Chellamuthu gets into a lot of trouble for stealing money, playing with elephants instead of getting his sister’s medicine, and generally not being where he should be. When his father tells Chellamuthu to stay put, he isn’t very surprised to come back and find his son is gone. But this time, Chellamuthu has been sold to an orphanage, and he might not ever make it home again.
Chellamuthu is a real boy who was kidnapped and then adopted by an American family who renamed him Taj. This book tells his story of being denied his family, his language, and his culture and his journey to rediscover who he is and where he came from. Taj’s story is miraculous. I couldn’t believe how things came together – though after much struggle and effort on Taj’s part – and I rejoiced with him and his families after every triumph.
Chellamuthu/Taj and his biological family are Indian, and Taj’s adoptive family is American. The other characters are Indian, American, and English. The language rating is for non-English swearing; the mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, and implied sexual abuse; and the violence rating is for child abuse.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
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