The Orphan Keeper

By: Camron Wright

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Seven-year-old Chellamuthu's life - and his destiny - is forever changed when he is kidnapped from his village in Southern India and sold to the Lincoln Home for Homeless Children. His family is desperate to find him, and Chellamuthu anxiously tells the Indian orphanage that he is not an orphan, he has a mother who loves him. But he is told not to worry, he will soon be adopted by a loving family in America.

Chellamuthu is suddenly surrounded by a foreign land and a foreign language. He can't tell people that he already has a family and becomes consumed by a single impossible question: How do I get home? But after more than a decade, home becomes a much more complicated idea as the Indian boy eventually sheds his past and receives a new name: Taj Khyber Rowland.

It isn't until Taj meets an Indian family who help him rediscover his roots - as well as marrying Priya, his wife, who helps him unveil the secrets of his past - that he begins to discover the truth he has all but forgotten. Taj is determined to return to India and begin the quest to find his birth family. But is it too late? Is it possible that his birth mother is still looking for him? And which family does he belong to now?

From the best-selling author of The Rent Collector, this is a deeply moving and gripping journey about discovering oneself and the unbreakable family bonds that connect us forever.

©2016 Camron Wright (P)2016 Shadow Mountain

Why fictionalize a true story?

While I enjoyed the novel, I was left perplexed as to why the author would fictionalize, and in so doing, marginalize a true story. Taj Rowland is not a fictional character, his life story should stay true to Taj's life. Why keep the names and basic story line true but change aspects of Taj's life to make the story more marketable? Other authors have been able to make true stories read like a novel. Either stick to the facts and write nonfiction or change the story and main character enough that it just inspired by true events. This feels like rewriting history. Either write a true historical account or don't, but don't tell 90% truth and then change documented, defining parts of a person's history. While the aspects that were changed don't appear to alter the basic story line, they muddle history and ought to have stayed true to Taj's life.

100% worth my time

This is an amazing story. interesting from the beginning to end. All kinds of twists and turns. loved it.

Amazing story.

This book kept our interest and we kept listening for hours at a time. We've recommended this book to numerous people to read.

relieved that there was no sappy ending.

I liked that this book was based on a true story. The reader was believable

Hard and rewarding

People do hard things everyday. This book is well written and the audio is well done. I like factual stories and highly recommend this book as it relates to life, family and hope.

Wonderful book!

This was one of those books that I didn't want to stop listening to. Sadly, my job forced me to pause listening each day. This is a wonderful story of love, lessons, and blessings.

Really Good Story

it kept me wanting to hear the next chapter. t he narrator kept me interested and wanting it to not end.

Fantastic in every way

Loved the way it was told by the author and the way it was performed by the reader.

Great story

The Ophan Keeper was a wonderfully told story. There were many life lessons throughout. It was the relating to a Bible story towards the end that surprised me most and caused me to pause for a moment of reflection.

beautiful story

A beautifully woven story. Predictable in all the best ways. I enjoyed the narration as well