The novel is narrated by Ikal, who recalls his childhood in the 1970s on the island of Belitung, Indonesia, where he attended a poor Muslim primary school, Muhammadiyah. The school has ten students, the Rainbow Troops, who are taught by two devoted teachers, Bu Mus and Pak Harfan, and who include the brilliant Lintang, a fisherman's son who cycles dozens of kilometres every day. The story follows their struggles against poverty and against the tin-mining company that dominates the island, and shows how education changes their lives.
Hirata's novel was a major success in Indonesia, and it is a story for readers who like warm tales of friendship and education.
Contemplative; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2005
- Language
- EN
