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the_argumentative_bong's review against another edition
4.0
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is an epistolary novel written from the viewpoint of a 12-year old girl Nisha, addressed to her long-dead mother. The book follows little Nisha, who together with her family, is forced to leave their home in Pakistan following the partition of India in 1947.
“Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.”
It is a beautifully written tale of a young girl's confusion, bewilderment, fear and sadness, when she leaves their home and town for good and travel many kilometres away to a new country to start their lives all over again, amidst an atmosphere of unexpected anger and religious hatred amongst those very people who had lived together for years in companionable harmony.
Although, strictly speaking, such coherence of thoughts in a 12-year old is hard to expect and accept; the writing style is simple, emotional and mesmerizing. Narrated by a child, the violence and the brutality is kept at a minimum, partly because it is a middle grade historical fiction, and partly to focus on a child’s innocent perspective about one of the most heartbreaking episodes of India’s struggle for independence. As an overly sensitive child, Nisha witnesses and experiences many things that may be overlooked by adults, but she cannot communicate her feelings aloud to anyone except her twin brother, and through her letters...to her mother.
The Night Diary is an emotional and insightful book that asks questions that are still left unanswered, even after more than 70 years of Indian independence.
“Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.”
It is a beautifully written tale of a young girl's confusion, bewilderment, fear and sadness, when she leaves their home and town for good and travel many kilometres away to a new country to start their lives all over again, amidst an atmosphere of unexpected anger and religious hatred amongst those very people who had lived together for years in companionable harmony.
Although, strictly speaking, such coherence of thoughts in a 12-year old is hard to expect and accept; the writing style is simple, emotional and mesmerizing. Narrated by a child, the violence and the brutality is kept at a minimum, partly because it is a middle grade historical fiction, and partly to focus on a child’s innocent perspective about one of the most heartbreaking episodes of India’s struggle for independence. As an overly sensitive child, Nisha witnesses and experiences many things that may be overlooked by adults, but she cannot communicate her feelings aloud to anyone except her twin brother, and through her letters...to her mother.
The Night Diary is an emotional and insightful book that asks questions that are still left unanswered, even after more than 70 years of Indian independence.
rovie_reads's review against another edition
4.0
The Night Diary is a historical fiction set in 1947, during the time when India got its independence from British. The book was told through Nisha's diary where she writes letter to her deceased Mom about her day to day life. She lives in India along with her Dad who is a doctor, his twin brother and paternal grandmother. They were living peacefully until chaos erupted after the said independence when their leaders decided that dividing their country would be the best way to attain true peace and freedom. Her Papa feared of being caught up in all the mess, so they decided to pack their things and cross the boarder towards the "new" India. We follow their journey as they traveled on foot along with thousands of Indian Hindus to seek a new place they should now call home. The journey was extremely dangerous. Apart from making sure they have enough food and rest, they also needed to watch out for violence, as encounters between Indian Muslims and Indian Hindus almost always end up in beating and killings.
It was a heartbreaking yet very inspiring story. Nisha kept on questioning why people in position would allow such thing to happen. Why would race and religion be a factor in separating people? Why can't they all just live together peacefully? Her 12 year old self have been through a lot even when they were settled on heir new home. I love the relationship she shared with her twin and her faith that their family would survive despite everything. Veera Hiranandani drew inspiration in writing this story from the experiences of her own grandfather's family as refugees crossing the same boarders from Mirpur Khas to Jodhpur.
Content Warnings: violence (bullying, beating and attempted killings), death (not on-page), signs of trauma, racism.
It was a heartbreaking yet very inspiring story. Nisha kept on questioning why people in position would allow such thing to happen. Why would race and religion be a factor in separating people? Why can't they all just live together peacefully? Her 12 year old self have been through a lot even when they were settled on heir new home. I love the relationship she shared with her twin and her faith that their family would survive despite everything. Veera Hiranandani drew inspiration in writing this story from the experiences of her own grandfather's family as refugees crossing the same boarders from Mirpur Khas to Jodhpur.
Content Warnings: violence (bullying, beating and attempted killings), death (not on-page), signs of trauma, racism.
kmishmael's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy reading about a time period/event that I don't know a lot about.
jcdreads's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book with my sons and we loved it! They were so interested in Nisha’s family’s journey during the Partition of India. They kept pausing to reflect on how difficult that journey would be, the leaving behind of everything you’ve ever known, the walking, the lack of water—the violence.
My youngest (11) said he loved how the book started out relatively happy with the family all together, and that although it was intense and scary, he’s really glad the story ended on a happy note with everyone safe and together. He says his only complaint is that it seemed too short.
My oldest (13) also really enjoyed it, although he says diary books aren’t his favourite type of book. He still really enjoyed the story and learning more about this moment in history.
My youngest (11) said he loved how the book started out relatively happy with the family all together, and that although it was intense and scary, he’s really glad the story ended on a happy note with everyone safe and together. He says his only complaint is that it seemed too short.
My oldest (13) also really enjoyed it, although he says diary books aren’t his favourite type of book. He still really enjoyed the story and learning more about this moment in history.
gbaker76's review against another edition
5.0
A great quick read about a subject and time I knew very little about. I feel enlightened as I took this journey with Nisha, Amil, and their family.
seemadyal50's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ljesica's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure how this one got on my list, but I really liked it. Nisha is 12 years old when Kazi, her family's cook and her best friend gives her a journal to write down her thoughts. She decides to use it to write letters to her mom who died during childbirth.
This book takes place in 1947. India is no longer under British rule and has been divided into India and Pakistan. Nisha lives with her twin brother Amil, her Papa and her Dadi (grandmother). Her mother was Muslim and her father is Hindu, and both families frowned upon the marriage. Nisha has never met anyone from her maternal side.
When India is divided, Nisha and her family are on the wrong side for Hindus. This is a part of history I know very little about. But Pakistan became a Muslim country and all Hindus and Sikhs were sent to live in original India, with Muslims migrating to Pakistan. There is fighting and violence and Nisha's dad decides they have to leave.
This is the story of their journey and their hardships and their eventual settling in a new home. But really, it's about humans. It reminds me of what I'm constantly trying to understand - why do we have to hate those who are different? Why should someone's religion mean that it's ok to kill them? Before the division, there were some skirmishes, but mostly people lived together peacefully. But then everything fell apart.
This book references Gandhi a lot. It uses his quote "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". And I feel like this is true. This story made me misty a few times. And it really made me wish the world wasn't so "us against them". I think it was a good learning experience for me and now I kind of want to learn a little bit more about history which isn't something I feel very often.
This book takes place in 1947. India is no longer under British rule and has been divided into India and Pakistan. Nisha lives with her twin brother Amil, her Papa and her Dadi (grandmother). Her mother was Muslim and her father is Hindu, and both families frowned upon the marriage. Nisha has never met anyone from her maternal side.
When India is divided, Nisha and her family are on the wrong side for Hindus. This is a part of history I know very little about. But Pakistan became a Muslim country and all Hindus and Sikhs were sent to live in original India, with Muslims migrating to Pakistan. There is fighting and violence and Nisha's dad decides they have to leave.
This is the story of their journey and their hardships and their eventual settling in a new home. But really, it's about humans. It reminds me of what I'm constantly trying to understand - why do we have to hate those who are different? Why should someone's religion mean that it's ok to kill them? Before the division, there were some skirmishes, but mostly people lived together peacefully. But then everything fell apart.
This book references Gandhi a lot. It uses his quote "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". And I feel like this is true. This story made me misty a few times. And it really made me wish the world wasn't so "us against them". I think it was a good learning experience for me and now I kind of want to learn a little bit more about history which isn't something I feel very often.
salicer's review against another edition
5.0
While it deals with the heavy topic of the Partition, The Night Diary is kind enough and light enough in its level of brutality and view of the world that it remains a good book for children. Ultimately, though her family faces considerable hardship, Nisha’s view of the world still remains forgiving and hopeful. Her story is not one for readers expecting a jaded and cold outlook on the disappointments and difficulties in life. Through shining light on childhood resilience and hope, The Night Diary tells the story of the Partition and the division and heartbreak it caused but offers hope and new beginnings for those willing to still have faith in the world.
kamckim's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book very much. I would recommend to G5/6, as it is a fairly outright story of refugee travel. The best part was the overall idea that the diary writer is a girl who has trouble speaking out loud. She uses her power of writing to process and release her feelings of upheaval and disconnection. That was nice. For the subject, read the book description. It’s accurate. I would not hesitate to recommend this one to any student.