The Night Diary is a powerful portrayal of what could have been one girl’s experiences during the largest mass migration in history – the partition of India. Written in letter format from a young girl, Nisha, to her mother who died during child birth, this story unfolds the events, feelings, and reality of this time period. The text is full of cultural foods, smells, colors, and customs that brings everything to life. I wish I had known about the glossary before I came upon it at the end of the book, as it would have enhanced my experience of the culture. The author states the story is loosely based on experiences from her own family heritage, but it is relatable to so many cultures who have experienced migration, persecution, becoming a refugee, etc.
The text shows the incredible juxtaposition of the abundance and security Nisha experiences before the partition of India with the survival and danger she experiences during their escape followed by hard work and hope while starting again in a new country.
A beautiful example of historical fiction, this book will appeal to those who love to learn about new cultures, relate to the hardships others endure due to culture and/or religion, and fight for what family means.
Review of an Advanced Reading Copy
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Dial Books for Young Readers
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Report of mother’s death; minor throws rock at minor hitting head; rumors of fighting; boys fight at school; thoughts of potential violence towards family member; crutches and bandage on leg; questioned if beating occurred; scorpion bit minor – thought was going to die; adult slaps minors hand; home invasion with broken property; blood running down adults head; description of stitching of cut; report of Muslim homes being burned; hurt ankle; report of 3 grandparents’ deaths; thoughts of being killed; reports of everyone killing one another; reports of fighting; felt like stabbed in heart; thought of someone burning down home; thought of someone coming to hurt father; killing of people on trains; riots; reference to dead people on the other side; looked like a dog about to be kicked; memory of adult hitting minor on bottom; adult swatting minor’s hand; man cut another man’s arm – blood; thoughts about potentially dying; many people dying in hospital; questioning what is a good way to die; everyone killing everyone; swatted in face; adult grabs minor and puts knife to throat, blood on sleeve; report that a family’s throats were sliced and they died; reports of families killing families killing families; thought he was going to kill you/me; if slit throat would die in a minute; wondering if family member would die; threat of gun that wasn’t real; lots of people dying while walking or on the trains; riots and killings; minors make up stories where characters always die by various weapons – gun, knife, torch – as form of entertainment; thought that we’ll all be killed; wondering if we die; men fighting – blood; man with gun; crushed toe; thoughts of “if I die”; extended scene of fight with punching, slicing, a lot of blood; gun shot, leg slashed, throat slashed, everyone trying to kill, man stabbed in chest, man with throat slashed – eyes rolled back, man with chest bleeding heavily; thousands of people have died in unthinkable ways and still are being killed; trains pulled into stops filled with dead people; continued fighting and killing.
Sex/Nudity: One very vague reference to potential for rape.
Mature Subject Matter:
Migration, religious persecution, death, murder, riots.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Four references to adults smoking pipes and/or cigars.
