Climbing the Stairs
Encyclopedia
Climbing the Stairs is a young-adult novel written by Padma Venkatraman. It was published on May 1, 2008 by Penguin USA
. The novel depicts fifteen-year-old Vidya, who is coming of age in a tumultuous time as her native India
struggles for independence and the world battles in World War II
. When her father suffers brain damage during an Indian independence protest, Vidya is forced to relocate with her family from Bombay to her paternal grandfather’s traditional home in Madras. In this new home, Vidya fights the subservient role assigned to her as a women and finds sanctuary in the men’s library where she studies and dreams of freedom and college.
which stated, “This novel vivifies a unique era and culture as it movingly expresses how love and hope can blossom even under the most dismal of circumstances” and Booklist
which wrote, “In her first novel, Venkatraman paints an intricate and convincing backdrop of a conservative Brahmin
home in a time of change.” The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literature stated that by writing Climbing the Stairs, “Venkatraman fills an important place in YA historical fiction. The book is well researched, politically balanced, and based on real experiences.”
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
. The novel depicts fifteen-year-old Vidya, who is coming of age in a tumultuous time as her native India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
struggles for independence and the world battles in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When her father suffers brain damage during an Indian independence protest, Vidya is forced to relocate with her family from Bombay to her paternal grandfather’s traditional home in Madras. In this new home, Vidya fights the subservient role assigned to her as a women and finds sanctuary in the men’s library where she studies and dreams of freedom and college.
Reviews
The novel received starred reviews in Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
which stated, “This novel vivifies a unique era and culture as it movingly expresses how love and hope can blossom even under the most dismal of circumstances” and Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
which wrote, “In her first novel, Venkatraman paints an intricate and convincing backdrop of a conservative Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
home in a time of change.” The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literature stated that by writing Climbing the Stairs, “Venkatraman fills an important place in YA historical fiction. The book is well researched, politically balanced, and based on real experiences.”