In a world where borders divide and headlines often overlook the human stories behind migration, The Freedom Seeker offers a poignant reminder: every journey begins with a heartbeat. Written by renowned activist and award-winning documentarian Ruchira Gupta, this middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Simi Singh on a harrowing quest for safety, belonging, and the enduring strength of family.

Set against the backdrop of rising intolerance in Northern India, Simi’s story begins with ordinary worries—school exams, hockey matches, and the teasing of a class rival. But when a rock shatters her family’s window during an Id celebration, everything changes. Her Sikh father and Muslim mother’s interfaith marriage becomes a target of violent vigilantes, forcing the family to make an impossible choice: stay and risk their lives, or flee.

What follows is a daring journey across India, Mexico, and the United States, filled with danger, heartbreak, and unexpected kindness. When Simi and her mother are separated during a desert crossing into Arizona—each believing the other is dead—Simi must summon every ounce of courage to survive and reunite her family.

🎙️ A Conversation with Ruchira Gupta

On this week’s All Along the Bell Tower, I sat down with Ruchira Gupta to explore the heart behind the novel. A lifelong advocate for vulnerable communities, Gupta’s work fighting sex trafficking and promoting justice has shaped her storytelling in profound ways.

Gupta’s research and personal connections helped bring each setting to life—from the vibrant streets of India to the perilous desert trails of the U.S.-Mexico border. Through Simi’s interfaith family, the story also explores the complexities of identity, acceptance, and the power of love in the face of hate.

🌍 Migration by the Numbers—and the Heart

Did you know the U.S. is home to the largest number of international migrants, with nearly one-fifth of the world’s total migrant population? Among them, 649,000 are recent immigrant children aged 5 to 17. Globally, nearly 36 million children are migrants, and half of the 34 million refugees and asylum seekers are children.

“When we feel daunted by very big problems and we think we can’t do anything,” Gupta said. “We should not get paralyzed, we should do what we can and where we are.”

💬 Themes of Compassion and Resilience

Throughout The Freedom Seeker, strangers offer Simi help across borders—reminding readers that compassion is not bound by geography. Gupta hopes young readers walk away with a deeper understanding of asylum seekers and the true meaning of freedom.

When asked what she’d say to Simi today, Gupta smiled: “I would tell her that I admire her, I am inspired by her, and I would tell her to go talk to other children and tell them your story.”

The Freedom Seeker is more than a novel—it’s a call to empathy, a celebration of resilience, and a tribute to the unbreakable bonds of family. For listeners, readers, and communities across Texas and beyond, Simi’s journey is a reminder that freedom is not just a destination—it’s a shared responsibility.