A story of survival set in a small fishing villlage near Bombay Lila & Hari aged 13 & 12 struggle to keep the family including two young sisters going when their mother is ill & their father usually the worse for drink When Hari goes to Bombay to find work Lila seems to be responsible for everything Although the book paints a picture of extreme poverty it demonstrates the strength of the family even in the most extreme circumstances & offers a powerful picture of another culture