A review by yapha
Ticket to India by N.H. Senzai
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