yapha's review
3.0
(3.5 Stars)
When Maya's grandfather passes away, she and her family travel from San Francisco to Pakistan to finalize his affairs. Once there, her grandmother insists that she must go to India. Unbeknownst to Maya, her grandmother was born in India and wants to return to the place of her birth before she moves to the US. Maya and her older sister Zara cajole their grandmother into taking them with her, and the three set out on an adventure.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. I had no prior knowledge of the Partition and how Pakistan become a country. It was fascinating history and the book really brought it to life. I was especially pleased to find a synagogue mentioned in the religious diversity of India. I was quite surprised, however, with the turn the book took after the girls reached India. It seemed quite harsh and took some of the believability of the story away from me. I would still recommend it to some of my students, but that is what dropped it from 4 stars to 3.5. Recommended for grades 5-7.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
When Maya's grandfather passes away, she and her family travel from San Francisco to Pakistan to finalize his affairs. Once there, her grandmother insists that she must go to India. Unbeknownst to Maya, her grandmother was born in India and wants to return to the place of her birth before she moves to the US. Maya and her older sister Zara cajole their grandmother into taking them with her, and the three set out on an adventure.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. I had no prior knowledge of the Partition and how Pakistan become a country. It was fascinating history and the book really brought it to life. I was especially pleased to find a synagogue mentioned in the religious diversity of India. I was quite surprised, however, with the turn the book took after the girls reached India. It seemed quite harsh and took some of the believability of the story away from me. I would still recommend it to some of my students, but that is what dropped it from 4 stars to 3.5. Recommended for grades 5-7.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
heatherbookely's review
3.0
Liked but didn't love this one. The pacing felt kind of off to me; the protagonist is quiet and hesitant, and then she gets thrown into this adventure and I think it was supposed to serve as a way for her to grow and change, but it didn't feel plausible for me. I also thought the adventure itself was unrealistic; I liked that she was trying to get back to where her grandmother grew up, because I love those kind of quests (probably because I know very little about my family and I love watching characters learn about theirs), but some of the things that happened felt too extreme or not extreme enough.
aarjak9's review
5.0
This story is about a girl, Maya whose family is the victim of the partition of India and Pakistan.
At that time, her Naniamma and her family decide to migrate to Pakistan, while her Dadiamma and her family refuse to budge from India. Her grandmothers were in their early childhood.
Now, when her Naniamma and her family were riding on the train to Pakistan, they all were killed (including the other passengers on the train) but her Naniamma and two others. Once she reached Pakistan, she was taken in by an orphanage. Soon, she grew up and married a man, Maya’s Nanaba. They had a family. And soon enough their granddaughters were born, Zara (Maya’s elder sister) and Maya in America.
Maya knows nothing about her family and the Partition.
Maya used to love going to Pakistan and spent time with her Nanaba in his garden, with his favorite pink rose, Rosa Bourboniana. Everything is fine and happy until Maya’s family gets the news of her Nanaba’s death of a stroke.
Naniamma desperately wants to go to India, but her family doesn’t want her to go in this situation. Zara and Maya notice their Naniamma’s peculiar behavior and ask her if they can go along. Naniamma has to let them. They take off on the flight and Naniamma tells them her story, about her Hindu friend Reshma, the partition, how they buried their family treasures, and why she wants it. She wants her ring buried with Nanaba.
They land in Delhi, collect the keys of her house and go back to the hotel.
The next morning sisters find their Naniamma fainted. They get to know that she has gotten a minor stroke.
Now, Maya has to carry the responsibility of getting the chest. She is on her own and has to have the courage of going all the way to Aminpur. And while her journey, her whole life is changed as she unites everyone.
At that time, her Naniamma and her family decide to migrate to Pakistan, while her Dadiamma and her family refuse to budge from India. Her grandmothers were in their early childhood.
Now, when her Naniamma and her family were riding on the train to Pakistan, they all were killed (including the other passengers on the train) but her Naniamma and two others. Once she reached Pakistan, she was taken in by an orphanage. Soon, she grew up and married a man, Maya’s Nanaba. They had a family. And soon enough their granddaughters were born, Zara (Maya’s elder sister) and Maya in America.
Maya knows nothing about her family and the Partition.
Maya used to love going to Pakistan and spent time with her Nanaba in his garden, with his favorite pink rose, Rosa Bourboniana. Everything is fine and happy until Maya’s family gets the news of her Nanaba’s death of a stroke.
Naniamma desperately wants to go to India, but her family doesn’t want her to go in this situation. Zara and Maya notice their Naniamma’s peculiar behavior and ask her if they can go along. Naniamma has to let them. They take off on the flight and Naniamma tells them her story, about her Hindu friend Reshma, the partition, how they buried their family treasures, and why she wants it. She wants her ring buried with Nanaba.
They land in Delhi, collect the keys of her house and go back to the hotel.
The next morning sisters find their Naniamma fainted. They get to know that she has gotten a minor stroke.
Now, Maya has to carry the responsibility of getting the chest. She is on her own and has to have the courage of going all the way to Aminpur. And while her journey, her whole life is changed as she unites everyone.
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