{"id":35874,"date":"2019-02-07T00:22:56","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T04:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=35874"},"modified":"2019-02-07T23:58:00","modified_gmt":"2019-02-08T03:58:00","slug":"review-of-the-night-diary-by-veera-hiranandani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=35874","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Night Diary, by Veera Hiranandani"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Night Diary<\/em><\/p>\n

by Veera Hiranandani<\/p>\n

Dial Books for Young Readers, March 2018. 267 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written December 3, 2017 from an Advance Reader Copy.
\n2019 Newbery Honor Book<\/p>\n

[Disclaimer: This review was written before I ever discussed the book with the Newbery committee and after only my first reading. The opinions expressed are only mine, and only my first impression.]<\/p>\n

The Night Diary<\/em> is set in a time I knew nothing about: 1947 India, the part that became Pakistan.<\/p>\n

Nisha and her twin brother Amil live with her Papa and his mother Dadi and their beloved Kazi, the cook. Their mother died when giving birth to the twins. They are twelve now, and Nisha is writing letters to her Mama in a diary that Kazi gave her.<\/p>\n

Nisha\u2019s Mama was a Muslim, but her Papa is Hindu and they live as Hindu, but Kazi is Muslim. Many didn\u2019t want her parents to get married, but they moved to a place where all religions lived together peaceably. That is about to change.<\/p>\n

When the British left India, it was decided that they should partition India into two countries \u2013 Pakistan for Muslims and India for the remaining religions, particularly Hindus. So Nisha and her family need to move.<\/p>\n

Nisha\u2019s father is a doctor and he listens to the ideas promoted by Gandhi. He lingers in their town probably longer than they should. Eventually, their journey to cross the border into India is fraught with danger. They have many brushes with death.<\/p>\n

On top of this, Nisha has trouble speaking to anyone who is not family. This will add to her challenges on the road.<\/p>\n

This book is based on the author\u2019s father\u2019s family\u2019s experiences at the same time. It adds power that this story of refugees is based in truth.<\/p>\n

Sadly, refugee stories are always timely. As are stories about conflict between religions. I like the way Gandhi\u2019s ideas of religions living peacefully together are included \u2013 though still showing the nonsensical side of hatred based only on religion.<\/p>\n

This is a powerful story, including brushes with death, but it\u2019s all told from a child\u2019s eyes and in a way a child can understand.<\/p>\n

Here’s what the Newbery committee said about the book: “Following introspective Nisha and her family as they flee their homeland for an uncertain future, Hiranandani illuminates the 1947 partition of India with unprecedented balance and sensitivity. Through spare evocative diary entries addressed to her late mother, Nisha discovers the complex beauty of her Hindu-Muslim identity.”<\/p>\n

veerahiranandani.com<\/a>
\npenguin.com\/middle-grade<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/night_diary.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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