The Bubble Kids

A debut YA novel about life in Pakistan during and soon after the events of 9/11.
The story is told through the eyes of several Pakistani boys who live either in the increasingly desperate rural areas of the country or in the larger, more secure, urban areas. Adam lives in the port city of Karachi; his best friend, Omar, lives nearby and is the son of the province’s chief of police. They watch the World Trade Center fall on television, while guards patrol outside the house. Sher and his brother Ali, in contrast, live in a rural area and work hard to help their struggling family tend the flock that is their livelihood. The aftermath of 9/11, however, sends shock waves through all the young boys’ lives, and Sher and Ali feel them much sooner than others; they embark on a journey with a strange man who promises them much-needed money for just a few weeks’ work. But the “bubble” around Adam and Omar is also quick to burst, and all four boys eventually cross paths as they try to escape the very real threat of death. Overall, this is a powerful story, simply told. Chowdhry does a very good job of conveying the kids’ complex sets of circumstances as he paints a vivid portrait of innocent Pakistani people facing the terror of a fringe, fundamentalist group. This is a perspective not often seen, and the author balances its elements well by using characters from diverse backgrounds. The narrative’s one rough spot, however, is its stiff dialogue (“I am part of the school team that will compete in the Sind National Championships!”), which diminishes the characters and sometimes lessens the impact of an otherwise effective tale.
A well-balanced and often powerful story recommended for younger teens and history buffs.