We all know about the House of Commons. What could the House of Uncommons be? I didn’t want to read up about the book to find out, so I picked it up and dived right in.
The book started slowly, and I frowned as I read about Krishnan travelling with his Chikkappa to Snehagao. I didn’t know where the story was going. Until we get the first indicator of the uncommon. The protagonist Krishnan sees Raman, his soon-to-be roommate, and realises that Raman is like him.
What does that mean? We, as readers, don’t know yet, but we find out soon enough. In Krishnan’s new school, all the children have HIV. And for once, it seems like they are not going to be shunned for it.
What do we even know about HIV? At Krishnan’s age – about 13 – I knew next to nothing. I knew what it stood for because I had to learn it at school. I equated AIDS with HIV, and had no idea that there was any difference between the two.
And that’s just one of the reasons why stories like House of Uncommons are important. It was a warm, heartfelt read, and tears sprang to my eyes more than once as I read about Krishnan blossoming into someone who dares to dream instead of being defined by a virus. It is a powerful book, which asks probing questions, as important ideas come together with strong characters and a lovely story.
| Title | House of Uncommons |
| Author | Vishaka George |
| Tags | Chapter Book, PARI, Inclusive |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4 |
| Age-group | 10+ |
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