Laskar Pelangi

Title of Book : Laskar Pelangi

Author : Andrea Hirata

Publisher : Penerbitan Bentang

Pages : 534 pages

Length : 20.5 cm

Distributor : Mizan Media Utama

Laskar Pelangi is the first book of Andrea’s tetra logy. It tells about the ten children who want to go to school. In their area which is Belitong, it so hard for them who do not have any money to go to school. Usually they just go to work and do not care about education because they do not see any changes there for their life. So these ten children have a different idea, they think that what will help them in the future only school and being educated. Thus, no matter how far they have to go to reach the school they will pass it. Most of them use bicycle. Lintang is the one who come from farthest place. He has to pass 80 km to go study, but it doesn’t matter for him. He really has a spirit to study and he is very brilliant. He always come first everyday, except he has to wait for crocodile.

The other Laskar Pelangi are Ikal, Trapani, Mahar, Harun, Sahara, A kiong, Syahdan, Kucai, and Borek. They share experiences together, they play together too. And one day, Bu Mus, the teacher registered them to join quiz program. They practice everyday and they are very confident because they have Lintang. After they win the quiz program they join festival with no money but they still confident because they have Mahar. They have to compete with PN elementary school. It is not easy because they have everything, they are all rich. By winning the festival, it changes everything. Muhammadiyah elementary school, which they go to study to, not contemn anymore. Many parents want to send their children there. So in the years the school will stand still and not easy to find students anymore.

The sad thing is Bu Mus has to face everything by herself because Pa Harfan, the great principal, passed away one day. Bu Mus give up and not go to school for days, the children confuse and not go to school too. But Lintang and Ikal still. They realize that they have to study no matter what happen, so they call their friend to go to school. So, Bu Mus realizes that she has to responsible to her students as a teacher, she will not disappoint anyone. So they go study together again. But one day, after missing for days, Lintang come to say good bye because his father has passed away although the body is gone in the sea. That very sad for everyone, he is who come first but he has to go first too without follow the last test.

After years, Ikal come back from Jakarta where he finish his university, and seeing his old friends. And Lintang, he still genius but has a tragic destiny. Sahara and Akiong get married with Samson work for them as a porter.

I think this is very a great book. And it is written by Indonesian. I like the stories, his wording and the way he wrote it. I feel very lucky by reading this book. I realize that I can go to school easy, I can get education more until university level. I should be grateful by doing everything seriously. For me, this book is very inspiring me. The thing that I do not really like from this book is, he is too detail in describing something that sometimes makes me bored reading it. But over all, it is great.

College assignment in 2008 (ABS)