Book Nerd Blog . com

My Rating: 3 stars

During World War II, Vidya lives in British India in a society much different from today. Women are still considered property of their husband, and most of them do not go to college to get an education. Most women get married right after they get out of school. Vidya is only fifteen and the promise of marriage is looming. After her father and mother promise her that she can go to college, tragedy strikes her family and sends them to live with relatives in a traditional household. The hope of going to college soon vanishes, and Vidya realizes what her future will become. The only place she finds peace in this new household is her grandfather’s library, where she meets the encouraging Raman, who treats her like an equal. Climbing the Stairs is Vidya’s journey of chasing her dreams.
I had to read this novel for school, so of course when I first started reading it, I wasn’t too excited. But after about reading half of the book, I was surprised it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. It was interesting enough for me to keep reading and not bore me to death, which is usually how it is with summer reading books. The only thing I don’t understand is the title of the novel, “Climbing the Stairs”. I guess it could mean the stairs going up to the library in her grandfather’s house, though I’m not too sure. Overall, this is definitely one of the better assigned books I’ve read for a summer reading assignment.