Bamboo People

Bamboo People
By Mitali Perkins
Charlesbridge, 2010. 272 pgs. Young Adult

In present day Burma, fifteen-year-old Chiko's father has been put in prison for opposing the government. Chiko has been trying to lay low and not attract attention, but when there's an ad in the newspaper for teachers, he decides to go. However, it turns out to be a trap and Chiko is forced into the Burmese army where he trains and then is sent off on a mission that makes him cross paths with Tu Reh, a Karenni refuge whose people have been oppressed and victimized by the Burmese. Tu Reh is bent on getting revenge for his people, and his meeting with Chiko forces him to rethink what it means to be a Karenni man.

This book is an interesting insight into Burma and also into human nature, as Chiko and Tu Reh are both pushed toward violence and hatred but have to decide for themselves if they will choose that path for themselves. It's well-written and gives readers a lot to think about.

AE