No Ordinary Day, by Deborah Ellis, was my favorite book of the 2nd Trimester. I liked because at the time I read it, I was in India, and I related to the setting of the book in many ways. It is set in Kolkata, North India, and even though I didn't go there, it reminded me of the Indian cities I did visit, like Mumbai, Jaipur, and Pune. They are all very, very busy, and sadly I did see street children. I feel like Deborah Ellis captured the view of a street child, especially a girl, very well. Valli, the main character, was very innocent and didn't do any harm, but she knew what she needed to survive and she did it. I also liked the idea of borrowing things and then passing them on to someone who needs it more. I liked the surprise if Dr. Indra too, because I thought for sure that she would turn out to be mean, and harm Valli, but she did the opposite. She was Valli's hero. Overall, I thought it was an amazing book, and I can't wait to read more of Deborah Ellis's books! A spunky, spirited girl named Valli lived in Jharia, India and spent her time picking up coal to get money to feed her family. Her family was mean to her and she only got left-over scraps to eat. Her cousins often scared her by threatening her with the monsters on the other side of the track. One day they threw her among the monsters. She didn't understand their hatred for her until she discovered that she was abandoned by her real mother and left to live with this family. Valli found a way to escape and ended up living on the streets of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). She ran barefoot through the streets and often hurt her feet, but she couldn't feel any pain in her feet. A kind, female doctor found her and brought her to a hospital to treat her. Vallie soon learned that she was one of the "monsters" and also had leprosy. One of the patients said, "Don't look away. Look as long and as hard as you need to. Look at me until you see me." This book is a good way to teach kids about India and poverty, leprosy, and learning to accept others.
What do You think about No Ordinary Day (2011)?
Slow start but gives a bit of insight intact young modern girl coming to terms with having leprosy
—silver
Great reading. Learn while you read (about India, about leprosy). Story of HOPE.
—jworld223
