Book Review on The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond – A 13-Year-Old’s Honest Take

Hi! My name is Aarav and I’m 13 years old. My cousin sister gave me this book called “The Blue Umbrella” by Ruskin Bond, and honestly, at first I thought, “Umbrella? What can be so interesting about an umbrella?” But after I started reading, I couldn’t stop! It’s a short book, but it’s full of meaning, feelings, and life lessons that really made me think.The story is about a little girl named Binya, who lives in a peaceful mountain village somewhere in Himachal Pradesh. She’s poor, but she’s very happy and free. One day, when she’s up in the hills, she meets some tourists. The tourists see that she’s wearing a leopard-claw pendant, and they really want it. In exchange, they give her a beautiful blue umbrella — big, bright, and so fancy that it becomes the most special thing in the entire village!

Binya absolutely LOVES her new umbrella. She takes it everywhere, even when there’s no rain. Everyone stares at her umbrella and wishes they had one like that. The kids admire her, but not everyone is happy for her. There’s an old man named Ram Bharosay, who runs the village tea stall. He secretly becomes jealous and obsessed with the umbrella. He wants it so badly that he even tries to steal it through one of his workers!

When Binya finds out, she’s really hurt. But instead of becoming angry or getting revenge like most people would, she does something unexpected. She feels sorry for Ram Bharosa because he lost his respect and customers after the villagers found out he tried to steal from a child. So what does she do? She gives him the umbrella — willingly! Just like that. That part really shocked me. I actually paused and thought, “Would I ever do that?”

The story ends with Ram Bharosa realizing his mistake. He gives Binya a gift too — a bear-claw pendant, like the one she gave up for the umbrella. That moment felt very emotional and satisfying, like everything was peaceful again.

 What I Loved:

• The simplicity of village life felt very peaceful and different from city life.
  
• Binya’s character — she’s kind, bold, and doesn't show off even when she could.
  
• The ending was so wholesome. It teaches you that kindness is stronger than anger or revenge.
  
• It’s written in such simple and friendly language, it felt like I was actually living in the village with them.

The Blue Umbrella may be a small book, but it left a big impression on me. It made me think about how we treat others, how jealousy can harm relationships, and how forgiveness can actually heal people. I think every kid should read it at least once, especially if you like stories that are realistic, emotional, and have a message.

If you enjoyed this heartwarming story, you’ll love discovering the benefits of reading kids newspapers daily — a habit that shapes smart, sensitive, and well-informed kids!