A Yellow House

Author/Guide: Karien Van Ditzhuijzen

Why a Booktrail?

2000s: A poignant coming-of-age story, through the eyes of 10 year old Maya, explores the plight of migrant domestic workers in Singapore

ISBN: 978-1912049349
Genre: Fiction

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What you need to know before your trail

Ten-year-old Singaporean Maya is lonely: her grandmother is dead, her mother is focused on her career and her best friend has become a bully. When Aunty M, a domestic worker from Indonesia, joins the family to take care of Maya and her baby sister, Maya is ready to hate her. Aunty M smiles a lot, but says little. However, after Aunty M rescues a fellow maid living in the same building and beaten by her employer, Maya discovers a side of Singapore hitherto unknown to her. She and Aunty M grow closer as they meet more and more women in need. What will happen when Mama finds out about Maya and Aunty M s growing involvement with the aunties? Will Maya lose Aunty M too? After all, Mama did say she hates busybodies …

Travel Guide

Singapore

This is the story of all those who work in the domestic service industry in Singapore. This story concentrates on the poor workers who live in plain sight of their bosses but who remain unnoticed in many ways.

“Everything was clean and organised. Not a blade of grass was out of place. Lakes in Singapore were ponds, filled with water we had to drink and were not allowed to play in. The only thing towering above the land were the stacks and stacks of apartment blocks and high-rise condos..”

Despite the glitz and glamour of the city for some, look down into the shadows and you find the real story. The people who work tirelessly every hour of every day to clean, serve and slave away for those with money. These people are forgotten, hidden away, as is the problem of their abuse and situation.

Through the eyes of a ten year old girl, the realisation of this situation and the heartbreaking reality is hard to bear. But all the more and real with it. When you discover what is happening to some of these people, you will be shocked and disgusted. The girl is bullied and then has her eyes opened to what awaits adults. Heartbreaking.