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No Ordinary Day
Even though Valli spends her days picking coal and fighting with her cousins, life in the coal town of Jharia, India, is the only life she knows. The only sight that fills her with terror is the monsters who live on the other side of the train tracks — the lepers. When Valli discovers that that her “aunt” is a stranger who was paid money to take Valli off her own family’s hands, she leaves Jharia and begins a series of adventures that takes her to Kolkata, the city of the gods. Valli finds that she really doesn’t need much to live and is very resourceful. But a chance encounter with a doctor reveals that she has leprosy. Unable to bear the thought that she is one of the monsters she has always feared, Valli rejects help and begins an uncertain life on the street.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Deborah Ellis
77 books583 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.
She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.
A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.
Deborah Ellis has achieved international acclaim with her courageous and dramatic books that give Western readers a glimpse into the plight of children in developing countries.
She has won the Governor General's Award, Sweden's Peter Pan Prize, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award.
A long-time feminist and anti-war activist, she is best known for The Breadwinner Trilogy, which has been published around the world in seventeen languages, with more than a million dollars in royalties donated to Street Kids International and to Women for Women, an organization that supports health and education projects in Afghanistan. In 2006, Deb was named to the Order of Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
July 13, 2015
"If you were not scared, you would be having just and ordinary day." That got through to me. I knew what an ordinary day was like. I did not want to go back to that.
A beautifully written story about the life a poor girl in India. Even though the book was short, I felt like I knew Valli. Highly recommended with young readers, I will definitely be saving this one for when my kids are a bit older. It has been listed for or won the following awards:
Winner of the Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth 2012
Short-listed for the Governor General's Award: Children's Text 2011
Selected for the ALA Notable Children's Books List 2012
Selected for the CCBC Choices Best of Year 2012
Short-listed for the Ruth and Syliva Schwartz Young Adult/Middle Reader Book Award 2012
Selected for the South Asia Book Award Honor Book 2012
Long-listed for the OLA Tree Awards 2013
Long-listed for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award 2012
Short-listed for the SYRCA Diamond Willlow Award 2013
The story: Valli is living with a family when she finds out they are not her family, but just a family that took her in. She is an orphan and sees no reason to stay with a family who cares little for her and abuses her. She hops on a truck carrying coal and out of the city. She lives well and happily on the street in Kolkota until a chance encounter with a benevolent doctor reveals that she has leprosy. She just begins to get treatment when she is scared away by her own fear of the other lepers who are disfigured. Valli makes her way back to street life, uncertain if she can ever go back to the hospital.
February 7, 2021
This is an excellent book for kids and adults! A girl in India ends up running away from home. She is homeless in Kolkata and gets diagnosed with leprosy. How does she handle it?
June 17, 2015
3 ½ stars
The children in this book reminded me of the homeless kids in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
This story touches on prostitution, poverty, prejudice and leprosy all within only 155 pages.
Little Valli finds joy in the strangest of places. A free cup of tea, a “borrowed” blanket from a hotel, the luxury of sleeping in peace for a whole night, even if this sleep can only be found in a graveyard.
But one thing really scares her. The monsters on the other side of the train tracks, who have ears, fingers, noses and feet missing…… She doesn’t know what leprosy is but she does know that her feet are magic, she can run hop and jump without feeling any pain.
The content of this book could so easily have been VERY bleak and depressing however through the eyes of Valli there was a definite feeling of hope throughout.
A quick read that will also be suitable for kids around 13 and up.
The children in this book reminded me of the homeless kids in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
This story touches on prostitution, poverty, prejudice and leprosy all within only 155 pages.
Little Valli finds joy in the strangest of places. A free cup of tea, a “borrowed” blanket from a hotel, the luxury of sleeping in peace for a whole night, even if this sleep can only be found in a graveyard.
But one thing really scares her. The monsters on the other side of the train tracks, who have ears, fingers, noses and feet missing…… She doesn’t know what leprosy is but she does know that her feet are magic, she can run hop and jump without feeling any pain.
The content of this book could so easily have been VERY bleak and depressing however through the eyes of Valli there was a definite feeling of hope throughout.
A quick read that will also be suitable for kids around 13 and up.
September 24, 2016
I think that this was a great book. It really spoke out to the conditions of the poor in India, and informed everyone who read the book about Leprosy and how it can be treated. The author explained the false view people have about it, and why they should think differently. I recommend this book to everyone so they can learn about this important issue!
August 15, 2012
Learning that her "family" is not really her family is freeing for Valli. With this new information she runs away from the
coal town in which she was living to the city of Kolkata. Valli quickly adapts to city life and learns to survive on the streets. What she does not realize is that like the people in her home town that she made fun of, Valli also has leprosy. While swimming to find coins, Valli meets a doctor who takes her to the hospital where she works. Valli is grateful
for the care she receives until she realizes she is with lepers. Valli runs away from the hospital, but finally recognizes the benefits and returns. She learns to accept her condition and see past leprosy's marks in others to discover the real person.
This book has much to teach about family, friendship, acceptance and survival. I think it is important for children in American classrooms today to learn about how people around the world live. Valli's story presents the poverty and illness that is common in so much of the world.
I found myself cheering for Valli as she survived another day and made use of what she found. Early on she learned the lesson of using what she needed and then passing it on to others. I like that she did this with both tangible (a blanket) as well as intangible items (a hug). Having students think of things they could pass on to others would be a natural extension to this story.
While some of the cultural terms made the story a little difficult to understand, a glossary for those terms was provided at the end of the book. I think this is a book worth reading aloud or independently.
coal town in which she was living to the city of Kolkata. Valli quickly adapts to city life and learns to survive on the streets. What she does not realize is that like the people in her home town that she made fun of, Valli also has leprosy. While swimming to find coins, Valli meets a doctor who takes her to the hospital where she works. Valli is grateful
for the care she receives until she realizes she is with lepers. Valli runs away from the hospital, but finally recognizes the benefits and returns. She learns to accept her condition and see past leprosy's marks in others to discover the real person.
This book has much to teach about family, friendship, acceptance and survival. I think it is important for children in American classrooms today to learn about how people around the world live. Valli's story presents the poverty and illness that is common in so much of the world.
I found myself cheering for Valli as she survived another day and made use of what she found. Early on she learned the lesson of using what she needed and then passing it on to others. I like that she did this with both tangible (a blanket) as well as intangible items (a hug). Having students think of things they could pass on to others would be a natural extension to this story.
While some of the cultural terms made the story a little difficult to understand, a glossary for those terms was provided at the end of the book. I think this is a book worth reading aloud or independently.
October 22, 2012
Diversity Novel:
I'd recommend this book for middle school readers. I love the underlying them of pay it forward! There are also strong themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and survival. Valli lives with a terrible aunt and uncle in Jharia, and spends her days picking up coal. Often, her cousins and her throw stones at the “monsters” across the railroad tracks. We eventually learn that these “monsters” suffer from leprosy. I think it is important for children in American classrooms today to learn about how some people around the world live. Valli is a bright, feisty girl, and I love that about her! When she finds out her aunt and uncle were given money by her family to take her in, she runs away. When she does, she ends up almost entering a life of prostitution. But the woman in charge finds out that Valli has leprosy. After spending time on the streets, she meets Dr. Indra who cleans her up and begins to treat her leprosy. However, Valli has to learn overcome her anger and her fears. A theme in the book is that fear is strong, but love is stronger. She tries to run away again, but eventually comes back to the hospital. The relationship between Dr. Indra and Valli is special and very powerful. At first Valli resists the love, protection, and help that Dr. Indra tries to give her, but she eventually accepts it and is grateful. What a great lesson for young readers! I always want my students to know that they are safe, loved, and important, no matter what they’ve gone through or will go through. In the end, Valli wants to grow up to be like Dr. Indra.
I'd recommend this book for middle school readers. I love the underlying them of pay it forward! There are also strong themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and survival. Valli lives with a terrible aunt and uncle in Jharia, and spends her days picking up coal. Often, her cousins and her throw stones at the “monsters” across the railroad tracks. We eventually learn that these “monsters” suffer from leprosy. I think it is important for children in American classrooms today to learn about how some people around the world live. Valli is a bright, feisty girl, and I love that about her! When she finds out her aunt and uncle were given money by her family to take her in, she runs away. When she does, she ends up almost entering a life of prostitution. But the woman in charge finds out that Valli has leprosy. After spending time on the streets, she meets Dr. Indra who cleans her up and begins to treat her leprosy. However, Valli has to learn overcome her anger and her fears. A theme in the book is that fear is strong, but love is stronger. She tries to run away again, but eventually comes back to the hospital. The relationship between Dr. Indra and Valli is special and very powerful. At first Valli resists the love, protection, and help that Dr. Indra tries to give her, but she eventually accepts it and is grateful. What a great lesson for young readers! I always want my students to know that they are safe, loved, and important, no matter what they’ve gone through or will go through. In the end, Valli wants to grow up to be like Dr. Indra.
October 1, 2011
This author always manages to remind me that the world is filled with "haves" and "have nots," and makes me grateful for own much-easier life. When Valli finds out that the family she has been living with her entire life is not even related to her, she decides to leave the coal town of Jharia, India. Afer a series of unfortunate events, she ends up on the streets of Kolkata where she barely survives by stealing, borrowing, and begging. A chance encounter with a kindly doctor changes her life, and she ends up being treated for the leprosy that was hinted at throughout the book. As she always does, Ellis tugs at readers' heartstrings, reminding us that some of the diseases most of us thought had been eradicated still exist, causing endless pain and suffering in others. There are quite a few coincidences in the book, and Valli's impulsive decision to leave her home for the unknown doesn't quite ring true for me although other scenes of sleeping on the street or in pipes certainly do. The author nails the growing penchant toward cruelty that grows in Valli as she watches any hope of a better or a different life evaporate. One of the best parts of the book centers around the doctor's dispelling of Valli's own stereotypes toward others who have contracted leprosy, a disease that has a strong stigma attached to it. An Author's Note provides more information about the disease, and proceeds from the book's sale go to The Leprosy Mission.
May 18, 2012
I thought this books was great showing the hidden children in India. Those who live in poverty or worse than poverty. I found Valli a strange character but amazing too. For most of the book she did not see her "place" in life as something horrible. She accepted her lot in life with humility. I give her major kudos for hoping a random truck to wherever she could get to away from the family she thought were her relatives but weren't. It is interesting how she behaved when she realized more about her "place" in life. The book does have somewhat of a happy ending. I say "somewhat" because things were just turning around for her in such a great positive way. It is up to the reader to imagine the full happy ending for this young amazing girl. So much potential!!!!
August 21, 2012
What if you didn't have a home nor a family? What if this was you and you lived in India? What if you are also had 'magical' feet which are feet that feel no pain even when they step on hot coals and jagged glass?
This is the story of young Valli who is living such a life in the streets of India. First in Jahari and then Kolkata. Survival means borrowing (aka stealing) and then passing it on to someone who needs it more. What happens when Valli meets a doctor who lets her know that her 'magical' feet are actually a symptom of a disease? Will Valli let the doctor help her or will she continue life the only way she knows it?
A quick read for young readers who would like to know more about life in other parts of the world.
This is the story of young Valli who is living such a life in the streets of India. First in Jahari and then Kolkata. Survival means borrowing (aka stealing) and then passing it on to someone who needs it more. What happens when Valli meets a doctor who lets her know that her 'magical' feet are actually a symptom of a disease? Will Valli let the doctor help her or will she continue life the only way she knows it?
A quick read for young readers who would like to know more about life in other parts of the world.
August 31, 2014
This lovely book relates the story of a homeless child in India and her transformation into society at large. It reads almost like a memoir, emphasizing details from a year-long period in her life. Her encounter with a disease (won't tell what it is!) changes her whole being, and she is thrust into a new segment of her life with the knowledge that although she is unlike most others, she is not alone.
Ellis uses a perfectly believable voice for her main character, Valli, who is understandably bold and fearful of life. After enduring a rough childhood, she runs away to Calcutta, where things don't really get much better. But her good nature and humor help her make the best of it.
This is also very much a moral story for tweens. I have already ordered several copies for my Library!
Ellis uses a perfectly believable voice for her main character, Valli, who is understandably bold and fearful of life. After enduring a rough childhood, she runs away to Calcutta, where things don't really get much better. But her good nature and humor help her make the best of it.
This is also very much a moral story for tweens. I have already ordered several copies for my Library!
August 10, 2012
Deborah Ellis is so good at telling the truth about peoples lives in a way that is not patronising but with feeling and compassion without you realising it. She does her research and really expresses life of the children she writes about in a way that informs without being preachy.
Along with her other novels No ordinary Day tells the story of a young person dealing with a situation that is out of their control and which they are making decisions based on the best information that have. Leprosy and its sufferers is discussed with respect with in a human way.
A great quick read for those wishing to understand life in a different circumstance.
Along with her other novels No ordinary Day tells the story of a young person dealing with a situation that is out of their control and which they are making decisions based on the best information that have. Leprosy and its sufferers is discussed with respect with in a human way.
A great quick read for those wishing to understand life in a different circumstance.
June 8, 2017
No ordinary novel! A heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful story thanks to compassionate strangers, and an insightful look at the most impoverished life imaginable from the POV of a young girl.
June 1, 2017
No Ordinary Day - A Story About Curiosity and Hope
The story is based on a little girl named Valli, she had a family til she discovered her family was her 'family'. She runs away from home and lives on the streets of Kolhata. She learns to `borrow` things from people but when shes done she`ll give it to someone who needs it more. One day she was showering in a river and met a doctor that offered her a check-up. The doctor told her that she has leprosy, a disease that blocks the feeling in the nerves. The doctor can only stop the disease from spreading rather than curing it. Leprosy happens more commonly among those living in poverty.
Valli has been living in poverty all her life. Coal mine labour, living with 7 other people; sleeping on the floor to living on the streets of Kolhata.
Kolhata is a very peaceful, marketing and poor city. They do not have much resources when it comes to health. They have a hospital that runs on doctors and nurses that work full time. Valli often slept on the cornerstones of streets and even in the cemetery there. Throughout the story she learns that the little things in life make you happy, like a cup of tea, a small blanket or even shampoo. The details in this book are just enough for the imagination while being a little adventurous and having some sort of mystery to it. `` if you were not scared, you would be having just an ordinary day.`` This quote is honestly very inspiring, she had learned that living on the streets were normal and if she were not scared it would just be an ordinary day.
This book was absolutely a good one and I highly recommend it to young readers because young people do not appreciate what they have. This book teaches you to be grateful and that poverty is a serious problem in little countries like Kolhata, India that need more help.
The story is based on a little girl named Valli, she had a family til she discovered her family was her 'family'. She runs away from home and lives on the streets of Kolhata. She learns to `borrow` things from people but when shes done she`ll give it to someone who needs it more. One day she was showering in a river and met a doctor that offered her a check-up. The doctor told her that she has leprosy, a disease that blocks the feeling in the nerves. The doctor can only stop the disease from spreading rather than curing it. Leprosy happens more commonly among those living in poverty.
Valli has been living in poverty all her life. Coal mine labour, living with 7 other people; sleeping on the floor to living on the streets of Kolhata.
Kolhata is a very peaceful, marketing and poor city. They do not have much resources when it comes to health. They have a hospital that runs on doctors and nurses that work full time. Valli often slept on the cornerstones of streets and even in the cemetery there. Throughout the story she learns that the little things in life make you happy, like a cup of tea, a small blanket or even shampoo. The details in this book are just enough for the imagination while being a little adventurous and having some sort of mystery to it. `` if you were not scared, you would be having just an ordinary day.`` This quote is honestly very inspiring, she had learned that living on the streets were normal and if she were not scared it would just be an ordinary day.
This book was absolutely a good one and I highly recommend it to young readers because young people do not appreciate what they have. This book teaches you to be grateful and that poverty is a serious problem in little countries like Kolhata, India that need more help.
May 16, 2019
Warning this review is going to give out some vivid details about this book, so if you don't want any spoiler or such things for this book novel. Then I suggest that you should GO AWAY!
No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis is a fantastic novel. The book the events of Valli’s(the main character) adventures in Kolkata, India. Valli is a courageous girl who finds herself on a journey of independence, taking with her only her spirit. Even though she was neglected by her grandparents and finding out that her real mom passed away, she was still a young, strong, and independent girl. Who took the risk of running away. Throughout the struggles she has gone through, she never gave up. Like where she found out, she had a disease called Leprosy. Dr. Indra, a friendly doctor who looking closely to into Valli's foot and helps her to recover.
I highly recommend this book to fans of adventure, inspirational or educational novels.
No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis is a fantastic novel. The book the events of Valli’s(the main character) adventures in Kolkata, India. Valli is a courageous girl who finds herself on a journey of independence, taking with her only her spirit. Even though she was neglected by her grandparents and finding out that her real mom passed away, she was still a young, strong, and independent girl. Who took the risk of running away. Throughout the struggles she has gone through, she never gave up. Like where she found out, she had a disease called Leprosy. Dr. Indra, a friendly doctor who looking closely to into Valli's foot and helps her to recover.
I highly recommend this book to fans of adventure, inspirational or educational novels.
May 13, 2018
I think 'No Ordinary Day' was a book with absolutely beautiful vocabulary and symbols that made me understand the novel with a much deeper meaning than I usually do with other books. This novel is about a young girl named Valli who is diagnosed with leprosy. She is not accepted into society for the disease she has, however, through her journey in the city, she meets someone called Doctor Indra that can help change her life forever.
The novel has many symbols that make the book so much more interesting and deep. For example, the author used simple things like color to represent how much power a character had throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy finding the deeper meaning behind the text and also to readers who like learning about new social issues.
The novel has many symbols that make the book so much more interesting and deep. For example, the author used simple things like color to represent how much power a character had throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy finding the deeper meaning behind the text and also to readers who like learning about new social issues.
May 22, 2018
I love how this book tackles leprosy. I like how they make whoever had Leprosy were monsters and the way they are treated. It is not right to treat them like that because it is not their fault and this book does a good job telling how you can deal with it. This book has some themes about family and survival. When she learns her family has been paying her uncle and aunt to keep her with them she runs away. This really connects with me because if I found out that my parents are paying some horrible people to keep me away from them, I would be sad. The main theme is survival because throughout the whole book she had to avoid so many things like prostitution and Leprosy.
This book was a great read!
This book was a great read!
January 28, 2012
This book took about an hour to read. It bounced lightly over such topics as poverty, homelessness, leprosy, prostitution and sex slavery and thievery. The main character thinks she has magic feet because she can stand in the hot coals of a burning ghat and not feel a thing. Lucky for her because her feet are in fact rotting beneath her. I found the presentation of such serious and tragic issues too superficial and brief. I guess middle school would be the audience, but who would want to explain what is really happening and have that discussion at that level?
June 14, 2017
Deborah Ellis is a terrific author whose mission is to bring the struggles of children in different countries into the awareness of her first world readers. In "No Ordinary Day," Ellis creates a winning heroine in Valli, an orphaned girl in India who is surviving by her wits in the streets of Kolkata. Valli is profoundly shaken when she learns that she has leprosy, will she be able to overcome the cultural taboos surrounding this disease in time to get help?
May 28, 2019
I struggled to get into this book...a problem when the book is only a hair over 150 pages long! But the story ended up being worth it, and I found myself almost sad when the story ended, as I truly wanted more.
As a side note: the cover isn't a good introduction to a book. I seriously thought it was about a homeless child and her cat... lol
Content Advisory: poverty, illness, discrimination, homelessness, death, (hints at) institutionalized prostitution
As a side note: the cover isn't a good introduction to a book. I seriously thought it was about a homeless child and her cat... lol
Content Advisory: poverty, illness, discrimination, homelessness, death, (hints at) institutionalized prostitution
May 13, 2017
This book is great. It is a kid's book, and it is about a serious subject, but it is entertaining and captivating to read. This book has a good story, and also a main character I could bond with. This is not a super-long book. The main character is about nine years old, however, I believe that children older than nine would also be fascinated by this book.
February 2, 2018
"No Ordinary Day" By Deborah Ellis is a book about a girl who leaves her village to start a new life, she then lives on the streets of a larger city. She has to figure out how to live and deal with Leprosy, a disease that ruined the nerves so she can feel pain. I would recommend this book to people that like historical books.
May 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I instantly felt a connection to Valli, perhaps because I work with children and interact with them on a daily basis. The book is easy to read, fantastic story line and the perfect amount of details to keep the reader engaged!
March 12, 2020
No Ordinary day is a good book. One of my first books relating to real-life events and problems. The way Deborah Ellis describes this girls life is amazing. I am interested and at the same time angry that this happens in real life.
March 23, 2017
I loved the way Deborah Ellis portrayed the thoughts of a young child. The innocence of the main character is amazing and her outlook on her ailment is not one that I would expect.
January 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book because it had a lot of action and power in it.
January 24, 2018
The story was pretty powerful to me because It shows that others aren't as fortunate as I am. The character Valli is a really strong person.
February 1, 2018
I think this book was a good book
January 14, 2019
I liked it. It had a sweet and a little sour ending. I disagreed with some of the characters choice sometimes but I was glad that it had a happy ending (more or less).
April 24, 2019
It was ok, the dialogue could have been better and there could have been more internal thoughts
February 4, 2020
It was very interesting to see how a different culture views leprosy, and just how different the culture of India is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews