Venkatraman, Padma. Climbing the Stairs. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons/ Penguin. 2008. ISBN: 978-0-399-24746-0
Plot Summary:
Vidya is a teenage girl growing up in Colonial India during the time of the Second World War. The pressures in India at the time were many, including the threat of invasion by the Japanese Imperial forces, the struggle for independence from the British Empire, and the transformation of Indian society into the modern world. Vidya’s father is a doctor and is heavily involved with the independence movement and is supportive of Vidya’s deep seated desire to continue her education by going to university before she marries. Her father sustains a brain injury after being beaten by a British officer during a protest. The family is forced to move in with her paternal grandfather and an extended family in Madras. Vidya and her mother have to deal with the harsh treatment by other family members and Vidya escapes through the use of books in her grandfather’s library. Vidya’s brother, Kitta becomes convinced that he must join up with the British to help rid the world of fascism, which brings criticism from his family and his sister who are dedicated to the idea of Indian freedom. A romance is sparked between Vidya and Raman, a family friend. Raman is attracted to Vidya because of her intelligence and the relationship is held in limbo by social and family pressure. The positive and negative influences from family members take a role as much as do social and political ones in deciding whether Vidya will be able to find happiness in her life.
Critical Evaluation:
The writer is able to show an intimate knowledge of the culture and customs of India, as well as a good knowledge of the historical events of the late Colonial period in that country. The writing is very artistic and little bits of historical and social fact are wrapped up in the plot in a way that informs without causing one to drift off in mid paragraph. The reader becomes very much aware of the familial, political, and social stress that the people of India were under during the period of the story. The book addresses the idea of women’s empowerment through education in a culture that did not particularly have a tradition of educating women to a high level. The writer states that the story is loosely based on the experiences of her own mother in the same place during the same time period, which adds to the authentic feel of the work. Overall, the book has the feel and quality of a work destined to become a classic which has appeal to all age groups and from a variety of backgrounds.
Reader’s Annotation:
Vidya dreams of going to college, but an accident which leaves her father brain damaged jeopardizes her future. The family is forced to move in with relatives who treat them harshly and Vidya must struggle to find freedom to change her future.
Information about the author:
Born in Chennai, India (the setting of much of the story), Padma Venkatraman has spent much of her life studying in the United States. She is a naturalized American citizen. Venkatraman is the recipient of a PhD in Oceanography from the College of William and Mary. As a scientists, she has gained recognition in the field of oceanography having served as chief scientist aboard scientific vessels. She has also spent time doing oceanographic research on Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean. She has also worked as a school director in England.
Venkatraman is a seasoned writer having written in her field of oceanography, written fiction for youth, picture books, poetry and biographies. Much of her non scientific work is influenced by her Indian background and she is one of the better known writers of Indian extraction currently working in YA. She has written over 100 published science articles and poems.
Genre:
The Indian Experience/ Family/ Romance/ Colonialism/ Feminism
Curriculum Ties:
History
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Discuss the differences in ideology of Vidya and her brother Kitta, and how this puts pressure on their relationship.
2. Focus on the pressure put on Indian girls in the past to get married rather than get a proper education even if they wished to study.
3. Discuss the internal family conflicts that take place within an extended family such as is presented in the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age:
14+
Challenge Issues:
Arranged Marriages, Violence
Challenge Defense Ideas:
1. Read the book.
2. Be Familiar with the policy of the ALA and your institution.
3. Make a note of the contents of the work and how they fall in with the collection development policy of your institution and the standpoint of the ALA.
4. Gain an awareness of the awards, reviews, and criticisms of the work, as well as other works by the same writer.
5. Know the process for materials challenges at your library.
Why did you include this book? :
I have read a number of titles on India under British rule; a young adult title set in British India is rather unique.
Author’s Websites:
http://www.climbingthestairsbook.com/
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