The Bridge of Little Jeremy by Indrajit Garai (Review by Bruna Looby)

3.8/5.0

If you are interested in Paris and the arts, this book is for you.

Jeremy is a twelve-year-old boy living in Paris with his mother and his dog, Leon. The book is narrated through Jeremy’s point of view and it makes the story very heartfelt.

It is an extremely descriptive and slow-developing story that I know not everyone will enjoy. Each and every conversation and scene is vividly sketched for you to imagine.

Jeremy has a heart condition and he needs to have surgery as soon as they can afford it. But his mom is having financial issues due to debt from inheritance tax. She inherited their flat from her dad and ever since he passed away, the taxes have been accumulating. They’ll be evicted from their home soon and his mom could even go to jail.

Jeremy discovers an underground vault in their flat and finds a very old painting that seems like it could be valuable. The frame is made of wood inlaid with gold and the painting is beautiful. He thinks it might be worth something and may even be valuable enough to help his mom with her debt. He finds someone to restore the painting and help him sell it. Jeremy is off on an adventure to find out about the mysterious painter and how it got to the secret vault in their flat. He discovers things about the generations before him as well as his own past.

Jeremy is one of the strongest characters I’ve ever read about and I loved him. Although he’s only twelve, he’s so independent and strong and he’s determined to help his mom no matter what. His friendship with his dog Leon is touching. They often go on walks in the parks and streets of Paris and I loved Jeremy’s little moments of philosophy. When he meets a fisherman and watches him fish, he asks, “Why can’t we have fun without hurting animals?” When he meets a gardener, they talk about roses and their unique beauty and the gardener says, “Beautiful isn’t beautiful when it comes in plenty.” Overall, it is a beautiful book; different from anything I’ve ever read before.