After the partition of India in 1947, Nek Chand Saini settled in the city of Chandigarh, with nothing but stories brought from his village. While working as a road builder, he dug up the odds and ends of his old village life. What was garbage to everyone else became Nek’s collected treasures. After his work days ended, he cleared a piece of jungle and began to rebuild a tribute to the winding village of his youth. Nek kept his kingdom, a hidden land of stories, a secret for fifteen years, until a government crew stumbled on it and sought to destroy it. Would the local people protect Nek’s secret kingdom? A story about a refugee, recycling and finding your place in the world.

Back matter includes photos, author’s note, bibliography and call to action.