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Outside In
A twelve-year-old boy living on the streets of Chandigarh, India, stumbles across a secret garden full of sculptures and sees the possibility of another way of life as he bonds with the man who created them in this searingly beautiful novel based on a true story.
Twelve-year-old Ram is a street boy living behind a sign on a building’s rooftop, barely scraping by, winning games of gilli for money, occasionally given morsels of food through the kindness of Mr. Singh, a professor and father of his friend Daya.
But his prowess at gilli is what gets him into big trouble. One day, when he wins against some schoolboys fair and square, the boys are infuriated. As they chase Ram across town, he flings his small sack of money over a factory gate where no one can get it, and disappears into the alleyways. But someone does get the money, Ram discovers when he sneaks back later on to rescue what is his—a strange-ish man on a bike who also seems to be collecting…rocks? Ram follows the man into the jungle, where he finds something unlike anything he’s seen—statues, hundreds of statues…no, thousands of them! Gods and goddesses and buildings, all at half scale. What is this place? And the rock collecting man, Nek, has built them all! When Nek discovers that Ram has followed him, he has no choice but to let the boy stay and earn back the money Nek has spent. How else can he keep him quiet? For his creations lie on land that isn’t technically his to build on.
As Ram and Nek hesitantly become friends, Ram learns the true nature of this hidden village in the jungle, as well as the stories of Shiva and Lord Rama, stories of gods and goddesses that in strange ways seem to parallel Ram’s…and Nek’s.
Based on the true story of one of India’s most beloved artists and modern day folk heroes, Nek Chand was a real man—a man displaced from his home in the midst of war and conflict; a man who missed his home so terribly he illegally reconstructed his entire village in miniature out of found objects and rock, recreating mosaic statues and sculptures spanning acres of jungle. Though Ram is a fictionalized character, Nek’s artwork is real. Intertwined with mythology and the sociopolitics of India, this is an exquisitely wrought, unexpected, and singular tale about the connection of community and how art can help make us human.
Twelve-year-old Ram is a street boy living behind a sign on a building’s rooftop, barely scraping by, winning games of gilli for money, occasionally given morsels of food through the kindness of Mr. Singh, a professor and father of his friend Daya.
But his prowess at gilli is what gets him into big trouble. One day, when he wins against some schoolboys fair and square, the boys are infuriated. As they chase Ram across town, he flings his small sack of money over a factory gate where no one can get it, and disappears into the alleyways. But someone does get the money, Ram discovers when he sneaks back later on to rescue what is his—a strange-ish man on a bike who also seems to be collecting…rocks? Ram follows the man into the jungle, where he finds something unlike anything he’s seen—statues, hundreds of statues…no, thousands of them! Gods and goddesses and buildings, all at half scale. What is this place? And the rock collecting man, Nek, has built them all! When Nek discovers that Ram has followed him, he has no choice but to let the boy stay and earn back the money Nek has spent. How else can he keep him quiet? For his creations lie on land that isn’t technically his to build on.
As Ram and Nek hesitantly become friends, Ram learns the true nature of this hidden village in the jungle, as well as the stories of Shiva and Lord Rama, stories of gods and goddesses that in strange ways seem to parallel Ram’s…and Nek’s.
Based on the true story of one of India’s most beloved artists and modern day folk heroes, Nek Chand was a real man—a man displaced from his home in the midst of war and conflict; a man who missed his home so terribly he illegally reconstructed his entire village in miniature out of found objects and rock, recreating mosaic statues and sculptures spanning acres of jungle. Though Ram is a fictionalized character, Nek’s artwork is real. Intertwined with mythology and the sociopolitics of India, this is an exquisitely wrought, unexpected, and singular tale about the connection of community and how art can help make us human.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2017
About the author
Jennifer Bradbury
11 books127 followersJennifer Bradbury is an English teacher living in Burlington, Washington. She and her husband took a two-month long bicycling trek from Charleston, South Carolina, to Los Angeles, California for their honeymoon, changing more than fifty flat tires along the way. She was also a one-day winner of Jeopardy! Shift is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 1, 2018
It's hard to describe what I loved about this book without giving something away. I loved reading it fresh, without knowing where it was going to go. I liked that Bradbury addressed some of the practicalities of a kid living on the streets. I was blown away by
Bradbury is a very solid (WA-based!) author, and writes stuff for beginning readers all the way up through high YA. Loved reading her solid middle grade.
Bradbury is a very solid (WA-based!) author, and writes stuff for beginning readers all the way up through high YA. Loved reading her solid middle grade.
August 27, 2017
Prepare to be transported to India and live alongside an orphaned boy, learning the stories of how the princes Rama (who marries Sita) and Lakshmana endure fourteen years of exile and defeat the evil Ravana (with the help of the monkey army).
Ram, the orphan, discovers amazing statues made of repurposed junk hidden in the forest at the edge of Chandigarh and comes to know and help Nek, the artist (a real artist who really did make such statues).
Structured around the timing of the festival season (Dussehra through Diwali) and woven throughout with traditional stories, the reader learns much about Indian history while also learning how a street urchin survives, the bullies who torture him (similar to the Senegalese Danka Boys in One Shadow on the Wall), and the importance of art and family.
Ram, the orphan, discovers amazing statues made of repurposed junk hidden in the forest at the edge of Chandigarh and comes to know and help Nek, the artist (a real artist who really did make such statues).
Structured around the timing of the festival season (Dussehra through Diwali) and woven throughout with traditional stories, the reader learns much about Indian history while also learning how a street urchin survives, the bullies who torture him (similar to the Senegalese Danka Boys in One Shadow on the Wall), and the importance of art and family.
November 12, 2017
Outside In by Jennifer Bradbury is historical fiction about the Chandahar sculptor, Nek Chand. It's told from the point of view of a street boy, Ram, and was inspired by the author's time as an English teacher.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
August 11, 2022
Ram is a boy who lives on the streets of Chandigarh, India. He survives by his amazing gilli game skills, winning bets to whoever takes on the challenge of playing him. He also runs errands for Uncle Singh, who is kind enough to pay him, in hopes of keeping the young boy (who is also his daughter's dear friend) out of trouble. One day, Ram wins a digital watch that is complete with all the bells and whistles one could wish for, but the boy that lost it to him is bitter and out for revenge. Ram gets chased by this bully and his gang of friends and ends up getting separated from his pouch that holds all his winnings. A factory worker, Nek, just happens to come upon this unclaimed money, and takes it with him. As Ram follows Nek from a distance in hopes to get his coins back, he discovers Nek's own hidden world of "treasure" and a precious friendship between the two developes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it cleverly intertwines Ram's story with the Ramayana story of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. I loved seeing Ram's character develope from an unschooled, orphaned street boy to a child who falls in love with art, learning, creating, and a new family of his own. It's also based on the true story of Nek Chand, an Indian artist who repurposed unwanted items into works of art.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it cleverly intertwines Ram's story with the Ramayana story of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. I loved seeing Ram's character develope from an unschooled, orphaned street boy to a child who falls in love with art, learning, creating, and a new family of his own. It's also based on the true story of Nek Chand, an Indian artist who repurposed unwanted items into works of art.
December 17, 2017
Bradbury, Jennifer Outside In, 270 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2017. $17. Content: G (some bullying)
Ram ekes out a life on the streets of Chandigarh, usually avoiding the bullies and finding just enough food to survive. While fleeing one day, he sees a man carting junk into the forest. When Ram sees the fantastical sculptures the man. Nek, is forming from what he sees as junk, he feels the need to protect the site and the man. Especially from the encroaching city buildings. Along the way Nek helps Ram connect with his own heritage by relating an epic Indian myth to Ram as they work together.
While this book probably won’t get much attention, it is not for lack of skill on Bradbury’s part. Any middle school or elementary librarian working to build a collection of international stories needs to add this title. And share the book and this website about Nek Chand’s creations with any geography teacher for a great lesson. While I am pretty sure that Bradbury is not Indian, she seems to have done meticulous research into her subject and culture.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teache
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Ram ekes out a life on the streets of Chandigarh, usually avoiding the bullies and finding just enough food to survive. While fleeing one day, he sees a man carting junk into the forest. When Ram sees the fantastical sculptures the man. Nek, is forming from what he sees as junk, he feels the need to protect the site and the man. Especially from the encroaching city buildings. Along the way Nek helps Ram connect with his own heritage by relating an epic Indian myth to Ram as they work together.
While this book probably won’t get much attention, it is not for lack of skill on Bradbury’s part. Any middle school or elementary librarian working to build a collection of international stories needs to add this title. And share the book and this website about Nek Chand’s creations with any geography teacher for a great lesson. While I am pretty sure that Bradbury is not Indian, she seems to have done meticulous research into her subject and culture.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teache
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
May 31, 2022
This is wonderful book for middle grade students. The book is about a homeless boy, Ram, and how he survives in Chandigarh, India. Chandigarh is a young city that started when India was divided in two: Pakistan and India. The story takes place during a big Indian celebration Dussehra (Rama's victory over Ravana) and Diwali (celebration of the triumph of good versus evil), the story is in the book. Ram has a his friend Daya and her father Singh and the people around town that sometimes give him food. One day Ram hustled a good amount of money and a watch. And when he is running away with the money, he fell and dropped the money. When he tried to get the money back, Nek found the money and thought that it was a gift from the Gods. Ram went to get his money back but Nek had already spent it buying a train ticket and from there a great relationship develops.
The book is based on the real story of Neo Chand, on of India's great sculpture specially in folklore art.
The book is based on the real story of Neo Chand, on of India's great sculpture specially in folklore art.
March 10, 2018
I randomly picked up this book of an end cap at the library. In a way, the author's dedication "To all those who make because they must" means she dedicated it to me, as I totally feel that way.
The story takes place in India, showing a slice of life utterly foreign to me. It felt very authentic and rich, with well-developed characters and an intriguing weaving of two stories in one.
For the first time in a long time, I found myself thinking that I need to read this again in a while, to savor its richness and see more of its beauty.
The story takes place in India, showing a slice of life utterly foreign to me. It felt very authentic and rich, with well-developed characters and an intriguing weaving of two stories in one.
For the first time in a long time, I found myself thinking that I need to read this again in a while, to savor its richness and see more of its beauty.
August 21, 2017
I really loved this book. Inspired by the author’s year teaching in Chandigarh, India, the true story of Nek Chand, one of India’s most beloved artists and folk heroes, and the epic Ramayana—it’s fiction that reads like real life. Jennifer Bradbury brilliantly uses pieces of the Ramayana to inspire and parallel our young hero, Ram’s journey. It's a coming of age tale celebrating creativity, connection. Liked it so much I reviewed it on my children's book blog!
September 19, 2019
A beautiful story mixing Indian mythology with real life, this historical fiction title is beautiful. Ram lives on the streets of a bustling Indian city. He is savvy and has befriended the right people to help him get by. When he stumbles upon a secret sculpture garden his world is transformed as he learns about the past, his present, and a future he never thought possible. An excellent choice to build cultural awareness in your middle grade reader.
January 7, 2022
What a beautiful middle school read. Having Nepali students this year has been so an eye opener into the Dusshera and Divali festival season. Now I have the historical context through part of the Ramayana.
Heart warming for anyone who have traveled through that part of the world or has Indian or Nepali students. I loved the way Bradbury juxtaposed the two stories and made them accessible and meaningful and opened up our eyes to another glorious artist.
Heart warming for anyone who have traveled through that part of the world or has Indian or Nepali students. I loved the way Bradbury juxtaposed the two stories and made them accessible and meaningful and opened up our eyes to another glorious artist.
November 23, 2023
This book is for upper elementary students, but I really enjoyed it- there’s a picture book the author wrote about the same subject called Rock by Rock. Both books are about a hidden sculpture garden in India made by Nek Chand based on a true story. There are several of his sculptures at the Kohler Arts Preserve in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I saw those before reading the books and without realizing the connection, but now I want to go back!
September 7, 2017
Full disclosure: the author is a dear friend from college. Personal connection aside, I really enjoyed this middle-grades novel and couldn't put it down. I really liked the summarized Ramayana interspersed with the story and the use of background illustration to distinguish the two parts. I think I liked the story even more because I knew it was based on an actual artist in Chandigarh.
November 15, 2018
I read this one because it came up on a reading list for Kelson’s school. I don’t think it’s right for Kelson right now. And I don’t know much about middle grades books, but I enjoyed the way this story went between the street boy Ram’s story and the story of Rama.
August 2, 2018
Really interesting story. I liked the blend of Indian folklore.
August 6, 2018
Fantastic book for middle grade students!
Read
June 9, 2019Pair with There Secret Kingdom.
June 18, 2019
Touching tale of an orphaned street boy in India who finds family and a place to belong. Fascinating to read the folklore of India within this beautiful story.
May 12, 2023
Homeless boy Ram hustles to survive on the city streets of Chandigarh, India. His friend Daya fast talks as he wins cash from games of gilli. But when he takes money and a watch from the biggest bully, he must use his street smarts to escape, ditching the cash to lighten his load. Retrieving it is more complicated than he expects as he tracks the windfall to an abandoned forest on the outskirts of town. As night falls, shadows lengthen and he comes across strange statues and meets their unusual creator Nek. Ram initially distrustful, becomes drawn to Nek and his art. Nek spins wonderful tales of Indian gods and apprentices Ram. But the place is in danger of destruction and Ram must find a way to help Nek.
I understand the author while not Indian, has spent time living in India. She writes well, interspersing the epic story of brothers Rama, Lakshmana and Sita (written on decorative watermarked pages) with the main tale. It’s fiction based on the prolific artist Nek Chand who did secretly create art for years on wild land before emerging into public consciousness. Really engaging read which sent me off to research more about the artist. 4.5 stars
I understand the author while not Indian, has spent time living in India. She writes well, interspersing the epic story of brothers Rama, Lakshmana and Sita (written on decorative watermarked pages) with the main tale. It’s fiction based on the prolific artist Nek Chand who did secretly create art for years on wild land before emerging into public consciousness. Really engaging read which sent me off to research more about the artist. 4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews