Featured books

Featured Websites

.: Reader Views Kids

Provides book reviews, by kids, for kids

.: Inside Scoop Live

Provides live author interviews for podcast

.: Authors Access

Provides interviews with experts in the publishing industry

.: Midwest Book Review

Provides post-publication reviews

.: Reader Views

Provides book reviews and author publicity

.: LR Communication Design

Provides professional website design and development

.: Blogging Authors

Provides a place where writers and readers meet

.: Review The Book

Provides 5 books reviews on 10 different sites

.: Best Sellers World

Provides book reviews and author features

.: Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Provides book reviews and author features

reviews

Reena’s Bollywood Dream

Jewel Kats
Loving Healing Press (2010)
ISBN 9781615990146
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebecca’s Reads (04/11)

“Reena’s Bollywood Dream” is a book that addresses the important issue of sexual abuse.  Reena is a young 8-year-old girl who dreams of being a Bollywood star.  When her pen pal, her Uncle Jessi, emigrates from India to the U.S., he brings her a Bollywood movie.  Reena is enthralled with copying the dance moves of the Indian actress on the screen.

Her parents don’t approve of her dreams to be an actress.  They want better for her.  Her Uncle Jessi though, however, encourages her.  He even gives her a gift of a tiny little blouse and a skirt.  He has her put it on in the same room as him and urges her to dance while he video tapes her.  Uncle Jessi starts to take things a little too far but Reena gets away and goes to tell her parents.

When I first picked up the book to read, I was very curious as to how the author would approach the subject of sexual abuse in a children’s book.  I was very pleased with how the sensitive issue was handled in a way that was extremely appropriate for young children.  She definitely gets the point across in a way that is not overly graphic for a young child.

The topic of sexual abuse can be a difficult one to address with your children.   Reading “Reena’s Bollywood Dream” would be an excellent first step in this process and then you can go from there.  As one can tell from the title, the book is written from a South Asian perspective.  However, generally the concept of sexual abuse is the same in any culture.  Although one may have to explain “Bollywood” and other terms to a child who is unfamiliar with this culture, the main point of the book will still be easily understand.  There is even a glossary in the front for those, like me, who are not familiar with such terms as “nani” and “lengha.”  I believe that this book would be appropriate for anyone wanting to educate their child about the topic of sexual abuse.

.: Blog
.: FTC Disclosure