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A review by 13iscute
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
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!