With their mother ill and their father permanently drunk, Hara and Lila have to earn the money to keep house and look after their two young sisters. In desperation, Hari runs away to Bombay, leaving Lila to cope alone.
Author description
Anita Desai was born and brought up in India and has written widely for both adults and children. She has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and has won the Guardian Fiction Award.
