If you’re on the lookout for an upper elementary class novel that combines heart, resilience, and a compelling narrative, look no further – Thirst by Varsha Bajaj is the novel for you! Thirst combines a strong female protagonist Minni with social issues like unequal access to water and education. Minni’s experiences are both eye-opening yet relatable to students, and the strong narrative writing keeps kids reading!
Thirst by Varsha Bajaj
Interest Level
Upper Elementary and Middle School
Thirst by Varsha Bajaj Overview
From the book flap:
“Minni lives in the poorest part of Mumbai, where access to water is limited to a few hours a day and the communal taps have long lines. Lately, though, even that access is threatened by severe water shortages and thieves who are stealing this precious commodity–an act that Minni accidentally witnesses one night. Meanwhile, in the high-rise building where she just started to work, she discovers that water streams out of every faucet and there’s even a rooftop swimming pool. What Minni also discovers there is one of the water mafia bosses. Now she must decide whether to expose him and risk her job and maybe her life. How did something as simple as access to water get so complicated?”
Thirst by Varsha Bajaj Main Themes
Universal, relatable themes emerge through Thirst:
- Resilience
- Compassion and Empathy
- The Importance of Friendship
- Strength from Adversity
Student Impact
Thirst resonates with students and naturally encourages critical thinking. What may seem basic or ordinary to our students (like access to water and education) are not so straightforward for Minni and other characters in Thirst. Teachers can also draw parallels to issues like the Flint water crisis.
Students find the protagonist Minni and her predicament compelling – it could be a life or death decision, but it is explored without gore and violence.
Also, students get a window into the everyday life of a kid in another country and culture. Again, it can be an eye-opening experience for students to discover how much time can be spent on accessing simple things like water.
Build Rigor
By itself, Thirst is an amazing novel to teach or read aloud. If you want to take your students’ understanding to the next level, pair Thirst with these nonfiction close-reading articles. These articles are specifically tailored to complement major themes and concepts from the novel. In these close reads, students:
- Annotate
- Cite text-evidence
- Develop inferences
- Make text-to-text connections
- Develop vocabulary
- Build writing skills
These articles help bridge the gap between fiction and nonfiction for these four Thirst related topics:
- The Effects of Unequal Access to Education
- World Water Day
- Black Markets
- Compassion
Grab your copy here: Thirst Novel Study Supplement
I Want to Hear From You
Why do you love teaching Thirst by Varsha Bajaj? What do your students like about the novel? What surprises your students most? Share your experiences in the comments below!
