Reviews

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

vickie0326's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, War, and Death

in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition

3.0

It was hard to know what to rate this book - 4 seemed generous, 3 not enough. There are two things about this book - the subject matter - partition of India and the protagonist - a girl whose mother had died giving birth to her. Both are important to the book.

sarahbowling6608's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I abosolutely love books like this--books that take heavy historical events and make them accessible to younger readers without negating the gravity of the situation. Books that teach historical empathy. Books that make history significantly more memorable than any textbook ever could.

This book reminds me a bit of My Brother's Keeper (another great read about the Korean War), but set in India at the time of their freedom from Britain and the creation of Pakistan. It's a great middle grade read. Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Religious bigotry, Violence, and Death

sami_bassett's review against another edition

4.0

More of these stories should be written and read. Every refugee has a similar, and often worse, story.
I've seen critiques of this book that say they didn't like the diary format, but I think it's appropriately intimate.
My one critique of this book is that it felt a bit slow toward the middle and end, but at the same time it reads like a true story and I don't know that it needs a fantastic climax.
It was interesting to read this book in the context of racial and political tensions in the US right now.
I would highly recommend this book to preteen and teenage readers.

flowerwineandbooks's review against another edition

4.0

I love that this book exists. The historical content in a format that is accessible to young readers is so important. I think the characters and themes of this book are also relatable even beyond the historical time and place, which adds to the humanization and empathy towards the characters. The author did a great job tying everything together through the eyes of a 12 year old girl.
The letter/diary writing format didn't work for me personally, but Nisha was an incredible voice nonetheless.

joldfield's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

angeladobre's review against another edition

4.0

După mai bine de un secol de dominație britanică, în 15 august 1947, India își recapătă independența, dar bucuria libertății este umbrită de scindarea în două țări, ca urmare a unor considerente demografice de ordin politic și religios ce au însemnat strămutarea a aproximativ 12 milioane de oameni, migrație soldată cu aproape un milion de morți. Dispariția Indiei Britanice și nașterea Pakistanului și a noii Indii a fost un proces brutal și crud alimentat de convingeri religioase, de ostilitate și suspiciune. Musulmanii și hindușii care trăiseră toată viața în armonie s-au trezit peste noapte prinși într-o încleștare violentă și obligați să își abandoneze casele și truda de-o viață, fugind cu mâinile aproape goale spre un loc necunoscut ce va trebui să devină pentru ei acasă.

https://ciucamaciuca79.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/am-scris-noaptea-in-jurnal-de-veera-hiranandani-recenzie-ed-epica/

amy_sweat's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

jwinchell's review against another edition

5.0

Can an epistolary be a journal written as letters to the main character’s deceased mother? I think it can, and Hiranandani has pulled off something beautiful and charming and heartbreaking and eye opening. In mid 1947 India, Nisha and her twin brother Amil are learning that Partition is happening and that because they are Hindu, they will have to leave their home in what is now considered Muslim Pakistan. For weeks they are refugees, surviving the unimaginable. Nisha is so quiet and so sensitive and introspective; the format of the book is the perfect vehicle for her expression. The relationships are beautifully drawn. The history is a smart vehicle; I loved the glossary and the author’s acknowledgements of her family who lived through this dramatic and fractious time.

traeisha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0