Thirst

Gr 3-6–Versatile narrator Dutt imbues protagonist Minni with affecting tenacity as the 12-year-old faces a barrage of challenges. Her older brother is sent away from their Mumbai shack for his safety after witnessing—with Minni and another friend—water thieves depleting their already reduced neighborhood supply. Her ill mother leaves next, hoping to recover away from the city with her sister, leaving Minni to be a rich family’s servant in Ma’s stead. Minni’s exams are imminent, but her study time dwindles. When Minni recognizes the powerful thief, she must decide how much she’s willing to risk for justice. Dutt expertly channels Minni’s contagious wonder at discovering what might seem quotidian to privileged readers: the computer class her mother made possible; her teacher’s similarly difficult growing up; the wealth of her mother’s employers, including taps that instantly spout fresh water.