The Salt Thief: Gandhi's Heroic March to Freedom

by Neal Bascomb

The dramatic story of Gandhi and India's long march to freedom by award-winning author Neal Bascomb.


Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

In 1930, the Indian people, long ruled by their British occupiers, were at a breaking point. No more could many stand the terrible demands of colonial rule. At this pivotal moment, Mohandas Gandhi, who had suffered firsthand for decades the cruelty of his oppressors, saw an opportunity to win his people's freedom. And so, Gandhi led a small band of his followers on a grueling march from his ashram in western India to the Arabian Sea. After 24 days and 241 miles under a withering sun, the marchers arrived on the Dandi seashore. There, Gandhi scooped up a handful of salt to protest the much-hated British salt tax, demonstrating to the world the injustice of Britain's yoke and setting the stage for a popular national uprising.

In the dramatic months that followed, Gandhi led acts of nonviolent resistance against the British Raj across the country that would eventually culminate in a brutal crackdown. But Gandhi and those who bravely stood with him faced arrest, beatings, and even bullets without ever raising a hand in retaliation.

These events inspired India to demand its liberty from Britain, awakened the world to a movement that would forever change the course of history, and inspired generations of freedom fighters all over the globe.

Award-winning author Neal Bascomb chronicles what was arguably Gandhi's most notable campaign in his struggle for India's independence. His focus on nonviolent protest and revolutionary action introduces young readers to a pivotal historical moment with timely implications for today's world.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Middle Grade, Social Justice

231 pages, Hardcover

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Neal Bascomb is a national award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of a number of books, all non-fiction narratives, all focused on inspiring stories of adventure or achievement. His work has been translated into over 18 languages, featured in several documentaries, and optioned for major film and television projects.

Born in Colorado and raised in St. Louis, he is the product of public school and lots of time playing hockey. He earned a double degree in Economics and English Literature at Miami University (Ohio), lived in Europe for several years as a journalist (London, Dublin, and Paris), and worked as an editor at St. Martin’s Press (New York). In 2000, he started writing books full time.

His first book HIGHER was selected for the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writer award and was featured in a History Channel documentary. His second THE PERFECT MILE was a New York Times bestseller and frequently ranks as one of the top books on running. His third RED MUTINY won the United States Maritime Literature Award and critical acclaim around the world. His fourth HUNTING EICHMANN was an international bestseller and led to a young adult edition called NAZI HUNTERS that was the 2014 winner of the YALSA Award, Sydney Taylor Book Award (Gold Medal), among numerous others. His fifth book THE NEW COOL was optioned by major producer Scott Rudin for film. His sixth ONE MORE STEP, focused on the first man with cerebral palsy to climb Kilimanjaro and finish the Kona Ironman, was a New York Times bestseller as well.

An avid hiker, skier, and coffee drinker, he is happily settled in Seattle, Washington with his family.

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This is a very interesting look at Gandhi's part in overthrowing British rule in India. Well researched, and told in Bascomb's (The Race of the Century, The Grand Escape) engaging style. Since the Partition of India is one of my favorite horrible historical events, I found this to be a riveting read, and a good accompaniment to fictional coverage of this time period like Faruqi's The Partition Project, Bradbury's A Moment Comes, Hiranandani's The Night Diary, Senzai's Ticket to India, and Kelkar's Ahimsa.

[Jen Sines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feeling hopeless about the current political situation, but reading this book led me to reflect on other movements that faced greater barriers (fights for independence, civil rights, apartheid) and how those powerful movements began with a pinch of salt or sitting down on a bus.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read other books by Bascomb and have generally liked the topic or content, however this one needed a different title and a shift in focus to be more relevant for its intended audience. If it was more focused on the soup to nuts of the Salt March (like others for the Million Man March, etc.) that included a bunch about Gandhi who was integral in it, but again, focused more on the march. I thought I was going to read a biography of Gandhi and instead diverted most of the energy to the march after giving me a handful of chapters about Gandhi's previous work- relevant yes- but too much about that to then focus on the march for the rest of the time.

Though, I did appreciate Bascomb's laser-like focus on Gandhi as a whole human being- he was not perfect, far from it, which is starting to become the dominant and more important narrative. His strict beliefs, while useful for his nonviolent work, was also concerning, hard to navigate/follow, and tough to be around at times.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his own quiet way Mohandas Gandhi was a very powerful person.

This new biography in the "True Stories in Focus" series illustrates his approach to problems and how using quiet methods achieved so much for people in Africa where he first practiced law to his homeland of India in his desire to help India gain it's independence from England. It was a long arduous process over many years requiring a great deal of patience and fortitude. Gandhi was amply supplied with both which he bolstered through living a simple life and a great deal of prayer and meditation. He inspired many followers who joined him on the Salt March as well as in other endeavors.

This is a stirring account of Gandhi's life. A bibliography is included. A glossary and a map would have also been helpful.

Recommended for purchase by public and school libraries for ages 12 and older.

M.P.
Ret. Library Asso.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his own quiet way Mohandas Gandhi was a very powerful person. This new biography in the "True Stories in Focus" series illustrates his approach to problems and how using quiet methods achieved so much for people in Africa where he first practiced law to his homeland of India in his desire to help India gain it's independence from England. It was a long arduous process over many years requiring a great deal of patience and fortitude. Gandhi was amply supplied with both which he bolstered through living a simple life and a great deal of prayer and meditation. He inspired many followers who joined him on the Salt March as well as in other endeavors. This is a stirring account of Gandhi's life. A bibliography is included. A glossary and a map would have also been helpful.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thorough and powerful account of a man whose life and activism set the stage for the political/social passive resistance movements that followed.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said about Ghandi and nonviolent activism (paraphrased)
Jesus taught the principles of the power of love in achieving better lives for the everyone in then world, but Ghandi taught us the method by which we can practice nonviolence to a successful end.

The story is very complex and could be challenging for youth readers without discussions and contextual backgrounds.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brings to life a pivotal moment in India's struggle for independence. “Gandhi and his fellow salt thieves gave the world a blueprint on how to achieve political change not by the fist, the sword, the gun, or the bomb but rather through fearless, peaceful protest.”

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dryer than I would like. This detailed the events that led up to Gandhi's peaceful protests against restrictive salt taxes.