The Night Diary

Beautifully written, relevant to the plight of child migrants and refugees today, a must read for middle grade students and teachers. The Night Diary is set during the Partition of India in 1947 when India won its independence from Great Britain, resulting in the forced migration of Hindus to India and Muslims to newly formed Pakistan. On the eve of her twelfth birthday, Nisha receives a diary from the family cook, Kazi, who tells her that adults will have neither the time nor the presence of mind to record what is to come. From the start, Nisha is bewildered by the idea that politicians have drawn a line on a map that divides people according to their religion. What is to become of Nisha and her twin brother Amil? Their deceased mother was Muslim and their father is Hindu. Even though he is Muslim, surely Kazi will stay with the family. He has filled the role of nurturing parent as Nisha's father is distant, critical, and spent from caring for patients during this brewing storm of societal upheaval. The family's planned journey starts with a grand feast for friends and family to say their final farewells. Growing unease gives way to urgency as Kazi saves the family during a late night raid. They escape on foot carrying water, food, and a few prized possessions. We follow Nisha across the unforgiving desert, to boarding a dangerously overcrowded train where she witnesses violence and mayhem. Along the way, Nisha must fend off desperate refugees who fight over the last drops of water and the sparse shade from the unforgiving heat. There are twists and turns in this riveting, perilous journey with a surprise ending. The beauty of this story is that we see how Nisha navigates internal and external obstacles through her journal entries. Reminiscent of the The Diary of Anne Frank, Nisha's diary shines a light on how a young girl tries to make sense of a world where political forces have created divisions among people and has turned her world upside down. Woven throughout the diary entries are Nisha's descriptions of the soothing rituals of cooking with Kazi. His gift of the perfect tomato with a sprinkle of salt, the savory samosas, and crunchy pakora are outward signs of love, family, culture, and survival. "Each samosa felt like a small animal, soft and warm in my hand. We worked quietly, me filling the dough, Kazi frying them until they became golden brown." (pg 68)

Nisha likes her life except for one thing. Her mother died when she and her twin brother Amil were born. When she is given a diary for her twelveth birthday, she decides to write letters to her mother. Life in her village isn't perfect but it isn't bad either. She and her brother attend the local school where she has no real friends and her brother is bullied but she gets to help out the family cook, Kazi prepare the meals. Her father is a doctor who works at the local hospital and while he isn't particularly tender, he does take care of them, even though he has little patience for Amil's learning difficulties. But things take a sudden turn when India gains her independence and tensions between Muslims and Hindus explode into violence. With a mother who was Muslim and a father who is Hindu, Nisha doesn't understand why this is happening. Why people who used to get along, don't anymore. The announcement that India will be split into two separate countries (India and Pakistan) the violence gets worse. Nisha learns that her family is going to have to leave the only home she's ever known because Hindus are no longer welcome in what will soon be Muslim-dominated Pakistan. Heart-broken and confused, Nisha must leave behind most of what she's ever known, including her beloved Kazi. The journey itself is difficult for everyone but meeting her mother's brother offers a spark of hope. I really enjoyed reading this book and not only because it takes place outside of the United States. Nisha is a fabulous character, who though she's growing up is still a child in many ways. She wants to know what the adults are whispering about, but once she finds out, she doesn't understand it and it scares her. She gets along with her brother most of the time, but they get on each other's nerves sometimes too. And Nisha struggles with her own personal weaknesses as well, including shyness. I appreciated the fact that the problems in Nisha's life aren't all solved by the end of the book. While things are better, her life has still almost completely changed. Yet hope remains alive and well despite all the heartache and changes in Nisha's life.

Bought this as part of a girls reading club and daughter finished the book in a couple of days!

THE NIGHT DIARY is incredible and I can’t recommend it highly enough. That silver medal is well-earned. Nisha’s story is told with honesty, compassion, and a true love for India and her beautiful culture. There are so many things to unpack in this story: Nisha’s grief, her selective mutism, the complex relationships between all the family members, who are depicted so clearly and also lovingly. This book will stay in my heart a long, long time- and then I will read it again. I’m so glad there are stories of emigration and refugees that aren’t about America in any way. Kids (and adults) need books like this to see and understand all the parts of our world. I had never heard of the India-Pakistan Partition until I read AHIMSA, and I knew I wanted to read this book. I felt like I’d walked through the desert with Nisha, Amil, Dadi, and Papa - thank you for this incredible work of heart.

As a 10 year old girl, this book teaches me a lot about history while keeping me entertained. Ms. Hiranandani adds lots of detail and doesn't rush action. She describes everything carefully, using the right words. Since this book is in 1st person point of view, as a reader, I know exactly what's going on in Nisha's (the main character) head. Nisha, her twin brother - Amil, her dad, and grandma travel from Mirpur Khas (in current day Pakistan), to Jodhpur, India. Overnight, India becomes freed by British rule, while also getting split into 2 different countries - India, and Pakistan. Nisha has to leave her only friend - Kazi, the families cook behind. She then travels to Rashid Uncles house, - her mom's house and wishes to stay there, because it makes her feel connected to her mom who died during child birth. However, she can't stay and has to continue her journey across the border. Overall, Ms. Hiranandani is an excellent writer, and I highly recommend The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani.

Wonderful book for young readers. It is beautifully written and easy to follow. I got to know the characters and cared very much for Nisha and Amil. I was grateful for Kazi and Rashid Uncle. Nisha's father and grandmother were heroic in my opinion. I felt a range of emotions when reading this wonderful book. I appreciated the descriptions and details since I "saw" the scenes while reading. The story is a hopeful one. Home is often complicated and this heartbreaking story reminds us that even in the dark times there is joy to be found. Love is strength. My daughter also enjoyed reading this book. It is an important part of our world's history that I did not understand at all and appreciate learning from this novel.

Despite having read other books about refugees, I had never thought much about the thousands of people who found themselves on the wrong side of the line when Pakistan and India became separate countries in 1947. I'm grateful now to have learned from Ms. Hiranandani what life was like for those particular refugees. In the case of 12-year-old Nisha, her country, India, suddenly becomes Pakistan, and she has to endure hardship and danger to reach the part of India that hasn't broken off. Nisha is easy to relate to, and all the main characters are fully-fleshed. The book contains details - respectfully described - about both Hindu and Muslim customs, and paints a clear picture of life in India at that time. I feel much more enlightened than I did before I read the book, and I think it's a good choice for readers who want to know about kids whose worlds may be drastically different from their own.

The story evolves slowly, but carries a message of love, acceptance, family , and hope. It tells a story of an event that many are not aware happened, so it is worth reading. In my opinion , I liked the young characters the best and was left thinking about why so many chose silence.