4 out of 4 stars
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I rate the book Elastic Girl 4 out of 4 stars.
Elastic Girl is a harrowing story about a young girl in India whose difficult life leads her down many challenging roads. Muthu is one of three daughters in an impoverished family. As a small child, she is forced into the streets to sell Roti to make a living for her family while her two older sisters are sent for an education. Her misery leads her to question her existence and what her purpose is in life. A freak accident leads her to a near death experience where she discovers that she has the miraculous gift of contortionism.
When the government evicts Muthu’s family from their home, they have no choice but to sell her and her natural gift to The Great Raman Circus of Chennai. After her community has praised her for her ability to transform her body, she believes that joining the circus will make her a star. Instead, she is forced to preform under a punishing schedule and becomes an undeserving victim to the Ring Master, Mr. Prem.
After escaping back to her family, she learns harsh truths about her past that allow her to fight back and finally answer her lifelong questions about her existence.
Olivia Rana, the author of Elastic Girl, has incredible talent wrapped in her writing. She uses her words to create vivid scenes and complex character development. Reading this story, you can see the landscape and experience the culture of India through her eyes. Her evocative writing will engage your senses as she immerses you in the sights, smells, and sounds of Muthu’s life. Rana's real life inspiration creates a fictional story that will give you insight into the experiences that people face in different parts of the world. Her ability to draw you out of your comfortable life and into a horrifying and cruel world is exactly what is needed to create the change that is desperately needed and that Rana is seeking.
Muthu’s story will pull at your heart from the very beginning. Just when you think things can’t get any worse for her, she is thrown deeper into her hardships. You'll find that the only thing keeping her alive is her undying hope for a better life.
Elastic Girl will leave you breathless and despaired, it will give you utter belief in the power of hope, and it will make you reflect on the things that you take for granted every day.
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Elastic Girl
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