Lion: A Long Way Home Young Readers' Edition

Written by Saroo Brierley

Narrated by Vikas Adam

The young readers' edition of the true story that inspired Lion, the Academy Award nominated film starring Dev Patel, David Wenham, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman. 

When Saroo Brierley used Google Earth to find his long-lost home town half a world away, he made global headlines. Saroo had become lost on a train in India at the age of five. Not knowing the name of his family or where he was from, he survived for weeks on the streets of Kolkata before being taken into an orphanage and adopted by a couple in Australia. Despite being happy in his new family, Saroo always wondered about his origins. When he was a young man the advent of Google Earth led him to pore over satellite images of India for landmarks he recognized. And one day, after years of searching, he miraculously found what he was looking for and set off on a journey to find his mother.

This edition features new material from Saroo about his childhood, including a new foreword and a Q&A about his experiences and the process of making the film.


"The emotional journey of Saroo Brierley (Patel) . . . will melt hearts around the globe."—People magazine

"Amazing stuff."—The New York Post

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9780525524021

Saroo Brierley

When Saroo Brierley used Google Earth to find his long-lost birthplace half a world away, his story made global headlines. That story is being published in several languages around the world and is currently being adapted into a major feature film. Brierley was born in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India. He currently lives in Hobart, Tasmania.

Reviews for Lion

[colie77 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A little more detail than the movie.

[booklover1801 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The latest edition of Saroo Brierley's "A Long Way Home" has been renamed "Lion," the title of the feature film based on Saroo's amazing but true story. Brierley relates his odyssey from India to Hobart, Tasmania—from abject poverty, hunger, and illiteracy to a comfortable house, nourishing meals, and educational opportunities—but he also describes his longing to locate the birth family he had not seen in twenty-five years. In simple but eloquent prose (kudos to Brierley and his co-author Larry Buttrose), Saroo recalls how he survived as an impoverished youngster in a small town in central India. He, along with his single mother, Kamla, and his three siblings had to scrounge daily for food. Kamla hauled rocks for a living, while her four children begged, stole, and scavenged to keep starvation at bay. They were close-knit, but living on the edge took its toll.

One evening in 1986, fourteen-year-old Guddu, Saroo's brother, reluctantly agreed to allow Saroo to accompany him on his nocturnal wanderings. Unfortunately, the five-year-old Saroo, who spoke only Hindi, inadvertently ended up on a train that took him to Calcutta, 930 miles away from home. Saroo was terrified and unable to communicate with the Bengali speakers he encountered in the bustling city. Brierley poignantly describes his despair, but credits resilience, resourcefulness, street smarts, the kindness of strangers, and good luck for his ability to emerge from his ordeal relatively unscathed.

A loving couple from Australia adopted six-year-old Saroo in 1987. However, he still dreamed about his past and hoped someday to visit his relatives in India. The problem was that he did not remember the name of the place from which he came. This memoir is a fitting tribute to the kindness of those who went out of their way to help a lost child. In addition, the author educates us about the huge number of homeless children in India who are vulnerable to exploitation by predatory adults. Saroo, now thirty-five, realizes that he could have easily ended up as just another sad statistic. "Lion" celebrates the unbreakable bond between a sensitive young man and his two families—both in India and Australia. The black and white photographs add texture to this engrossing account of an incredible and inspiring journey.

[picathartes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Possibly THE MOST incredible story you will ever read. Maybe not the best retelling, but it still ranks as a great book. Many of the important facets of this book are more universal than specific to Saroo Brierley which make it a must read for everyone who likes to read and thirsts for knowledge.

Well done, and godspeed Saroo.

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh man, this story is so touching and really makes a person appreciate life. I could tell that it was written by someone who doesn't make a living writing. It's more of a just the facts type read instead of one that tries to stir up emotions, but the subject matter will bring on the feelings regardless. I'm looking forward to seeing the film.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Saroo Brierley was a small child, he became separated from his older brother at a train station and ended up on a train bound for Calcutta. After surviving for weeks, first in the train station and then near the river, Saroo ended up in an orphanage. When orphanage officials were unable to locate Saroo’s family based on the limited amount of information he was able to provide about his home and family, he was offered for adoption to an Australian couple. Saroo had a good life in Australia, but he never forgot his origins and the family he left behind in India. Decades later, Saroo discovered Google Earth and saw in it the possibility of locating the home he’d left behind in India. Finding home would be a long shot, but he had to try.

Brierley’s memoir is the basis for the motion picture Lion. The book is as moving as the film, and as you would expect, it provides more details about Saroo’s search and the reunion with his Indian family. I watched the movie before reading the book, and I think that would be the right order for most people.

[kapilgupta-779229 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tearjerker. Emotional roller coaster that follows the improbable (but true) journey of a lost 5-year old from the Indian heartland, to a life in Australia, and his search to find the village and family he was born into. In the end, it's a tale of hope, perseverance and the indomitable human spirit.

[lorifox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Touching story and a quick read.

[stephanie_m-868484 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While this is a fascinating storyline, this author doesn't do the novel justice, at times. Brierly would at times embellish needlessly, and at other times repeat himself again and again. It seemed at times that the author was padding his novel's pages, to meet some publisher's word count. Brierly just needed a bit more polishing up, before this novel was printed.
Also, The audiobook was not done professionally, and you can tell where the add-on's have been stuck on the tracks, sounding like the author was in a tunnel or something.
Yikas Adam is the narrator. He was very interesting and fascinating to listen to, as he is very obviously both Indian, and Australian. You can tell from his accent, which at times switches back and forth, depending on what Adam was reading. His pronunciation of Indian words is peerless, of course. But when Adam's Australian accent peeked out, it would always make me smile. I liked listening to the narrator more than I did the audiobook.
I'm giving this novel 3.5 stars, and only recommending this novel or audiobook to those who are huge fans of the movie, or the story.

[ameba1978 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful and inspiring story of how a boy returns home after being lost for... 25 years!!! (Translated from Spanish)

[yhgail · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of a very remarkable man with an equally remarkable personal history.

What I particularly appreciated about this book is that it is a unique view into life and families of the poor in a remote corner of India. I have been thinking over all the books I've read placed in India, or about India or written by Indians or Indian descent and this book is unique in it's intimate telling of life and chance in India.

[danielstj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thoroughly heartfelt book about identity and cognizance of self in a world skewed with things that make that difficult to attain. The grace of the book resounds in its simplicity and the small details that make up its concept.

Very good. Recommended.

[addunn3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting story and told clearly, though, at times, repetitively. A young child is transported by rail miles away from his home with few resources to be connected to his family. The movie does a good job telling the story, focusing on the more traumatic events in the journey.

[kimmeyer-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Oh boy. So there are memoirs by people you don't expect to be great writers, such as this one, but sometimes a good ghostwriter makes all the difference, like in Anthony Ray Hinton's The Sun Does Shine, which is phenomenal. This book may have an interesting story, but it is not well-written. Having most of the story occur during childhood years one can't expect to remember in detail doesn't help I'm sure.

[sraelling · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this book after seeing the movie. There were a couple of differences between the book and movie, but the book gave more background info. Not understanding the Hindi religious beliefs or Indian culture helped me better understand the movie. Reading this book over Mother's Day weekend, made it a more spectacular story. The faith that both of Saroo's mothers have (birth - that he was not dead and would return someday and adoptive - that one day she would be a mother to a brown-skinned child who would not want to leave her "authentic" family) is truly unconditional love and amazing. Saroo's acknowledges that they are both exceptional women and I agree!

[ginafava · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's a captivating true story that delights the reader in that it has a positive, inspiring ending. There's not much to the story other than it elaborates on a near-tragedy turned fairy tale. A young child is lost on a train and unable to find his family, survives alone for many weeks, escapes the horrors that befall many of India's lost children, and is raised by a family who encourage him to find his way home. It's short, not much dialogue, simply written, and at times tedious in Google-Earth search detail. But it's written by one who might have expressed a jaded, contemptuous tale. Instead, it is positive and generous in spirit and leaves the reader wanting to do more for children in similar circumstances.

The author is now grown and blessed with two families by the process of adoption. The book sheds light on the atrocities that exist in the world, and it's an excellent vehicle for the promotion of adoption, and for helping children in need all over the word. It's also a reminder that there is always a chance to overcome one's adversity, and to soldier forward even in the most dire of circumstances.

My favorites passages:
~Instinct – that subconscious calculator of risk
~She said she was proud of me—which is all anyone can wish to hear from his mother.
~The hard luck of life did not have to rule you, it can inspire you.

[stefaniegeeks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Viewing the movie made me want to dig deeper and read this book. It's written in a novelistic format so easily digestible for those not usually interested or used to nonfiction. I really enjoyed reading Saroo's enlightened thoughts on his life and knowing that he survives makes reading the atrocities he goes through easier. Chose this title for my book club and had an excellent discussion on poverty, adoption, parenting, India, and class.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This memoir of Saroo Brierley about his experiences in getting lost in India, being adopted and growing up in a new country, and finally finding his birth family through the miracle of technology is an inspiring one. I watched the film "Lion" first, but found the book as engaging and particularly enjoyed the author's insights into his adopted family and his gratitude for the turns his life took.

[tinkerbellkk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is such an incredible story - having already seen the movie, I of course knew what the outcome would be. However reading it in the author's own words was pretty special. While the writing was simple, it was heartfelt.

Imagining a young boy being lost in the huge city of Calcutta and surviving while all on his own was a miracle to me. And then as an adult utilizing Google Earth to actually find his village was just so amazing. The whole true story is just hard to believe and that is what makes it so very good. Kudos to Saroo for having the courage to write his story down on paper.

[sbenne3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love a good autobiography and this one did not disappoint. This is a fascinating account of getting separated from your family as a 5 year old child and searching for that lost family as an adult. It will give you pause to think about how you live and how that varies based on the country you were born in. This was a pretty quick read and worth it!

[rdwhitenack · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Easy read. Good book for teens, though the book largely skips over the teen years of the narrator's life. Students may identify with the fear Saroo must have felt when waking up alone in the station and then fatefully boarding the train that would remove him from his family, life.

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Saroo was aged 5 he became separated from his family, accidentally riding a train almost 1,500 kilometres from his home. When efforts to reunite him with his family failed he was put up for adoption. An Australian couple adopted him and he grew up with them. Years later he discovered Google Earth and started trying to unravel the mystery of where he originally came from and who his birth family were. It would take him around five years of methodical searching railway lines in India via Google Earth for Saroo to discover his origins. Very moving.

[kimmyd76 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read!

[pgchuis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A memoir (if it were fiction, you would find it unbelievable) by a man who, at the age of 5, boarded a train near his remote town in India and was carried off hundreds of miles to Calcutta. Unable to communicate (due to lack of education and age) he wanders the streets for a few weeks and miraculously avoids the worst of the dangers, before being sent to an orphanage and is almost immediately adopted by an Australian couple. In his early 30s he locates his home town (which he has been mispronouncing/misspelling all these years) on Google Earth and is reunited with his mother and surviving siblings.

I found the story interesting, but it was told in a very detached manner. Occasionally Saroo would say something like: "I found this devastating", but then move on and I was never able quite to be drawn into his devastation. On the whole he seems to take life as it comes to an extraordinary degree, which has clearly worked well for him, but I never felt I truly got to know him. I got used to the style, but it was very simple and in places there was unnecessary repetition.

It was odd to me that he has such clear recall from the age of 5 - I remember almost nothing of being that age, but then nothing particularly remarkable happened to me. I found it heartbreaking that he had been mispronouncing his own name all his life, but otherwise I found myself surprisingly unmoved (but interested!).

[jessibud2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this book in audiobook format. First and foremost, I have to say I was riveted by Brierley's story. As a young child born into a very poor family in India, he follows his older brother one evening on some adventure. When he tires, his brother tells him to sit on the bench at the train station and not move, that he will return for him soon. Saroo falls asleep, and when he awakens, his brother still has not returned. Saroo enters a seemingly abandoned train car, seeking a more comfortable bench and falls asleep again. The train begins to move and he is trapped, unable to get out or contact anyone. He arrives, many hours later, in Calcutta, very far from home and completely lost. He does not know his last name, or the name of his town. He survives somehow on the streets, scavenging for food, avoiding the perils that surely claim many in such dire conditions until, finally, he is taken to an agency for lost or orphaned children. Did I mention that he is all of 5 years old, at this time?! It is mind-boggling to imagine that such a young child would have wits enough to make it through. Through sheer luck and good fortune (karma?), he is adopted by an loving Australian family, grows up in Hobart, Tasmania, and has a good life. However, he has always had the *map* in his head of his home town and in his mid-20s, with the help of Google Earth, he begins to search for that original home and family. It takes some years but he succeeds and this book chronicles that journey.

A really excellent read.

[britt1075 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a faves paced and extremely interesting book. It is the story of the authors life as a child before he gets lost in India and then is subsequently adopted in Australia and then his journey back to India to find his birth mother and family. Years after his adoption with the advent of Google earth he is able to figure out where it was he came from and travel back there to find his lost family. It is a story of finding home and discovering who you are and yet he still very much loves and appreciates the family that adopted him all those years ago. It was an excellent, fast paced read.

[cultivateandread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I usually read fiction but I was drawn to the description of this story. I couldn't imagine the journey of the young boy, from India to Australia and back again. This story is inspirational to say the least. Saroo's voice allows the reader a glimpse into his past thoughts, fears and longing to reconnect with his past. I found myself so in tune with the movement of the story. Interestingly, I read in anticipation of him finding his home although I knew from the book's cover that he was ultimately successful. My anxious feeling is a testament to the strength of the writing and the raw emotion evoked by the story. I suggest that you (meaning everyone) read this book. It is a reminder of the power of love, memory and hope.

[berthashaver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My heart broke as Saroo related his story of how he as a 5-year old found himself coming from poverty and begging in a single-parent home and how became lost, confused and scared thousands of miles away traveling by train to Calcutta. The efforts to find his parents were futile and he was put up for adoption. His story of survival and his will to remember his past life in India even though he had been adopted by a loving mother and father in Australia. He searched endless hours on a slow computer through google earth trying to find his home and finally did. Although the book could have used a "professional writer's" touch, I was completely captivated by his journey. I can't wait until the movie comes out.

[sovranty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story of a 5-year-old Indian-born boy who was "lost", adopted by an Australian couple and later uses Google Earth technology to relocate the residency of his childhood memory would be unbelievable if it were not true. The tragedy, terror and sadness that the author experienced after accidentally taking a wrong train may have been the very things that allowed him to recall, as an adult, the details of his childhood home. The adoptive parents were very indulgent in ensuring their child maintained a hold on his original culture, which may have also assisted in his detailed memories.

This book is so much of everything: tragedy, sadness, hope and happiness that you are sure to be overwhelmed with some emotion during the reading.

[mcelhra · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Saroo's story is amazing in so many ways. First, that he was able to survive on the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata) for weeks at only five-years old. Then, that he was adopted by a wonderful Australian couple within four months of arriving at an Indian orphanage - a process that would take years today. And finally, that he was able to find the town in India he was originally from with Google Earth when he didn't even know the town's name!

I really enjoyed learning Saroo's story. I was once again fascinated by the culture in India - this time learning about the very poorest slums where Saroo's Indian family lived. Saroo tells his story in a conversational, easy style that was a pleasure to read.

I watched Saroo's interview on the Australian version of 60 minutes, which can be found on his website. It's long but worth watching. In the last part of it, Saroo's Australian mom meets his Indian mom for the first time. The emotion that his Australian mom has in that moment is astounding. Saroo talks about her being supportive in the book and it is evident at the meeting. She expresses nothing but gratitude and love to Saroo's Indian mother. Not a hint of jealousy.

Saroo's story is also being made into a motion picture which I hope turns out to be as good as his book. His is an incredible story worth reading.

[ddirmeyer_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Saroo Brierly's autobiography detailing his separation from his family in India at the age of 5 and subsequent upbringing in Australia. His story is engrossing and it appears inevitable that someone snapped it up to be a movie.

The book is a very fast read and I believe almost anyone would find themselves caught up in the story. The fact that he lived to tell his tale is fascinating.

My only regret with his story is that he didn't tell it to a gifted writer and allow them to pen his biography. I believe someone with more writing experience and talent could have turned his life into an even more spell-binding novel. Having said that, I'm glad that someone didn't look up his birth family and embellish the story with facts about them during Saroo's absence. I believe it is a much better story for those years of their lives to be missing from us - just as they are to Saroo.

I have already recommended this book to several people and will continue to do so.