Monika Schröder, author of Saraswati’s Way, speaks of poverty and education

 

Monika Schröder grew up in Germany. She studied history at the Ruhr University in Bochumand worked in the German parliament before becoming an elementary school teacher. She has taught in international schools in Egypt, Chile, and the Sultanate of Oman, and is currently the elementary school librarian at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India. THE DOG IN THE WOOD is her first novel.

Her second novel for young readers, the recipient of a 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, SARASWATI’S WAY, was published by Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux in November 2010.

Her next novel, MY BROTHER’S SHADOW, will come out in September 2011.
You can find out more about her on her website: http://www.monikaschroeder.com/.

What inspired you to write Saraswati’s Way? 

Poverty is visible everywhere inIndia, particularly in big cities like New Delhi where beggars wait at every intersection. When leaving or arriving at the New Delhi train station I always wondered about the kids who seemed to live on the platforms, scavenging for food or collecting empty bottles for resale. I wondered where they came from and how they live. That’s how I began the research about street children.

 What do you hope readers take away from Akash’s story?

 For readers in America, most of whom can take going to school for granted, it might be interesting to learn about a boy who has to fight for his education. I also hope that the book introduces readers to some aspects of Indian culture as well as help them realize that regardless of where we live we all have dreams and want to pursue them in spite of obstacles.

 Is Saraswati’s poverty typical of most adolescents growing up in India?

 Poverty and child labor are wide spread problems in India.

There is a growing middle class inIndia but the majority of Indians still live in rural areas. Many families are forced to migrate from their villages to the cities after a poor harvest or debt has made it impossible to sustain a living.  But it is hard for them to find work in the cities and many end up in slums. 

 Why might customs interfere with Akash’s ability to continue in school and are these typical roadblocks in most cultures you’ve experienced or unique to this particular culture?

 Poverty is the biggest roadblock for Akash and his family. As stated before, poverty and also illiteracy are a sad reality inIndia. I have also lived inChile and the Sultanate of Oman where school systems are good and all kids receive an education. 

 Why is it important for adolescents to read about other cultures?

 As our world grows closer together through tv, internet and international travel I think it is important to know what is going on in other cultures. Knowledge about other cultures makes us more aware of what it means to be human. I also believe, maybe idealistically, that if we realize how much all of us regardless of religion, race, or color have in common we might ultimately be able to avoid conflicts between countries.

 Tell readers a bit about your other books.

 My first novel THE DOG IN THE WOOD (Front Street, 2009) is based on my father’s experience at the end of WWII when the Russian army entered his village ineast Germany. It is a book about the impact of war on regular people. My next book, MY BROTHER’S SHADOW, (Frances Foster/Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011) is also set inGermanyduring an important time of political transition, the end of WWI. 

 Is there a common theme throughout your work?

 I consider myself a very political person so I think political themes and social awareness are visible in my books. I also have written two books about the effects of war on young people. My home country, Germany, has started two wars in Europe bringing death, hunger and atrocities to millions of people. I think it is important for young readers to know how terrible war really is.

 What inspires or motivates you to stay with a particular story, especially a story that portrays some difficult lives, through the end?

 Once I am in the story I get very engaged in the character’s life and fate. So I want to lead him (I have only written books with boy main characters so far) through the story, hoping that his experience and resilience echoes with readers.