The Rainbow Troops

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From Indonesia comes a record-breaking bestseller and modern fairy tale. Published in 2005, this autobiographical debut novel sold over five million copies and is now set to enchant global audiences. Ikal is a student at the poorest village school on Belitong Island, where graduating sixth grade is a significant achievement. His school faces constant threats of closure, and Ikal, along with his friends known as the Rainbow Troops, confronts numerous challenges: skeptical officials, greedy corporations, deepening poverty, and their own self-doubt. Yet, hope shines through in the form of two extraordinary teachers, making Ikal's educational journey uplifting. We root for him as he stands up to the island's tin mine officials and experience his first love for a girl selling chalk behind a shop screen. We cheer for Lintang, the class's barefoot math genius, as he triumphs over students from the mining corporation's school in an academic competition. Above all, we gain insight into the customs and people of the world's largest Muslim society. This narrative, reminiscent of Khaled Hosseini's work, offers a captivating glimpse into a unique milieu, filled with charm and vitality.