India, 1986. Mukta is a girl from a lower caste of temple prostitutes. At ten years of age, she is expected to take on her life of prostitution. Luckily, she escapes to Bombay, where she is placed with a foster family. Mukta is suddenly exposed to a world she never knew existed; as she becomes close friends with her 8 year old foster sister, Tara, she learns about ice cream and playing and trust. Seven years later, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara’s bedroom and life for both girls changes irrevocably. Eleven years later, Tara has not forgotten her friend and is determined to find out what happened to her. Traveling from India to the United States, Tara, and readers uncover the shame and horror of human trafficking. Can friendship and love ever defeat such darkness?

The Color of our Sky is set in India and tells the story of Tara and Mukta, two young girls/women with very different personalities and from very different backgrounds who form a deep friendship. Lower caste Mukta, at 10 years old, is forced to fulfill her destiny of becoming a Devadasis, a temple prostitute, just like her mother and the women before her. But thanks to her mother, who always tried to protect her from that tradition, she goes to live with a foster family, soon after meeting the daugther of the family, eight-year-old Tara. When Mukta arrives, she has a hard time letting go of her difficult past but Tara shows her kindness and introduces her to her world, sharing stories in the terrace of their house, under a sky full of stars.

Five years later, in 1993, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara's bedroom and ever since then, Tara has felt responsible. Eleven years have passed and Tara is now an adult living in Los Angeles but, still blaming herself, she goes back home to look for Mukta, not knowing what she'll find.

This book is written so beautifully, with believable characters and, alternating between both women's perspectives, it tells such a touching and compelling story, dealing with difficult subjects, such as child abuse.

It's really a powerful read that introduced me to an old tradition I was previously unaware of. It's painful to think that there are still women, little girls, like Mukta in some parts of India.

And also... I think the cover is gorgeous. So kudos to the artist behind it.

Set in India, this novel tells the story of two young girls from very different backgrounds, who form a very special friendship. Mukta, we soon learn, must fulfill her destiny by becoming a temple prostitute, despite her mother's best efforts to protect her. Fortunately she is rescued and taken in by a foster family soon after her initiation, where she meets and forms a life long bond with the daughter of the family, Tara. Mukta is subsequently kidnapped from her safe haven, under very suspicious circumstances and returned to a brutal life of prostitution. Eleven years later Tara, who blames herself for Muktas disappearance, returns from her new life in the United States to search for her friend, not knowing where she is of what she will find.
This is a beautifully written book, with a very believable, hard hitting storyline and well rounded, emotive characters. The pace of the story is just right, swinging between narrators seamlessly and portraying both young women's perspectives. It reminded me very much of Khaled Hosseinis work, with a similar amount of depth to issues being portrayed. Extremely moving read. Well done Ms Trasi.

The Color of Our Sky is a beautifully rendered and emotionally powerful book. Set primarily in Mumbai, India, the novel tells the stories of Tara and Mukta, two childhood friends from vastly different social backgrounds whose lives are forever changed by a series of tragic events in their childhood. Mukta is a lower caste girl, the daughter of a temple prostitute, who is destined to the same fate as her mother. When her mother dies, Tara's father rescues her from her fate by bringing her home to live with his family. The two girls become close until tragedy strikes again and Mukta is stolen from their house and seemingly lost forever. Tara and her father move to America and she grows up believing that Mukta is dead, carrying guilt for her role Mukta's abduction. After her father’s death, Tara discovers that her father had lied to her about Mukta. Vowing to return to India and find Mukta, Tara embarks on a journey that takes her deep into the world of human sex trafficking.
The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Tara and Mukta and the narratives weave back and forth in time spanning from the 1980s through present day. As the stories shift back and forth, we learn the fate of Mukta and the truth about the events that led up to her abduction. Heart-breaking but also inspiring, the novel highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of human connection (friendship and family) to overcome unspeakable adversity.
I didn't think I would enjoy reading this book. The subject matter is difficult and I generally avoid reading books that I know ahead of time will involve abuse of children. But it's an important topic and Trasi uses great sensitivity and emotion in writing about Mukta's experiences. I found myself immediately drawn into their lives and I loved how the author brings all the pieces together at the end. Tara and Mukta were both strong and resilient female characters and I felt heavily invested in both of their stories. The book has the feel of a mystery novel since both Tara and the reader are trying to piece together what happened to Mukta after she was abducted. It is also a very clear social commentary on the impact of the human sex slave industry and a critique of the caste system. The author was inspired to write this book based on her experience growing up with the daughter of a servant who worked with her family.
Trasi does describe some horrendous things, but not in overly very graphic or explicit detail. While some readers may feel this glosses over the true horrors of what happens in the sex trade industry, others will appreciate this. Regardless, it was a beautiful story about the power of friendship and highlighted important social problems in India. The author clearly cares about the subject matter and has links to various aid organizations on her social media accounts. I thought this was a very strong debut novel and I look forward to reading the author’s future works.

**A full review with quotes and an amazon link to pre-order will be posted on my blog on June 17th, 2015. www.thereadersroom.org. I will update the review with a direct link to this review on my blog when it goes live.

I can not believe The Color Of Our Sky is a debut novel. It is a beautifully written novel that tackles some hefty subject matter. It is the interwoven story of two girls, Tara and Mutka. There are two stories going on, How Mutka came to live with Tara and her family and about Tara's search to find her a decade later. The two time periods are woven together nicely and flow very well. The novel is set in India and although Mutka and Tara are from very different social backgrounds. they very quickly form a tight friendship. This is a page turner! There are so many elements to this story that I enjoyed, but the thing that kept me intrigued was definitely trying to figure out what happened to Mutka as little pieces of information are revealed. This is a fantastic debut novel, I look forward to seeing what Amita Trasi comes up with next. I would recommend this book to fans of Khaled Hosseini.

This story reminds me how lucky I am, truly for those who are unaware of the plight of women in India, it makes you wonder: where have the feminists gone? For they still need women from other parts of the world to help with their lives.

Serious, a temple prostitute? While you in the luckier parts of the world would frown at the extremes of this culture, but it does happen, because people here hang on tightly to their culture and tradition, not having any education or wealth to their name.

Back to the story: its has two viewpoints: Tara’s and Mukta’s. It starts off with Tara when she was older, back from America to search for a missing girl named Mukta. The search is hard, because all Tara had is an old photograph and nothing to go on.

Switching to Mukta, it took awhile before I realized that, would have been nice if the author had written a name somewhere below the chapter number. Both voice seemed similar, until they start talking. I liked Mukta’s story more, because Tara’s quest is slow and yearning slow results.

Reading further, I realized that something is funny. Tara’s memories are mostly good, until it became slightly off. Mukta’s story was sad in the beginning until Tara broke through her emotional barrier.

In the end, it was not much of a shock, judging by Tara’s reaction and insistence of her quest to find some one who could have easily be buried six feet under, when the answers came out.

While I had hoped for a better ending, I cannot help but think that this is one that follows the story well. I hope that like me, if you choose to pick up the book, find the story sad and beautiful.

In many modern societies, we can be really mean to each other, but in the face of adversary and pain, I hope that we can be like Tara and Mukta, where forgiveness and acceptance elevates the pain in the heart.

Definitely worth a read, not for young people as you would have a hard time explaining certain scenes

This was one book which I couldn't put down. I finished it in one go. It was a good thing it was a holiday so there was no work as such to get through.

An unlikely friendship imposed on Tara by her father bring together two little girls from two very different worlds. Mukta born to a caste which practices Devdasi - marrying a girl to the temple goddess. In other words becoming a prostitute of the temple being forced into this life, despite whatever wishes she may have to be different. Tara's father rescues children and eventually sends them on to various orphanages. What makes Mukta different that she remains in Tara's house despite the antagonism and dislike of Tara's mother who treats her as a menial and a servant.

Family secrets remain hidden till midway in the book when once beginning to unravel you start to understand why this happens and why that doesnt. How a person can pretend/remain in a fugue about events that have happened in your life, close your eyes and pretend that events did not happen and like an ostrich we hope the problem goes away. So many people in this story acted like this and finally Mukta became the victim.

Tara and Mukta's life diverges when Mukta is abducted from the Bombay flat she lives in with Tara's family in Mumbai. Eleven years later, Tara knows that she has to do something. Returning from her life in Los Angeles, Tara tries hard to deal with the bureaucracy of the Mumbai police, the apathy of the detectives who could help her, the mafia and thugs who control the brothel trade and with the help of NGOs and a journalist who is trying to reveal the massive tentacles of the girl trade, they all try to trace Mukta and get her out of the brothel in which she is imprisoned.

Culturally so very descriptive of life in Mumbai, a small village on the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka and Los Angeles, the story brings to life a problem that is still a major issue in India. Emotionally haunting till the very end.

WOW - this book surprised me. The cover caught my eye, but when I read the description I was not sold because I typically do not like books in a foreign setting. Then I started reading--I was hooked! I could not stop reading and I did not want to turn the last page. GOOD READ!!

This book is amazing, though incredibly hard to read due to the heavy subject matterl. I cringed, I cried. I loved Mukta and Tara and wanted to hug them both through their entire ordeal. Wow.

Haunting and thought provoking. Not an easy read but vivid descriptions of life in Mumbai. I couldn't put it down.

What a wonderful, powerful, meaningful, special book. From the beautiful and stunning cover to the words that just have a huge impact on your heart. This is a truly amazing book from start to finish. A book that at times you want to put it down but can't because of how powerful and beautiful the story of the two childhood friends are.

Amita Trasi tells the story of two childhood friends - Mukta the daughter of a women who gives her body as a prostitutes in the name of their goddess. Tara is a daughter of zamindar. A event causes Mukta to have to move in under Tara's parents care and they become friends. Than something happens - Mukta is kidnapped with only one witness.....little Tara. It's been about 11 years and Tara is back where it happened with one goal - find her friend.

The story is not an easy story to read, not at all. It's very hard at times but has that power over the reader that makes them want to just keep reading and keep turning the pages. It's told in both past and present tense. Therefore readers are given an idea of what it was like for each girl when they were younger and than now while Tara looks for her childhood friend.

The book provides a roller coaster of emotions. It's raw at times and very powerful. Amita has done a fabulous job writing about social issues that some society's over look or don't want to take about. The author has written a book that provides readers into the harsh life of people and how some people can be cruel and heartless in so many ways.

Overall a heartbreaking book that makes readers think about what really goes on in the world outside of where we live. It's a powerful read one that makes you read it in one go. It demands to be read. I thank the author for taking the time to write such a powerful and meaningful book.

What a fantastic book! Even though this is fiction, I know these things depicted in this book happen in India even today. It's hard to believe some people live in such horrible conditions and that there are women - girls really - who have to live lives of such despair. I had to keep reminding myself that the setting took place so recently - and most likely would still be true now.

The descriptions were so vivid, I felt like I could see, feel, and smell the poverty. The characters were real and sympathetic. The author didn't sugarcoat events - bad things happened to good people too. I found myself in tears several times while reading this story.

Ultimately, though, I was happy to see the human spirit live on. As horrifying as some of this story was, it was also inspirational.

This is a must-read book for book clubs!!

The Colour of our Sky is a profound story about the concept of the caste system in India, of how much that system decides the road people's lives take.

Mukta was born into a lower caste, one in which the women dedicate their lives to becoming prostitutes for their goddess. When Tara's father rescues her, the two girls become more closely intertwined then either could ever have guessed.
Until Mukta is kidnapped in the middle of the night, and Tara just watches.

Within each character is complexity, no one is just 'good' or 'bad', there is deep shame, determination, and love. Tara grew up in a middle-class home in India, is constantly reflecting the different ideologies she grew up with. Tara, in a moment of emotional difficulty, makes a decision that will haunt her well into adulthood--until she realizes she can't rest until she makes things right.

It's beautiful and terrifying at the same time. A novel that will continue to make you think for a long, long time.

Almost from the beginning, I thought they might have been half sisters but we never really know and it doesn't really matter because this story is a beautiful telling of why they will always be sisters even if not related by blood . Through the story of Tara and Mukta , starting in 1987 in Mumbai , we are introduced to their two different worlds from different castes and then how they are brought together when Tara's father who works to help orphan children , brings Mukta home.

There are alternating chapters narrated by Tara and Mukta and each section begins with a thought from each of them. These were especially telling of what was in their hearts and minds .

"It took me most of my childhood to realize that traditions have infinite power over us ." Mukta

" I look back at a time when , absorbed in our own sweet lives , we were unable to see the sadness in another's eyes ." Tara

" The warm summer winds have long blown by. Now , only the cold rain assaults , reminding us that life moves on without waiting for anyone ." Mukta

" I read somewhere that one must keep walking against the strong winds of despair; waiting patiently on the high rocks of hope ... as if it were that simple." Tara

Moving back and forth in time from 1987 to 2009 , the story unfolds of the privileged girl and the girl made to suffer the brutal life of a prostitute . The novel is about what fate has dealt these girls , it's about friendship, the meaning of family and the horrible brutality of the sex slave trade where young girls are forced into prostitution in the name of a religious tradition . What makes this sad and so affecting is that even though , the author tells us in a note that the village of Ganipur is fictional, "there are similar villages in the area that practice the Devdasi traditions and force young girls into the prostitution trade . The tradition of temple prostitution is especially prevalent in the poorer sections of society ."

The feel of the story is somewhat reminiscent , although they are very different stories to the Kite Runner . In some ways , it is predictable, but still a beautiful yet incredibly sad story which tells awful truths , yet offers some hope at least for the characters in this book . One can only wish that this hope will exist for the real Mukta's of this world .
4.5 stars .

Thanks to Bloomhill Books and NetGalley.

A friendship that develops through the years, takes places in India. Two unlikely girls from different paths of life for a bond that can never be broken. At times heart wrenching, at times heart warming, this is one of those books that are hard to set down. Beautifully written, with true feelings. Wonderful!! 5 Stars!!!

This is an emotionally powerful story, that captivates the strength of love and hope compared to the cruel world that many young girls face and shows you that no matter how bad life gets, there's always a chance of happiness coming your way. I can honestly say that this is now one of my favourite books that I have ever read, as I feel an extremely deep connection to Mutka and Tara and they have became so real in my mind. There are brutal scenes within this book, many of which will stick with me through life, but they are honest scenes and the book wouldn't have so much power to the story without them there. I usually take a while to read a story, but this one I just couldn't put down. The end is also beautifully done; there is a resolution, despite the fact that there is more pain to come, but although the book could have stuck around for the final moments, I'm glad that it ended when it did, leaving you with that little bit of happiness and completion.

I enjoyed this novel so much. It was such an emotional journey reading this as it brings to light what some of the poorer village girls go through if they're sold away to become prostitutes at young ages. But the theme of this novel was hope as Tara picked up the search for Mukata after her father's death. So many secrets are revealed throughout, as well as relationships that are formed in spite of all the bad that happen. I thought the author, Amita Trasi, did a great job in really showing the friendship between Tara and Mukata, as well as every other relationship that means something to either girl. If you're looking for an emotional read that'll have you turning pages until the end, then look no further. It's also an informative read, even despite it being a work of fiction. The events that occurred in this novel are still happening today. I applaud Trasi on bringing the issues presented to light.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"It took me most of my childhood to realize that traditions have infinite power over us ." Mukta

First off I want to say that I love the cover! It's beautiful!

Blurb A sweeping, emotional journey of two childhood friends—one struggling to survive the human slave trade and the other on a mission to save her—two girls whose lives converge only to change one fateful night in 1993. India, 1986: Mukta, a ten-year-old girl from the lower caste Yellamma cult of temple prostitutes has come of age to fulfill her destiny of becoming a temple prostitute. In an attempt to escape this legacy that binds her, Mukta is transported to a foster family in Bombay. There she discovers a friend in the high spirited eight-year-old Tara, the tomboyish daughter of the family, who helps her recover from the wounds of her past. Tara introduces Mukta to a different world—ice cream and sweets, poems and stories, and a friendship the likes of which she has never experienced before. In 1993, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara’s room. Eleven years later, Tara who blames herself for what happened, embarks on an emotional journey to search for the kidnapped Mukta only to uncover long buried secrets in her own family. Moving from a remote village in India to the bustling metropolis of Bombay, to Los Angeles and back again, amidst the brutal world of human trafficking, this is a heartbreaking and beautiful portrait of an unlikely friendship—a story of love, betrayal, and redemption—which ultimately withstands the true test of time.

The Color of our Sky is a wonderfully written novel that will rip your heart out.

Mukta & Tara are well written characters. Mukta has such a big heart and you see that almost immediately. The bond between Mukta & Tara feels like family even though they aren't. I was a little confused at the beginning but it didn't take long for me to catch on.

The Color of our Sky is a book you should pick up!

Born into very different worlds, Mukta's mother is a temple prostitute who hopes for more for her daughter. Tara's father is higher caste, yet rejects the more traditional views, choosing instead to help bring children out of poverty or slavery.

A strange kinship develops between the two girls while Mukta holds out hope that one day her sky will be bright again, but the tentative happiness does not last. Mukta is kidnapped, and sold to a brothel. Through other girls she quickly learns her fate, and how easy it was for them to be trapped. The growing horror, the resignation, the tentative hope and the fear of reprisal.

The all-too-real problems of the sex trade, along with its child abuse, abortions, disease, poverty, and the conflict of traditional custom with modern life, are handled delicately but without shying away, making the impact even greater.

Ultimately, hope is the best gift offered, and offering a way out shines light into a terribly dark situation.

Although set in India, it could just as well have been set in the U.S. Human trafficking - sex trafficking - is both the oldest and newest iteration of the slave trade, and you shouldn't make the mistake of thinking, "It doesn't happen here". It does. Child prostitution, drugs, gangs... it's relevant to everyone. The ultimate tragedy, to my mind, is the acceptance of all this, the people who deliberately turn a blind eye for profit, or who just don't care, leaving a broken system which fails the most vulnerable and leaves them open to systemic, ongoing, generational abuse.

If you want to know more, or want to help girls like Mukta, visit amitatrasi.com.

This was a heartbreaking, yet unashamed look into the world of the sex trade and human trafficking, with views from both the wealthy, and the poor classes.

First off, the cover is quite simply amazing. It echoes the theme of the sky and the stars that reoccurs throughout the book, and is so simple in the bargain.

Written in first person, from both Mukta’s and Tara’s points of view, it isn’t a too different way of separating the chapters, but what I really loved were the quotes at the start of each chapter, which made it clear who’s point of view it was coming from. And by reading the quotes, you could really begin to understand the mindset of each girl, and how their journey was changing them.

One of the few things that I found mildly disruptive was the amount of time skipping. The book spans a period of five or six years, I think, but in some of the chapters it was hard to see that skip. Sometimes, it came as a sudden shock, and I often had to read over to get my head around the change of times.

But I loved that the romance in it as simple, and more as a background to the story, rather than a vital part of the plot. It was easily seen as a result of the two people working together over a period of five years. I’m so glad it wasn’t as most romances seem to be nowadays, where they see each other and are instantly in love. It was a refreshing change of pace, and I truly enjoyed this book.

This is a hard book to review. The subject matter is a difficult one, and Trasi approaches it with compassion and empathy. The story is told from two points of view at two different points in time. The first is Tara, the daughter of a family who rescues children in India. The second is Mukta, one of the children who is rescued. Mukta, as a child, is initiated as a temple prostitute and destined to be a sex worker. Once rescued, she is kidnapped from Tara's family home. As an adult, Tara discovers that her late father had spent the rest of his life searching for Mukta even after moving to America, and decides to return to India to continue the search.

The story weaves through time. Part of the story takes place while Tara and Mukta are children. Part of the story takes place while they are adults and remembering the past.

The shifting timelines and POV added an extra layer of suspense and mystery to the story, since it became clear that there was more going on than immediately apparent.

A compelling story of a not-so-nice part of India's culture.

I would like to thank Bloomhill Books and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic copy to review. Tara returns to Mumbai after 11 years, in order to find out what happened to her friend Mukta. Kidnapped in 1993 by whom Tara believes is a neighborhood hoodlum, Mukta has not been seen since. Tara's father had been searching via a private detective agency, but Tara has taken over the investigation because of her father's death. Although I was bothered by the different points of view and time period switches at first, the story and the strength of the characters slowly won me over. The style of writing was particularly effective because the author was able to unspool the story a little at a time. The slow building of the mystery over Mukta's disappearance left me with a feeling of anticipation, as I wanted the author to reveal the conclusion. The Color of our Sky is a well written story of two friends torn apart by circumstances and the desire of one of them to gain closure. The guilt she feels over her alleged part in the kidnapping is palatable and the author does a masterful job expressing this with few words. With a well written plot and wonderful characters, The Color of our Sky is a worthwhile read and one I recommend highly.

I received this as a galley from the publisher. I really enjoyed it. The characters will stay with me for a long time. This is a wonderful look at the caste system in India, and will pull at all of your heart strings. Well deserved hype, and well worth the read.

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. WOW...this was incredibly powerful and a very moving story. Do yourself a favor...put down the crap and give this one a try! You'll be glad you did! Beautifully moving story of friendship and loyalty...I loved it!

The writing is so beautiful and the varied POV was a great plot driver. The story itself is heartbreaking but I found the whole story captivating. I loved everything about this book and it is now one of my favourites. I will definitely pick up anything else this author writes.

This hauntingly beautiful tale of two girls, Mukta who is born to a life of prostitution and Tara a girl of a higher caste, who's lives intertwine when Tara's father brings Mukta out of her life in the brothels to life as a housekeeper for the family of an upper caste.

With ranges from hope to despair, this tale of friendship and class struggle with bring you joy while leaving a tear in your eye.

A heartwarming coming of age tale not to be missed.

आशा = hope

despair – resilience – forgiveness – hope

Amita’s first novel, The Color of our Sky was both heart-rending and hopeful. Two young girls from very different backgrounds, one the descendent of a long line of temple prostitutes (Devdasi) and the other the daughter of a middle class family in Mumbai. Tara grows up in a protected environment in Mumbai. Mukta is forced into slavery as a temple prostitute against the wishes of her mother who does not want her daughter to follow in the same tradition. Miraculously, Mukta is rescued and brought to live in Tara’s home. These two girls slowly form an uneasy friendship, neither of them realising that their need for each other’s friendship will last a lifetime. When the 1993 bomb blasts kill Tara’s mother, the lives of both girls are thrust into chaos. Mukta is kidnapped and Tara follows her father to America.

The story is told from the point of view of both girls, each chapter beginning with a quote.

“It’s a futile dream – I stand by the window and watch while a dove flies to me. The dove kisses my hands and leads me to light”. – Mukta

This book describes the condition of an important social problem in India, the sex slave industry. Although realistically portrayed, it is not graphic or detailed.

The writing was eloquent and interspersed with poetic language. I highly recommend this book.

I don't even know where to begin. This is the type of story that stays with you long after the last page. The story follows the lives of two girls in India and shows vividly the dire effects of the caste system and tradition can have on these women.

I'll be careful to avoid spoilers. The story begins in India in 1986. We meet Mukta who is a 10 year old girl living in a small village, the daughter and granddaughter of temple prostitutes. Although the story is fiction, this tradition is apparantly still occuring even today in small villages. Mukta's mother wants her daughter to not follow this path, but her grandmother convinces her that she will save her mother by being dedicated to the temple goddess as well.

We then meet Tara, an 8-year old tomboy living in the city. Her father helps children in need find there way to places where they can have a better life, often briefly fostering them. One day, he brings home Mukta and the girls become unlikely friends. Unlike the others, Mukta stays with them for 5 years. Then, a bombing kills Tara's mother, setting into action a chain of events that pulls Mukta back into a brothel. Tara and her father emmigrate to the US. It is 11 years later that Tara, full of guilt for what she believes is her role in Mukta's fate, returns to continue the search for Mukta that her father began.

This story is heart-wrenching and powerful, and yet somehow not a difficult read for me. The characters were beautiful and strong, and I feel changed for having read their story.

I had just finished reading Nectar in a Sieve and this book compliments it. It was the perfect book to read after Indian Classic. Characters are so intriguing I couldn't wait to finish reading book.

This title is perfect for readers who embrace stories of redemption and forgiveness. As a librarian, I appreciate the insight into a culture and topic that I new little about.