Families’ fates linked in struggle to survive

In a crisis, people have the chance to see what they are really like under pressure. In A Guardian and a Thief, Megha Majumder explores what can happen when people are faced with temptation during a major crisis that threatens communities and a whole way of life.

Majumdar is a former editor-in-chief of Catapult Books and the author of A Burning, which was nominated for three awards, including the American Library Association’s Andrew Carnegie Medal, and was named one of the best books of the year by Time, the Washington Post and others. She was born and raised in Kolkata, India, and has degrees in anthropology from Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities, and lives in New York.

A Guardian and a Thief is set in Kolkata sometime in the future, when climate change has brought about a severe famine in India. A toddler named Mishti, together with her mother and grandfather (called Ma and Dadu), are among the lucky ones, as they have plans to join Mishti’s father in Michigan.

When a thief breaks into their home and steals their new passports, along with a large stash of food and money, their future is in jeopardy.

Using clues from a neighbour’s security camera, the three track down the thief, a young man named Boomba who has left his family home to earn a living. He realizes that Ma is a thief herself; she has stolen food from the shelter where she works. When she feels compelled to invite Boomba to stay in her home to keep him quiet, she sets off a train of circumstances eventually leading to two violent deaths.

The struggle for survival in difficult conditions is central to this novel. For many of the characters, getting a full meal or even finding enough food to last until the next day is a constant problem. Meanwhile, the gap between the rich and poor is evident, as in descriptions of the home of a wealthy woman who holds community meals.

The characters in A Guardian and a Thief also exhibit extremes, showing great concern for their families and friends but reacting with violence when threatened. The much-anticipated move to Michigan is left in doubt, leaving readers to imagine what might happen in the future to Mishti, Boomba and others.

A Guardian and a Thief is a disturbing but compelling story with vivid descriptions and characterizations. Majumdar describes Ma’s work at the shelter, the neighbour Mrs. Sen’s life and Boomba’s circumstances in detail, helping give context for the actions that follow. While some readers might become bogged down by the length of some sections, these character studies help give insight into the reasons for their future actions.

Few of the characters in this book are particularly likable, and while their actions might seem unrealistic at times, they help convey ways that hard times can bring out the best and worst in people. Boomba, for example, is reckless and often deceptive, but has real concern for his younger brother and parents. Similarly, Ma is willing to rob the shelter, but also works hard for her daughter’s sake.

Despite its often difficult and distressing content, A Guardian and a Thief is a well-written portrayal of the dilemmas people often face in times of crisis, and would be of interest to readers interested in how family, community and climate can intersect.

Susan Huebert is a Winnipeg writer and pet sitter.