I KICK AND I FLY

Ulka Simone Mohanty invites listeners into the perilous world of Heera, a teenager in India who is struggling against the limitations of her perceived future. Heera has watched her beloved cousin, Mira Di, and countless other girls being sold into the sex trade and fears that she is next. A crisis leads her to a hostel for at-risk girls, where she begins to learn kung fu and take control of her own body and fate. Mohanty's portrayal of Heera is soft but powerful; her confidence grows as she masters martial arts discipline. Mohanty expertly depicts the tension between Heera's desperation to avoid exploitation and her deep love for her poverty-stricken family. An endnote delivered by the author reveals the real-life stories that inspired the audiobook. N.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]