Born Behind Bars

Born Behind Bars (2021) is a middle-grade novel by Padma Venkatraman. The story centers on a boy named Kabir. Born in an Indian women’s prison, he should have been released at age six but is still there at age nine, when a new warden releases him into the hands of a dangerous stranger. Kabir must practice courage, self-love, and persistence to escape the stranger’s clutches, make new friends, locate his estranged family, and fight to free his mother, who was innocent and should never have been in prison. Through his journey, Kabir learns the power of family and friendship, resilience, and teamwork.

This guide refers to the paperback edition published by Nancy Paulsen Books in 2023.

Content Warning: Born Behind Bars and this guide refer to imprisonment, abuse, death, segregation, and prejudice.

Plot Summary

Nine-year-old Kabir was born in an Indian women’s prison and has lived there all his life with his mother, Amma. Sharing their cell are three other women, whom Kabir has nicknamed Grandma Knife, Aunty Cloud, and Mouse Girl (who is new). Kabir wishes he and Amma could be free and experience the world outside, which he knows about only from stories, pictures, and the small outdoor area he’s allowed to walk through on his way to “jail school” each weekday.