Scan barcode
A review by bethfishreads
Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani
4.0
This followup to The Night Diary addresses many important topics as seen through the eyes of a sensitive 12-year-old boy.
At the dawn of 1948 Amil and his family are settled in an apartment in Bombay, just months after they escaped Pakistan soon after the Partition. Despite the family's current relative stability, Amil still doesn't feel safe and often has flashbacks of their horrible journey across the border. He is curious about the world around him and has a strong instinct to help others. Amil finds peace when he picks up a pencil and draws what he sees and what he doesn't understand.
Because Amil has dyslexia and maybe a bit of ADHD, he has a hard time in school. Reading is a chore, and he becomes restless. On top of that, he is clearly suffering from PTSD. He spends most of his time with his twin sister, whom he loves, but he misses his friends from his old town. When he finally meets a boy about his own age, Amil doesn't realize how that potential friendship would affect his family.
I loved Amil's innate kindness and my heart went out to him when he'd worry about selfish. His voice as a tween rang true, and his struggles with trying to understand himself, his father, and the changing world seemed realistic. The black-and-white drawings scattered throughout the book added to the story and matched what I would have expected Amil's artwork to look like.
The book addresses family dynamics, caring for others, loneliness, PTSD, trying hard despite setbacks, and doing what needs to be done in hard times. It also gives insight into how suddenly becoming a refugee can affect children and families. In this world of increasing war and during a time when some people want to turn their backs on others, Amil's story (and that of his sister in the first book) may help youngsters empathize with others who suddenly find their lives turned upside down.
The author's note explains the origins of the story and a glossary defines unfamiliar vocabulary.
Though you don't have to have read The Night Diary first, I highly recommend that you do.
At the dawn of 1948 Amil and his family are settled in an apartment in Bombay, just months after they escaped Pakistan soon after the Partition. Despite the family's current relative stability, Amil still doesn't feel safe and often has flashbacks of their horrible journey across the border. He is curious about the world around him and has a strong instinct to help others. Amil finds peace when he picks up a pencil and draws what he sees and what he doesn't understand.
Because Amil has dyslexia and maybe a bit of ADHD, he has a hard time in school. Reading is a chore, and he becomes restless. On top of that, he is clearly suffering from PTSD. He spends most of his time with his twin sister, whom he loves, but he misses his friends from his old town. When he finally meets a boy about his own age, Amil doesn't realize how that potential friendship would affect his family.
I loved Amil's innate kindness and my heart went out to him when he'd worry about selfish. His voice as a tween rang true, and his struggles with trying to understand himself, his father, and the changing world seemed realistic. The black-and-white drawings scattered throughout the book added to the story and matched what I would have expected Amil's artwork to look like.
The book addresses family dynamics, caring for others, loneliness, PTSD, trying hard despite setbacks, and doing what needs to be done in hard times. It also gives insight into how suddenly becoming a refugee can affect children and families. In this world of increasing war and during a time when some people want to turn their backs on others, Amil's story (and that of his sister in the first book) may help youngsters empathize with others who suddenly find their lives turned upside down.
The author's note explains the origins of the story and a glossary defines unfamiliar vocabulary.
Though you don't have to have read The Night Diary first, I highly recommend that you do.