Anila's Journey by Mary Finn

Finn, Mary Anila’s Journey, pgs.320 Candlewick Press; Language~G, Sexual Content~PG; Violence~PG

Anila lives in colonial India. During this time the English were a constant presence. Anila’s story is one that is familiar to any who have studied the region during this time. Her mother fell in love with an Englishman who could not marry her. Anila is considered an outcast because she is not truly Indian or English. At the beginning of this story we learn that Anila’s mother has just died and Anila is now alone in the world. She will not leave Calcutta incase her father returns one day. Anila’s is a budding artist who especially loves to draw wildlife. She is able to gain a position on an expedition to hopefully discover a new species of bird life. This expedition opens up both the beautiful and the ugly to Anila. This is a slightly slow moving, but beautiful coming of age story, placed in an exotic land. If you have fans for more classic writing I would recommend this title, otherwise leave it to the public libraries to pick this one up.


The sexual content involves Anila's mother living for a time as a mistress to another wealthy Englishman and the violence stems from Anila stumbling upon a beaten slave.

MS –OPTIONAL. Allison Madsen~Teen Librarian-SJO Public Library