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prairiedances's review
4.0
Great history and has information for younger readers but also has lot of info dumping which may discourage readers. Still, a wonderful response to the #weneeddiversebooks campaign. Love it.
starnosedmole's review
3.0
Twelve-year-old Pakistani-American Maya adventures through India in search of a family heirloom. Rich with strong characters and detailed descriptions of various locales.
marianac16's review
5.0
I had very low expectations on this book when beginning it, and sure, it was a bit slow at first, but the end really made up for it! I learned so much about India and its religion, culture, and most important, history. On some pages I felt like screaming at whoever was close to me because I got so mad at whatever was happening. For example, -SPOILER ALERT- the kidnapping of Maya. I felt like I was in India smelling the tasty foods like the parathas and the kebabs, which honestly, I really need to try those sizzling, mouth watering chops of meat roasted with rosemary and garlic and churned in the barbecue, making an explosion of flavor...MADE YOU HUNGRY! All in all, at the end I felt my heart soak up all the love and joy that was received to the characters!
AWESOME BOOK THAT DESERVES FIVE STARS!!!
AWESOME BOOK THAT DESERVES FIVE STARS!!!
synth's review
2.0
This did not engage me whatsoever, despite the high hopes I had (especially as an Indian descendant who doesn't know anything about their ancestors). The tidbits about the history of India and Pakistan were interesting inasmuch as they are educational but they were not woven in organically. I am more lenient in my rating because it's a kid's book and because it is a rare type of English-language book.
readbetweenthespine's review
4.0
4 stars for me on this one. I love reading diverse middle grade that’s not set in the US and this fit that bill as it’s set in Pakistan and India. It was good and I enjoyed it a lot but I would say it’s a bit dark for middle grade. The main protagonist, Maya, gets kidnapped and details the horrific child trafficking and child laborer issues that exist in India but it’s very graphic and frightening. I definitely think it’s important to discuss these issues with children (as they exist at home too) and I like how the author incorporated Maya’s thought process by drawing on what figures of authority told her to do in such situations. However, I think this one is a bit dark. The grandma’s character is incredible; she has such gumption in light of what she went through. Also, the plot is really amazing though and I love the inclusion of history about the partition in 1947. It’s fascinating how she drew on her own family’s history. I’m glad too in the end they got the happy ending they deserved and were able to save all the children who were orphaned. It’s a really good story so if the plot line of kidnapping isn’t too much I highly recommend checking it out!
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