Kim
Rudyard Kipling, Wendi Capehart
eBook
(, July 7, 2012)
Kim was one of my favourite books as a child. It is a secret geography book, as Kipling sends young Kim and his Monk on a journey along India's Grand Trunk Road, where they encounter the sorts of people, cultures, and scenery of the time and area- always seen through the eyes of Kipling, a member of the British Empire. Since what we see is described through Kipling's viewpoint, some interpretation is required. This sort of exercise is good for all of us - is Kipling describing what is really there, or does his own culture influence what he sees and how he interprets it? The next step, of course, is to examine our own culture and how it influences our interpretations.While reading Kim with both eyes open will enlarge a student's vocabulary, expand his sense of culture and how it influences us, and give him some rudimentary ideas of the geography of parts of India, these are not the main reasons to read Kim. It's an adventure. Kim is resourceful, amusing, self-sufficient, loyal, attentive, alert, and clever. He is a scamp and a rascal and a delight. He is a good friend to have on your side. Read Kipling's Kim, and make another friend in your life.This edition has had a few racist words removed. The table of contents has been activated for Kindle. I've added an introduction which includes suggestions and helps for using Kim in your homeschool.