Super Short Summary

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman follows fifteen-year-old Vidya as she navigates the challenges of coming of age amidst political instability in India during World War II. After her father sustains a brain injury at a rally, Vidya's family moves from Bombay to Madras, where she confronts gender inequality and seeks solace in a restricted library, all while aspiring to attend college. Depictions of violence are present.