The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani - OPTIONAL

Hiranandani, Veera The Night Diary, 272 pages. Dial (Penguin), 2018. $16.99.  Language: G Mature Content: PG (political/religious conflict) Violence: PG (Muslims and Hindus killing each other)

Few people know about the partitioning of India that occurred in 1947, resulting in the country of Pakistan. When the British government ceased control of India, the Indian government forced the segregation of the Hindu and Muslim religions. This is the story of Nisha who is torn in the conflict. Her deceased mother was Muslim. Her father is Hindu. The story unfolds in diary format that Nisha writes to her mother. It begins as a normal life, but her father is Hindu. Since they are living in the part of India that becomes Muslim Pakistan, her family must flee to the Hindu country of India, while the Muslims are fleeing the opposite direction to Pakistan. Her journal describes the difficult and dangerous journey her family experiences, especially the challenge to find water.

This story is fascinating for those who crave information. It does not have the notoriety of the Holocaust or current crisis in the Middle East, so it might be a tough sell for kids. It’s a good choice to beef up the historical fiction collection with a recent release. Teachers might like this as required reading if they want an example of religious conflict in the last century. The story line and diary format make it easy to read.

EL, MS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist