THIRST by Varsha Bajaj

 

Minni lives with her parents and her older brother in Mumbai. Life isn't easy. Her father works at his tea stand from early morning until late at night every day. Her mother takes care of the family and also works cleaning for one of the rich families living in the wealthy part of the city. Minni and her brother attend school with the hope of being successful later in life.

The biggest problem Minni's family and all the families in the city is having enough water. The rich folks have plenty of water that flows freely from their taps, but the poor people have to have hope each day that the public taps will have what they need. There is such a shortage that people are stealing water.

One evening Minni and her brother and his friend actually witness a group stealing water. They aren't sure if they were seen by the thieves so to be safe, her brother is sent to the country to work on a relative's farm. At the same time, Minni's mother falls ill and decides to leave the city, too. She goes to stay with her mother to rest and heal. That leaves Minni and her father to keep things together at home. Minni even takes on her mother's cleaning job, so she doesn't lose the job when she returns.

Author Varsha Bajaj grew up in Mumbai, India. She uses her personal experience and knowledge to create a realistic story about Minni and her family. THIRST is a perfect read-aloud with plenty of topics for discussion of a different way of life in another part of the world.