Born behind bars / Padma Venkatraman.

Kabir has been in jail since the day he was born because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. Their cellmates are his only friends, and he's never even met his dad. The one place he feels a little bit free is the prison classroom, where his teacher delights him with stories of the outside world's wonders. When the new warden announces that Kabir is too old to stay, he's suddenly released--without his mom--to fend for himself on the city streets of Chennai. Fortunately, Rani, another street kid, takes him under her wing and helps him eke out a living, even sharing the tree she calls home. Plotting their futures is difficult and dangerous in a world that doesn't value low-caste kids like them, but Rani has enough confidence for two, plus a trusty slingshot that comes in handy for hunting meals and handling bullies. This isn't quite the life Kabir dreamed of; still, he's discovered he's not the type to give up. Justice needs to be served, and he's determined to show the world that he--and his mom--deserve a place in it. -- From dust jacket.

720L lexile.

Ages 10 up. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Accelerated Reader MG 4.5 5.0.