The Secret Children of Mumbai: Inspirational story of courage, resilience, determination and hope. (The Secret Children of India)

What a wonderful book! I have just finished reading it and loved every page! There is so much to enjoy. That the book is based on reality is upsetting, but the author brings light and hope to a difficult topic.There were a number of things that I loved! Firstly, the excellent descriptive writing, so that you are fully immersed in the world that these children live in (you are taken on a journey with them). Secondly, the amazing characters, especially the children - all of whom you find yourself unequivocally vested in. I enjoyed the individuality of each one, and I liked that not all their choices were straightforward; the theme of morality throughout is well done. Thirdly, I loved being kept on my toes; the suspense is skilfully managed, as is the interconnectivity of all the key story lines. There are mysteries that are unravelled and clues carefully scattered along the way, so that when the end is revealed, I had worked it out, but only just! Cleverly written, insightful and thought provoking with many strings to its bow, I very highly recommend!

I absolutely loved The Secret Children of Mumbai by Caroline Boxall. This book truly captures the realism of Indian street Children and their struggles. The writing is so vivid and powerful, I felt like I was right there on the streets of Mumbai. The storyline is gripping and kept me turning the pages when I should have been turning off the light! And the characters are so well developed that I found myself either rooting for them or despising them. Overall, a fantastic read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a compelling and emotionally resonant story.

What a wonderful book, introducing a young (and not so young) audience to an important topic of the plight of street children in India. Using a really engaging story and characters that are believable and relatable. The reader finds themself right in the story hoping that life will be kind to the children as you follow the different twists and turns of their lives on the streets.The ending was just perfect, realistic but also positive.Lovely to read a story that doesn't make you think about yourself but instead consider the lives of others who may not have the same privileges and opportunities we can easily take for granted.

The latest story Caroline has written is an action packed adventure that realistically portrays the traumatic lives of street children in cities in India. She has created very likeable characters that readers can both relate to and feel great empathy towards.

The Secret Children of Mumbai is a captivating read. The author transports the reader into such a different world, enabling them to visualise the thrilling adventures as they unfold and feel the emotional rollercoaster that the children encounter.The book sheds light on the hardships of the street children but also how amazingly resourceful and resilient they can be. The need for them to stay together and care for each other is paramount.This compelling read will stay for ever more in the minds of young readers and highlight how compassionate and unconditionally kind some people can be. It will ignite their imagination and encourage them to question why another person’s world can be so different.

I absolutely adored this sequel and genuinely couldn't wait to read more to find out if the siblings reunited. In my opinion, a gripping read for both adults and children and a chain of interest for both. I read this on holiday and was sad to have ended it ! It's also impressive that this had been written collaboratively with children, giving it such a personal touch. I couldn't recommend this any more.

What a treat. Great story with a lot of pace, great characters and content. I finished every chapter wanting to dive straight into the next. Although the topic is horribly tough, the way it is written makes it accessible, very informative and super interesting whilst also being a lot of fun. There are a lot of funny observations and comments together with the harsh reality of these poor kids. What a great way to shed light on this topic. I am really happy I read it and will recommend it to many of my friends.

Siblings and street children Mariam and Rish, are back and continuing their story in Mumbai, where they become separated upon arrival. Mariam finds shelter by Mumbai station, whilst Rish falls in with a group of boys who make their way by stealing and glue sniffing.The siblings take it in turn to tell us their story, as they try to survive life on the streets, dodging people who mean them harm. Both children are full of much needed resilience, but life doesn’t always go the way they expect it to.This story is sensitively told, and whilst the brutality of life on the streets is explored, it is suitable for ages 9 and up. A very raw and human story, as is book 1, and great for developing an understanding of child rights. Thoroughly recommended.

The characters (especially) and the plot(s) from the first two books of the children’s’ adventures were both spell-binding and EDUCATIONAL! Hopefully, Ms. Boxall has an agent who is encouraging Hollywood producers to pick up on this (already) engaging series! Great reads (both books) and as enjoyable to both children (>12) and adults!

This book is a suspenseful, thrilling adventure told from the perspective of children who live on the streets of Mumbai.The plot twists and excitement will captivate readers, but the story also helps build awareness of the struggles and hardships faced by children in these circumstances. Wonderful for middle grade readers, but I enjoyed it very much as an adult, as well!