Scan barcode
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
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
Nisha grapples with an age-old struggle of humanity- groups of people being intolerant of other groups of people- during the 1947 India/Pakistan/British Empire split.
stratfam's review against another edition
5.0
I read this with George and I learned a lot about the period when Pakistan was formed.
pea_che's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amat_malak's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
"Who was the first one, Mama, the first to kill when they decided to break apart India?"
This book and Nisha's thoughts on the partition of India are very similar to mine. Even though she's a young teenager, her feelings about herself, her loved ones and her country have a tragic poignancy.
The author made me smile, gasp and almost moved me to tears. I'm so happy about the ending. You don't see a happy ending in most partition literature.
This book and Nisha's thoughts on the partition of India are very similar to mine. Even though she's a young teenager, her feelings about herself, her loved ones and her country have a tragic poignancy.
The author made me smile, gasp and almost moved me to tears. I'm so happy about the ending. You don't see a happy ending in most partition literature.
katerintree's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping story abt a part of history I was completely ignorant of.
Told in the form of a girl’s diary to her deceased mother, this is the story of a Hindi (Hindu?) family forced to relocate after the partition of India. Violence & unrest follows her family as they make the dangerous journey.
A book I felt deeply.
Told in the form of a girl’s diary to her deceased mother, this is the story of a Hindi (Hindu?) family forced to relocate after the partition of India. Violence & unrest follows her family as they make the dangerous journey.
A book I felt deeply.
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn’t on my radar at all until it was chosen for a buddy read I’m in. I didn’t have another audio book to pick up so I chose this one. It describes the partition of India into India and Pakistan in the voice of a 12 year old girl composing letters to her mother, who passed away. This story reminded me of the creation of Israel and had me thinking I’d like to read a book about that as well. It was a moving account of what happened to the families who became refugees in this time period.
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn’t on my radar at all until it was chosen for a buddy read I’m in. I didn’t have another audio book to pick up so I chose this one. It describes the partition of India into India and Pakistan in the voice of a 12 year old girl composing letters to her mother, who passed away. This story reminded me of the creation of Israel and had me thinking I’d like to read a book about that as well. It was a moving account of what happened to the families who became refugees in this time period.
lkthomas07's review against another edition
3.0
I know almost nothing about the partition of India, so this was really interesting. The diary/letter format made it easy to read, yet didn't allow for as much information as I wanted to know! A twelve year old girl who doesn't really know what's happening or why doesn't explain things very well ;-) I liked getting her hear Nisha's POV though. Well done.