Journal Entry 1 by hobbit from Surabaya, Jawa Timur Indonesia on Saturday, March 27, 2010

This popular Indonesian novel is based on the life of the author, Andrea Hirata, and translated to English by Angie Kilbane. It is the first of a series of 4 novels, and was made into a movie in 2008. (I believe the movie is in Indonesian but has English subtitles available.)

It's the story of a boy growing up in a small, struggling school with 2 teachers and 10 students, on the small island of Belitong. Their amusing escapades are interspersed with their struggles to keep the school open. It gives an interesting set of perspectives on poverty, education, and daily life in Indonesia.

I'm going to pass it around among other English teachers here. Hopefully I'll get it back to take home to the USA and share there. If not, I'll have to get another copy.