Child of Spring

Basanta lives in a village in India, surrounded by friends and family. She works for a young mistress who has a beautiful ring that Basanta wouldn’t mind having herself. When the ring disappears, she is hurt when her mistress accuses her of being a thief, and when, by chance, the ring does find its way to her, she discovers that having it isn’t all that she expected.

CHILD OF SPRING has a magical effect with Farhana Zia’s descriptions. The rich atmosphere comes to life as readers learn about Basanta and her community. From the hot weather to the dirt floors to the trees, the imagery is absolute perfection. The fun cast of characters, though they definitely don’t always get along, truly feel like a family in their village, and Basanta is an important member. She starts the novel a bit immature, very feisty, and slowly shows how big her heart is. Her interactions with her mother are especially nice, as her mother tries to give her guidance in generosity.

Sometimes the plot falls a little flat, but the powerful themes and characterization keep the story engaging. Much like Basanta, readers will feel the need to take a look at their own privileges in life and remember that lifting one another up is far better than competing or hoarding through greed. Family, blood or made, are stronger together. Perhaps most importantly, excessive wealth does not equate to happiness, and a rich heart can often go further than rich jewels.

With strong themes, stunning imagery, and excellent character growth from Basanta, CHILD OF SPRING is a lovely novel perfect for middle grade readers.