Super Short Summary

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman tells the story of Viji and Rukku, two sisters who escape their abusive father and find themselves in a seaside Indian city, where they form a makeshift family with two homeless boys, Arul and Muthu. The children navigate hunger, danger, and societal prejudice while grappling with questions of faith, future, and family. The narrative addresses physical abuse, poverty, illness, and childhood death.