Description
Yearning for freedom and schooling for himself and the other children who toil in a carpet factory in Pakistan to repay loans from the factory owner to their parents, Nadeem is inspired by a former carpet boy named Iqbal to lead the way.
Subjects
ISBN
0884482480 / 9780884482482
Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Gardiner, Me. : Tilbury House, c2003.
User reviews
LibraryThing member srssrs
The Carpet Boy's Gift is perfect for a current world issues inter-disciplinary social studies lesson. It addresses child labor in an American friendly 2nd world borderline 3rd world nation. The tale is told from the perspective of an abused child. The story also brings in a story of a real child
Show More
who dared to combat the system, only to be assassinated in his own village at the age of 12. The book does not over-dramatize the dire situation many children suffer in. The last few pages of the book include an enormous amount resources that could be used with it. This is a great bonus for a teacher. The illustrations are large and enhance the suffering students are reading about. There are many negatives to this book, but the ones I noticed are important to consider before purchasing this book. First, there is a fair amount of subject specific vocabulary that would be difficult for any English speaking child to read through and understand. Secondly, I'm not sure the book's appearance and text fit the audience it was originally intended for. However, if this book is taught correctly it would be a great connection to geography and economics. Show Less
LibraryThing member danielleburry
A story that follows a young Pakistan boy who works in child labor environments. He learns about a new law that will allow children to leave the harsh factories and Nadeem becomes a leader for his fellow peers and leads them to a better life. This is a great book to introduce when discussing about
Show More
different countries, however, it needs to be presented in the right matter. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Touching story about enslaved children working in a carpet factory who meet Iqbal Masih, a real boy who once worked in such a factory and escaped to become a crusader against child slavery.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Sold by his parents to the owners of a carpet factory for a loan of 1,000 rupees, Nadeem was a bonded laborer, forced - together with many other children - to work from sun up to sun down every day, in a dark workshop choked with wool dust. Longing to breathe the fresh air, and feel the sun on his
This fictionalized account of a bonded child laborer incorporates the story of the real-life figure of Iqbal Masih - a young Pakistani boy who was sold into bonded labor as a carpet weaver at age four, escaped at age ten, became an international spokesperson on the issue for the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, and was assassinated at age twelve - and presents some very difficult realities in a sensitive but honest way for young readers. Iqbal's murder factors in the plot of The Carpet Boy's Gift, and Pegi Deitz Shea is to be commended for not glossing over the heartbreaking reality of the situation, while still providing hope, with the conclusion of her tale. With a moving story, beautifully complemented by Leane Morin's lovely illustrations, and extensive notes at the rear, that give further information and ideas about how young readers can get involved, this is a book that I highly recommend!
Show More
face, to play soccer with his little brother Hakim, and most of all, to go to school, Nadeem lived for the day when his family's debt, their peshgi, was paid back. But how would that day ever come, when the Master kept finding ways of fining him (thereby increasing the peshgi), every time he got too close? Could Iqbal, a young boy and former bonded laborer whom Nadeem met at a protest march, have the answer? If it was true, as Iqbal claimed, that bonded labor was illegal, why did no one stop the Master? And what could Nadeem do...?This fictionalized account of a bonded child laborer incorporates the story of the real-life figure of Iqbal Masih - a young Pakistani boy who was sold into bonded labor as a carpet weaver at age four, escaped at age ten, became an international spokesperson on the issue for the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, and was assassinated at age twelve - and presents some very difficult realities in a sensitive but honest way for young readers. Iqbal's murder factors in the plot of The Carpet Boy's Gift, and Pegi Deitz Shea is to be commended for not glossing over the heartbreaking reality of the situation, while still providing hope, with the conclusion of her tale. With a moving story, beautifully complemented by Leane Morin's lovely illustrations, and extensive notes at the rear, that give further information and ideas about how young readers can get involved, this is a book that I highly recommend!
Show Less
Language
Physical description
27 cm