The Night Diary
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is a poignant narrative published by Penguin on April 23, 2019. This reprint edition spans 304 pages and is presented in English. The story unfolds in 1947, during the tumultuous period of India’s partition, as twelve-year-old Nisha navigates her identity amidst the upheaval of her country being divided into India and Pakistan. Through her letters to her deceased mother, Nisha expresses her fears and hopes while her family embarks on a perilous journey to find safety and a sense of belonging.
Readers will find a heartfelt exploration of social themes such as emigration and immigration, as well as the complexities of family and sibling relationships. The narrative captures the human cost of conflict and the resilience of a young girl striving to piece together her identity in a fractured world. As Nisha confronts the challenges of being a refugee, her story serves as a reflection on the search for home and the enduring hope for a brighter future.
Official synopsis Publisher
NEWBERY HONOR BOOK • A poignant, personal, and hopeful tale of India’s partition—and of one girl’s journey to find a new home in a divided country.
“A gripping, nuanced story of the human cost of conflict appropriate for both children and adults.”—Kirkus Reviews (One of the Best Middle Grade Books of the Century)
It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.
Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark—first by train, later on foot—to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.
Told through Nisha’s letters to her mother, The Night Diary is a heartfelt story of one girl’s search for home, for her own identity…and for a hopeful future.
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