Book of the Month–September 2013
The Rainbow Troops
By: Andrea Hirata
Belitong Island is located off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. The island is rich in tin deposits but many of its residents live in poverty working as untrained labourers and subsistence fishermen. A private school run by the mining company has fees that are out of reach for many families. To provide education for their children, the impoverished families must turn to the decrepit Muhammadiyah School, the poorest school on the island.
In this autiographical novel, Andrea Hirata tells the story of the school’s 10 students, nicknamed The Rainbow Troops, and the two inspirational volunteer teachers who fight to keep the school open and strive to provide education to their pupils.
Also available as:
eBook
Book Reviews
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Toronto Star
About the Author
Andrea Hirata was born in the village of Gantung on Belitung Island, Indonesia in 1982. He grew up in a poor family near a government owned mine. The Rainbow Troops, titled Laskar Pelangi in Indonesia, was based on his childhood experiences in a school very much like the one portrayed in the novel. Deeply influenced by his school teacher, Bu Muslimah, he promised her that he would write her a book one day. He received a degree in Economics from the University of Indonesia, then went on to complete a master’s degree in Europe. Hirata completed the novel while he was working for Telkom, the largest telecommunications company in Indonesia, however the manuscript was stolen from his room but mysteriously found its way to a publisher and was released in Indonesia in 2005.
The book sold 5 million copies in Indonesia with an additional 15 million pirated volumes in circulation. The book was made into a film which became the most-viewed Indonesian film of all time. The Rainbow Troops has been published in 20 countries.
Author Interviews
Asian Publishing Network
The Jakarta Post
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