Some books are so meaningful and inspiring that you are grateful they were written. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is one such book. It is a historical fiction written in journal-style format set in 1947 when India and Pakistan became independent from British rule and separated into two countries. Even though the book is in the context of the partition of India and Pakistan, it is relevant today as millions of families around the world become refugees because of war, conflict, oppressive governments, and climate change. Through the eyes of one twelve year old girl, I got a glimpse into the feelings of children who are forced to leave their homes and loved ones, make long, treacherous journeys, and find a place where they are welcome. For this, I am grateful. Before The Night Diary, I had not read a book in which the story takes place in India and is about an Indian girl like me. Culturally diverse books are so rare, even though we live in multi-cultural society. This book connected me to my heritage. The food, community, songs, culture, and turns of language, all gave me a strong sense of belonging. For this, I am grateful. After reading this book, I learned that some of my family members lived through the horrific partition of India and Pakistan. My dadi (paternal grandmother) was born in present-day Pakistan and traveled to India as an infant with her older brother and parents during the partition. I wish I could learn more about their stories, but no one who could remember is alive now. The Night Diary shows what the feelings of many people would have been during that time. For this, I am grateful. This book is Nisha’s inner dialogue during her arduous and dangerous journey as a refugee from Pakistan to India. She writes to her deceased mother in a dairy gifted to her on her 12th birthday, who she misses now more than ever. As a girl who is both Hindu and Muslim, living through a partition based on religion, Nisha is struggling to make sense of the world around her. She cannot understand how people can hate each other so much because of the religion they follow. Pakistan and India are both part of her being. If Pakistan and India are divided, then she is torn apart too. The letters to her mama allow her to release her trapped feelings of fear and the pain of leaving loved ones. Through the process of expressing her feelings through written words to her mother who she has never known, she can understand her feelings and hope for a better future. This book is full of metaphors. Nisha’s body symbolizes the two countries. The home she is leaving behind symbolizes her mother. The diary symbolizes hope. It shows us that we can’t run away from our feelings, but should try to understand them and focus on the road ahead. I marvel at the way the author is able to feel the feelings of a twelve year old girl in a different context and time and make me feel the same feelings. Makes me want to write a book just like this one. To all children reading this review: Read this book! It will teach you something about the broader world beyond the borders your own community. It will make you aware of the experiences of refugees. It will teach you why it is important to welcome people seeking help in your homeland. It will inspire you to stand up against bigotry and work toward change. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. Puffin Books, 2019. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Why Schools Should Promote Democracy
“…We have seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded…” (Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb, Inaugural poem, January 20, 2021) Our nation’s first ever youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, was referring to the attack on the US Capitol that nearly overturned the results of our election. Like millions of people around the world, my family and I watched in horror on January 6 as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol with weapons, broke windows, and violated the space. My parents tried to explain what was going on to me and my 5-year old sister as best as they could, but I had so many questions. Why would people want to believe in lies about fraud elections? Why would people ever elect such a President who would support the riots at the Capitol? Why would people ever want to threaten our democracy, of which we are so proud? The very next day, when I logged on to school, I noticed that the event was all but ignored by the school, beyond some meaningless statements about school being a safe place for everyone and the availability of the school counselor for students who may need support. Life went on as if nothing ever happened. I think that my school did not mention these events because they think that students should only learn what is in the curriculum and not what is happening right now. I find this disconnect between what is happening in our world and what we are learning very upsetting. School is not only for learning about the past, but also about the present. We need to learn how what we are learning is linked with what is happening around us. I feel that when schools ignore events like these, we, the future generation, will be uninformed and ignorant. We will only learn to not care and ignore these events ourselves. The role of our schools should be to encourage democracy. We should learn about what caused the events at the US Capitol. We need to understand how it was possible for some people to attack the US Capitol. Are there laws that can ensure that this does not happen again? How can we learn what information is true and what is false? What can we do so that we do not have false information in the first place? If we learned about what was happening in the world, we would want change things. We are often told “children are the future; they are our hope.” Unless we teach students how to use their power for just causes, teach them they have power too, show them that they are part of the community and connected to it, how can we be prepared to change the world? Schools should encourage students to protest or boycott things in a peaceful way. This would encourage students to stand up for their principles and values. It is time for schools to empower the children of the United States.
Gorilla Dawn, Reviewed by Anushka, 10
I remember picking up “Gorilla Dawn” from the Scholastic Book Fair in our school just over two years ago. I was drawn to the cover image of the baby gorilla clutching the girl with vibrant eyes and a scar across her face. I just loved the way the girl was holding the baby gorilla. At age 8, however, I found the words difficult to understand and the plot confusing. So, I put the book back on my bookshelf, where it lay untouched for two years. Tired of reading the same books over again during COVID-19 pandemic, I gave “Gorilla Dawn” another chance because the cover image, beautiful illustrations, and the excerpt intrigued me. I am so glad I did! Only a few books have touched me the way this book has. It is one the most heartwarming, inspiring, thought-provoking, and informative books I have ever read! Deep inside the Congo forests, a baby gorilla has been taken away from his family to the The Black Mamba rebel camp where he meets Imara, a girl who was stolen from her family too. The baby gorilla and Imara share an inner pain, love, and hope. Imara doesn’t know how to care for the baby gorilla, so she turns to a boy named Bobo, who was also taken from his family. When Imara and Bobo learned that the baby gorilla was going to be sold to a mysterious white woman, they are determined to save it. The main character, Imara, has convinced the rebel leader that she is a “spirit child” who has magical powers that will protect the rebel group. Imara feels like she has a demon inside of her making her do things. The demon says agonizing words to her like “You are mine Imara” or “You are the devil’s child,” but when she holds the baby gorilla, the demon seems to go away. I could feel Imara’s suffering, loneliness, and fear through these inner conversations with her subconscious mind. Bobo, the other character in the book, is a curious and determined boy. Bobo was captured and taken to a rebel camp where he met Imara and the baby gorilla who was later named Kitwana after Imara’s brother. Together they fought back the rebels and saved Kitwana. Lastly, Kitwana is a playful gorilla who is always ready for fun. Once when Kitwana fell down from the trees and the rebels captured him. He met Imara in the rebel camp, who held him in his arms just like his mother did. Kitwana trusted Imara more than anyone else. Instead of traditional chapters, the book is organized around the story and perspective of each of these characters (Imara, Kitwana, and Bobo). I think this is a great method to understand the characters and portray their feelings in deep, detailed, and sensitive way. The story takes place in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a place not many have visited or know about. Congo had a violent and horrifying civil war. Rebels, called the M23, fought against the government. Children were stolen from their families and forced to fight with the rebels and work in mines. Gill Lewis tells us the truth about the war, violence, and destruction of the gorilla habitats through mining and poaching just as it is. The rare metals that we use in our electronic devices, like coltan and cobalt come from Congo. The story showed me how the environment, poverty, and greed are related to each other and how we are connected to the people and animals of Congo even though we might not see them or hear about them. Another illuminating and unique aspect of the book is how it explains human behavior through the eyes of an animal. In the book, Kitwana reflects on the rebels, who he calls “killer apes.” “…..Angry, scared, and wary. They had no mothers to protect them or reprimand them. They didn’t let each other close. Each one had a boundary that another couldn’t cross. The only thing that bound them together was their fear.” Animals can understand us, maybe better than we do ourselves. They can feel the same feelings. They can love as we do. This book can inspire children and adults to work to conserve our environment and stop its mindless destruction. It brings awareness of about the lives of people who are far away and how we are all connected. It is a book about hope, bravery, and trust and it will touch your heart. It shows the true meaning of love. I would recommend it for anyone 10 years and older and I am looking forward to reading more Gill Lewis books. Gorilla Dawn by Gill Lewis, illustrated by Susan Meyer. Simon and Schuster, 2018. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
