BOYS WITHOUT NAMES

For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. So they must flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family until school starts, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.

But Gopal has been deceived. There is no factory but, instead, a small, stuffy sweatshop, where he and five other boys are forced to make beaded frames for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. In this atmosphere of distrust and isolation, locked in a rundown building in an unknown part of the city, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again.

Then, late one night when Gopal decides to share kahanis, or stories, he realizes that storytelling might be the boys' key to holding on to their sense of self and their hope for any kind of future. If he can make them feel more like brothers than enemies, their lives will be more bearable in the shop—and they might even find a way to escape.

Comments

[Reagan]

Dear Kashmira Sheth,

I'm a seventh grader at Christ the Lord Lutheran School in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Our class read Boys Without Names and Keeping Corner. I thought they were both great books. I didn't think it was fair how women were being treated in India. In Boys Without Names I liked how the story played out, especially how Gopal helped all the boys grow to trust each other and helped them get rescued from Scarface. I was wondering what happened to Baba when he was gone and why he disappeared. I think you should write a sequel to Boys Without Names and Keeping Corner to tell what happened after they ended. Thank you and keep writing!

[kashmira Sheth]

Thanks for writing. I'm not sure about writing a sequel my last novels but I do plan to keep on writing!
In the previous post I have addressed my thought about what might have happened to Gopal's baba.
Kashmira

[Lindsey Miller]

Hi Kashmira.

I loved this book and have recommended it to many people. It's really important to be informed about things like this happening in India and throughout the world.

I happen to run a couple of sizable book clubs on Facebook and Goodreads, and we're reading and discussing this book later this year. Let me know if you want to participate in an author Q&A.

Also, I've reviewed your book on my online YA lit editorial. Here's a link if you want to read the review.

http://www.lindseyslibrary.com/2010/01/boys-without-names/

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lindsey

[kashmira Sheth]

Hi Lindsey,

What an insightful review you wrote! Thanks so much for your interest in Boys Without Names. The story was tough to tell but I'm glad I was able to.
I would love to do author Q&A. Let me know how to go about it.

You can contact me via email ksheth@tds.net or by phone 608-833-7338
Best,
Kashmira

[Karen from Kansas]

I read this for the Teacher's Choice Award nominations. It was fabulous and should be at the top of the list! It made me think and made me thankful for my freedom. I hope that readers will be many, and the impact will be huge! Thanks! PS - What can we do to help right now?

[Kashmira Sheth]

Karen,
Thanks for writing to me about Boys without Names. This was a tough subject to write and read about, but obviously nothing compared to what millions of children are subjected to. I have listed some websites at the end of my book that are doing things to help children. Please check out UNICEF and Bachpana Bacaho and the antislavery websites. Also, as an individual I have stopped buying cheap goods, especially knickknacks that I think might be made by a young child. This problem is so widespread that it is difficult to avoid all the goods made by children like Gopal. I believe education will help these children to break the cycle of poverty so giving any help to educate these children would be a huge step in the right direction.

[Phoenix]

What holiday do you mention in boys without names? (please reply fast)

[Kashmira Sheth]

I've mentioned Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi in my book.
Kashmira

[Zachary]

Great book, but in the end you say that Gopal never asked where his father was when he disappeared, and we never found out. What happened to Gopal's father or are we supposed to guess and come up with our own theories?

[Kashmira Sheth]

I wanted my readers to come up with their own theories. Baba didn't have any money, he had never been to a big city, he was illiterate, and also the monsoon had arrived. So anything was possible, right?
What do you think happened to Baba?

[Zachary]

Well since he came home looking older and thinner, I think he got lost and did not have enough money to eat. He got off at the wrong stop and had to walk home, and probably arrived just shortly before Gopal did, that is why he looked old and thin. He had lots of life in his eyes, so he had hope of finding home, asked around found a few people he trusted who lead him in the right direction. Chachahu finally leads him in the right direction and the police hunt for Baba is off since he found his way himself filled with hope to see his family.

[Kashmira Sheth]

Excellent!
The monsoon rain could have flooded some of the area (it usually does)and Baba could not get around easily. It may have scared him because he was not used to such rain. (In the rural area the dry land soaks up the rain quickly).
Thanks for writing to me.

[Zachary]

From what I read Gopal was 11, and Amar was 6. How old were Barish, Kabir, Roshan and Sahil. From what I guessed Barish was the oldest, younger than Jatin, Kabir was second oldest but how old were the other boys, was Roshan and Sahil older or younger than Gopal.

So my guess is
Barish 14-15
Kabir 13-14
Gopal 11(we know this for sure)
Roshah 10-12
Sahil 10-12
Amar 6

[Kashmira Sheth]

Your guess is right. I didn't specify some kids ages because they probably didn't know it. I think of Barish as no more than 14 and the rest of them are younger them him.
Due to lack of food they also look much younger.

[Chris Olson]

This seems like a great book. I am interested in having Kashmira Sheth do an author visit to the school that I work at. I can be contacted directly at 608-845-4210.

[Megan]

Hi,
I really love your books Boys Without Names and Blue Jasmine. Was you childhood like Seema? Did others bully you?

[Megan]

Hi,
I was wondering, do you think i could read KEEPING CORNER even if it's 12 and up?? I really want to, because I just know that it'll be a great book and Gandhi is in it!!!!! He is really an inspiration to me!

[Kashmira Sheth]

Hi Megan,

Thanks for writing to me. Seema and I share a lot about our childhoods. The tropical garden, the family, the food is what we have in common. But I remember being not so much bullied as shunned by some girls.
You can read Keeping Corner if you are ten or older. I hope you enjoy it.

Best,
Kashmira

[Anonymous]

I love it!

[Vaibhav]

Dear Ms. Kashmira Sheth,
I am Mr.Rohit Trivedi's brother's nephew.I liked the book boys without names.The way you have described mumbai is terrific!!!!I only kept reading this book and didnt concentrate on my exams.But dont worry this book is magical.

[Kashmira Sheth]

Glad you enjoyed the book, Vaibhav. I don't know if you are nephew of Rohit Trivedi's older or younger brother.
I hope you did well on your exams!
Kashmira

[Vaibhav]

I am his younger brother Vikram trivedi's nephew

[Pooja Patel]

Dear Mrs.Sheth,
Our 6th grade class would like to know about the village of Jamlee that you wrote about in Keeping Corner. We tried to research it but couldn't find any information. Can you email our teacher about Jamlee?
Sincerely,M2-03
PS: Thank you for your time and help. We are really enjoying your book, Keeping Corner.

[Kashmira Sheth]

Dear Pooja,

Thanks for your note. The village of Jamlee is a fictional one. I took two places I knew, Kapadvanj and Balasinor and made up a place called Jamlee. You will find both these towns in Kheda District in Gujarat.
Pooja from you last name I think your family might have come from the same district!
Let me know if you or other students have more questions. I also have new website: Please go to www.kashmirasheth.com

Best,
Kashmira