What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1. *This is the story of Nisha who writes letters to her mother telling her of the experience she is having in India during the year of 1947. India has just obtained their independence from England.
2. *There is a lot of tension and violence between the Hindus and Muslims. Nisha is half Muslim and half Hindu so she torn between two different cultures.
3. *When life gets dangerous, Nisha and her father flee for a new country. They travel by both train and then by foot. Nisha records this journey via a dairy in which she records letters.
4. *Nisha's family encounters many dangerous and violent situations along their way as their family, along with others, try to make the best of being refugees seeking a new life.
5. *She can't figure out why there is such hatred and violence shown toward her family, but as they make their way to freedom, she learns about her own history and those people she has ties to.
What I Thought Of It: The story was beautifully written. It was unique to have the experience written in letter/diary form. There were times I thought the plot moved a bit slow and wondered if young readers would be drawn into the story. As an adult, I did not have knowledge of this time period in history so it was both an informative and entertaining read. There were several painful moments and I was disturbed by the events in the story. That is why stories such as these are so important of us to read.
Who Should Read It: Because of the content, the writing style, and the vocabulary I would recommend this novel for readers in fifth and sixth grade. It may be even more appropriate for middle-school readers. Even high-school children may be an audience for the story. I'm glad I read it, but just not sure fourth grade readers would be drawn in and be able to finish the book. Happy Reading!
Rating: 3 STARS out of 5 Stars
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