Book of the Week: The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata
Even if you aren't going back to school yourself, you can get into the spirit with our Book of the Week, The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata. This inspiring novel is set on Belitung Island in Indonesia. A large producer of tin, the island is one of the wealtiest parts of Indonesia but there is a significant part of the population that lives in poverty.
The Rainbow Troops are ten students in a poor village school. In the morning, they must chase goats out of the school before their lessons begin; when it rains, they must open umbrellas to stay dry. The school is under constant threat of closure but the two volunteer teachers are determined to provide education and more importantly, inspiration to their students.
The novel is based on the Andrea Hirata's own childhood and was written to fulfill a promise to one of the teachers who inspired him when he was young. The popularity of the book in his native Indonesia made him the country's best selling author of all time.
The Rainbow Troops is being discussed throughout September on Book Buzz, Toronto Public Library's online book club. Join us and be inspired by this remarkable story.
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