Title: Marching to Freedom

Author: Subhadra Sen Gupta

Illustrator: Tapas Guha

Reviewer: Minatul Azmi

Year of Publication: 2019

Place of Publication: India

Publisher: Pratham Books

Price: Free

Reading book is the most “crucial” thing for children, especially for preteens, it start
from 9 to 11 years old. In this period, reading book is important to enrich their vocabulary
and improve their reading ability. However, not just to enhance their english skill, reading
book is also important to build their character and help them to be better in understanding and
processing more complex ideas. To fulfill this children needs, Subhandra Sen Gupta has
written this book with an interesting storyline and deliver the values of life.

The story of this book is about Dhani’s ambition. Dhani is a nine years old children
who has spent his life with the people that fighting for India’s freedom. Everyday he had a
job, he had to take care of Binni, one of his father’s goats. One time, the people around him
have a plan to do long march to the sea to win freedom peacefully that will lead by Gandhiji.
His father will join this long march, and Dhani wants to join too, and his father explain
patiently that just the people chosen by Gadhinji will go. In the next day he comes to
Gandhiji to tell him that he want to join that, but Gadhinji said that is better for Dhani to
staying at home because after the long march Gadhinji will become weak and he needs lots of
milk to become strong again, so Dhani should take care to Binni at home because no one can
do what dhani’s do.

The author Subhadra Sen Putra is work well organized, the storyline is simple and
easy to understand for children. Moreover, the illustration by Tapas Guha gives a great
sensory appeal. The picture and the color are elegant and interesting, it help to support the
story well, and make the story easier to connect with children. In addicition, the author also
give us the fun facts about the real history of the long march that was lead by Mahatma
Gandhi amdhe in the last page and attach the news papper about the true story. The book
provides many good discussion points, like parent-child relationships, self esteem, healthy
habits, and communication. On the other hand, This book is marketed for 9 to 14 years, and
in this period, the children should try to read the book in the small font, however the font of
this book is too big for them.
 Over all this book is good for children, because it has an age-appropriate storyline
and interesting illustration. It will be useful for them. So, if you are a smart parent and you
have a preteens child, this book is highly recommended to download for your child.