The Story Book

All Lakshmi wants is to be able to learn and thrive in the world that she is not allowed to know. Lakshmi notices a boy whom she calls "The David Beckham boy", she is jealous of him because he gets to live somewhat of a normal life. He goes to school every day, sleeps every night, and has a mother. Lakshmi finds The David Beckham Boy's notebook and she feels at home because she can imagine being back with Gita and her teacher. After The boy catches Lakshmi with his notebook, 

"'Do you want me to teach you how to read the words in the storybook?' he say.

I do.

I don't dare admit how much.

'Yes' I say, my eyes fixed on the notebook.

'Yes, I do.'" (page 163)

Lakshmi is very interested in things outside of her vocabulary and just things that she doesn't know, like other languages, and what a bus is. This got me thinking about how in our society, we take learning and knowledge for granted, most third world countries do not have the information we do, they don't have the schooling we do and we don't even notice it.  Many students are just waiting for the next Monday off or the next time they get sick so that they can stay home. While Lakshmi doesn't even get the chance to go to school, she is stuck in a bubble of which she cannot escape. The only thing that seems to make Lakshmi's mood lighten is a book or learning something new.