This novel pays tribute to the life and tragic murder of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani boy, famous for his role in outlawing bonded child labour. Fatima, a young girl enslaved in a carpet factory for a family debt she will never be allowed to repay, describes the terrible conditions of their daily life and how the arrival of Iqbal inspired their little group to take a stand against a cruel master by seeking help from the Bonded Labour Liberation Front.