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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.
simtara's review against another edition
5.0
Told from a 12 year old girl's perspective, in diary format, this is such a good read about such a difficult topic. My maternal grandparents made similar trips at similar ages, so this resonated at a different level for me.
I appreciate how Hiranandani acknowledges that this version of the journey was both easier and harder when compared to other people's cross into "new" India. It's a good way to introduce the topic and teach new generations of the Indian diaspora about our roots and heaviness that accompanied our freedom from the British Empire.
The story was so well written, I kept moving from diary entry to diary entry and quickly finished the book. I now want to know what happens next with Nisha and her family. I also want a story about Kazi and his journey.
Given the writing style, level of information and visualization, and pacing of the story, I would recommend this book for anyone seventh grade and up. Note: there are a couple of small, not too gory, violent scenes. They definitely add to the story and are "milder" reflections of the true horrors of this time period between India and Pakistan. There is also an underlying theme of a lost loved one.
I appreciate how Hiranandani acknowledges that this version of the journey was both easier and harder when compared to other people's cross into "new" India. It's a good way to introduce the topic and teach new generations of the Indian diaspora about our roots and heaviness that accompanied our freedom from the British Empire.
The story was so well written, I kept moving from diary entry to diary entry and quickly finished the book. I now want to know what happens next with Nisha and her family. I also want a story about Kazi and his journey.
Given the writing style, level of information and visualization, and pacing of the story, I would recommend this book for anyone seventh grade and up. Note: there are a couple of small, not too gory, violent scenes. They definitely add to the story and are "milder" reflections of the true horrors of this time period between India and Pakistan. There is also an underlying theme of a lost loved one.
jblackwell12's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
13iscute's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful middle-grade historical fiction that takes place in a time and place I never learned about in history class. 1947 India becomes free from the British government, and splits into Israel and Pakistan. Millions of people had to leave their homes, with Muslims moving to Pakistan and Hindus/Sikhs/other religions moving to India. This is the story from a 12-year-old girl's point of view, written as letters to her dead mother. I loved Nisha's voice, her self-awareness and her love of her family. I think this would be a great book for Battle of the Books. I would definitely want it as part of my home library if I had a child in that age range.
Nisha and her twin Amil are 12-years old. They live with their father and their grandmother (Dadi) and their cook (Kazi). Nisha's mother died during childbirth. Papa is Hindu, Mama was Muslim, and the marriage was frowned upon, but eventually accepted because of Papa's work as a doctor in the hospital. Kazi is Muslim. Everyone lives in peace until the Partition of India in 1947, and Muslims and Hindus start fighting each other and it becomes very dangerous. The family lives in what is now Pakistan, and because they are Hindu, they have to leave and go to India. Papa, Dadi, Nisha, and Amil set off on a dangerous walking trip. Amil almost dies of thirst, Nisha almost is killed by an angry Muslim man (whose family was killed by Hindus). They hide in their Uncle's house for a while, Mama's brother who has a cleft palate and can't talk, but have to friend because Nisha and Amil befriend the little Muslim girl who lives next door. They take a train and witness gruesome acts of violence and killing, but they make it to India, where they live in a one-room flat. Kazi, who stayed behind because he is Muslim, can't live without them, so he follows and shows up at their apartment, and Nisha is so relieved. They have their family and their new life, and their journey has strengthened their relationship.
Amil is boisterous, loves to draw, and is not good at school (most likely dyslexic), while Nisha is great at school but incredibly shy - she has difficulty speaking because she's afraid of how the words will come out, that she can't take them back. It is so sweet how aware of this she is, how she is aware she has trouble making friends. She has a sweet relationship with Kazi through cooking food for their family. She definitely has a soft spot for food and made me want to try some of the food she described. There is even a recipe at the end of the book!
Spoiler
Nisha and her twin Amil are 12-years old. They live with their father and their grandmother (Dadi) and their cook (Kazi). Nisha's mother died during childbirth. Papa is Hindu, Mama was Muslim, and the marriage was frowned upon, but eventually accepted because of Papa's work as a doctor in the hospital. Kazi is Muslim. Everyone lives in peace until the Partition of India in 1947, and Muslims and Hindus start fighting each other and it becomes very dangerous. The family lives in what is now Pakistan, and because they are Hindu, they have to leave and go to India. Papa, Dadi, Nisha, and Amil set off on a dangerous walking trip. Amil almost dies of thirst, Nisha almost is killed by an angry Muslim man (whose family was killed by Hindus). They hide in their Uncle's house for a while, Mama's brother who has a cleft palate and can't talk, but have to friend because Nisha and Amil befriend the little Muslim girl who lives next door. They take a train and witness gruesome acts of violence and killing, but they make it to India, where they live in a one-room flat. Kazi, who stayed behind because he is Muslim, can't live without them, so he follows and shows up at their apartment, and Nisha is so relieved. They have their family and their new life, and their journey has strengthened their relationship.
Amil is boisterous, loves to draw, and is not good at school (most likely dyslexic), while Nisha is great at school but incredibly shy - she has difficulty speaking because she's afraid of how the words will come out, that she can't take them back. It is so sweet how aware of this she is, how she is aware she has trouble making friends. She has a sweet relationship with Kazi through cooking food for their family. She definitely has a soft spot for food and made me want to try some of the food she described. There is even a recipe at the end of the book!
calypsogilstrap's review against another edition
5.0
So gooooood! Please read this book. Appropriate for 5th grade plus! If your students/kids love historical books- this is the next book for them. Loved the medium. Love the single voice. Loved the humanity of this diary.
ratherbereading25's review against another edition
4.0
Great middle grade read. Gives background on India's independence and subsequent conflict.
buntjuli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
joanna_banana's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing piece of children’s literature! It was so captivating—and a part of history I didn’t know much about: the Partition of India. I loved the format of having Nisha write to her deceased mother, whom she never met because she died giving birth to her and her twin brother Amil. Their dad is such a sad and loving character. I really enjoyed the twists and surprises up until the end. It’s not easy to read about violence and suffering—the scene with the threatening man was terrifying. Her words brought the story to life. I could see the colors and feel the heat. I read this aloud with my 9 year old daughter who very much enjoyed it. Great read!
readsewknit's review against another edition
4.0
The Night Diary is middle grade historical fiction, set in 1947 India as gained independence from Britain and is being partitioned into India and Pakistan.
Nisha, our 12-year-old narrator, journals to her dead mother as a way to imagine a relationship with the woman she never knew. She is half Muslim and half Hindu, and her family must leave for Pakistan in hopes of escaping widespread violence and starting anew.
I appreciated the author's note at the end, because I'm always curious as to how they gained their inspiration. In this case, the author wanted to understand what it must have been like for her father's family to make this journey.
When I student taught, the students were reading historical fiction, as assigned in their social studies class, to better understand the historical events in Afghanistan, and a title such as this would also help students humanize what can feel like distant, unemotional facts.
Nisha, our 12-year-old narrator, journals to her dead mother as a way to imagine a relationship with the woman she never knew. She is half Muslim and half Hindu, and her family must leave for Pakistan in hopes of escaping widespread violence and starting anew.
I appreciated the author's note at the end, because I'm always curious as to how they gained their inspiration. In this case, the author wanted to understand what it must have been like for her father's family to make this journey.
When I student taught, the students were reading historical fiction, as assigned in their social studies class, to better understand the historical events in Afghanistan, and a title such as this would also help students humanize what can feel like distant, unemotional facts.
kkrato's review against another edition
4.0
A great middle reader. I recommend this for upper elementary and middle schoolers.