by Veera Hiranandani; Kokila/Dial, 2018.

Set in India in 1947, The Night Diary is a moving middle-grade historical novel written in diary form. It examines the effects of India gaining independence from Britain and becoming two countries: India and Pakistan. Known as the Partition, the division brought about widespread violence between Hindus and Muslims and resulted in the largest mass migration in human history. The novel, composed of diary entries written by twelve year-old Nisha to her deceased mother, personalizes the ramifications of this pivotal historical decision. Readers are transported to a frightening and confusing time as Nisha and her family journey across new boundaries, navigating dramatic changes in the world they once knew and loved.

Highly-acclaimed, The Night Diary has earned the 2019 Newbery Honor Award, the Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature, and a Walter Dean Myers Honor Award. It was named an ALA Notable Book, Junior Library Guild Selection, and New York Times Editor’s Choice Pick. It was also selected as a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Kirkus Reviews, The New York Times, NPR, School Library Journal, and The Washington Post.

---

“Let us weave something, you and I. / A new landscape. / A World / with peaks of kindness, / orchards branched with good, / rivers swollen with peace. ”— from “Let Us Weave” by Tony Johnston; Voices from Afar: Poems of Peace.

---

 

Why This Book? Why will it matter to kids?

Born to a Hindu father and a Muslim mother who died giving birth to her and her brother, Nisha wrestles with this loss but lives a calm, peaceful, and sheltered life. Though her father is distant and her grandmother stern, they are loving and caring of both Nisha and her more willful twin Amil. Nisha’s emotional center is Kazi, the family cook, who on her twelfth birthday gifts to her a diary. She decides to write in it every day. “I want to remember what everyone says and does, and I won’t know the ending until I get there.” Her diary chronicles the ripple effect of a life-changing historical event that forever changes Nisha’s life, causing her to adapt and grow as a result of a wide range of experiences.  Readers of The Night Diary will relate to Nisha’s struggles with family dynamics, loss, grief, and identity. A piece of history becomes more accessible and its far-reaching ramifications more understandable to readers as a result of embarking on this dramatic journey with Nisha.   

Grade level: 4-8+

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

empathy, acceptance, identity, comfort, family, friendship, hope, diversity, humanity

Content Area Connections

global history, history of religion, religious tensions, India, Pakistan, Partition, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, refugees, community

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running
Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

An in-depth teacher’s guide for The Night Diary is available. Pre-reading, while reading, and follow-up questions, essay prompts, and activities are suggested; research opportunities are explored.

A set of discussion questions can be found at the back of the softcover edition of the book.

An informative four-minute conversation between the author and her editor centering on the themes of The Night Diary and how the author wove elements of her family’s history into the story can be found here. Also of interest is the discussion of the cover art and its significance.

Write Away!
Ideas to prompt writing

When her world is suddenly shattered by political events, Nisha turns to her diary, a gift from the beloved family cook Kazi.  One-sided conversations with her mother help her navigate overwhelming changes in her life. Through her writings Nisha finds comfort, strength, and a path to understanding. In an early diary entry, Nisha reflects, “I think Kazi likes us best. Papa loves us of course because he’s our father and Dadi loves us because she’s our grandmother. That’s what they’re supposed to do, but Papa is too busy to do a lot of liking and Dadi is too old.”

Ask students to write about a relationship that is important to them. Why is it important, and how does it stand apart from other relationships in their lives?

In a diary entry before they flee their home, Nisha ponders religious differences. She writes, “Everyone knows who is Muslim, Hindu, or Sikh by the clothes they wear or the names they have. But we all have lived together in this town for so long, I just never thought much about people’s religions before.”As tensions rise and friendships deteriorate, Nisha feels torn between being Muslim and Hindu and grapples with her identity. She longs for peace.

Ask students to write about a time when they wrestled with two sides of an argument or debate or belief: a time when they experienced uncertainty about which side to take—or even if they should take a side—as Nisha wonders. 

Poetry Break
Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing a learning period to transitioning from one subject to the next.  Take poetry beyond ELA and into science, social studies, math, and physical education classes. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept; capture a pivotal moment; celebrate language; exemplify rhythm and imagery; enhance vocabulary; expand understanding; increase attention span; and summon a giggle or initiate reflection. And poetry soothes the spirit.

Poetry collections suggested for use with The Night Diary:

• Let There Be Light: Poems and Prayers for Repairing the World compiled and illustrated by Janet Breskin Zalben
• Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace by Anna Grossnickle Hines
• This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort selected by Georgia Heard, illustrated by Eighteen Renowned Picture Book Artists
• Voices from Afar: Poems of Peace by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Susan Guevara

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Learning to cook under the direction of Kazi soothes and centers Nisha. Throughout The Night Diary, food and its preparation play a role in key moments, provides solace, and bolsters Nisha’s sense of self.

Learn from the author how to make Sindhi Sai Bhaji (SIN di  SIGH  BAH gee), a favorite dish of Nisha’s, and a Hiranandani family recipe, on “StoryMakers in the Kitchen.” The recipe also can be found at the back of the softcover edition of The Night Diary.

Learn about Veera’s middle grade novel The Whole Story of Half a Girl and her chapter book series Phoebe G. Green here.

About the Author

Veera Hiranandani (HEERA nan DAH nee) is the author of The Night Diary (Kokila/Dial), which received the 2019 Newbery Honor Award, the 2019 Walter Dean Myers Honor Award and the 2018 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature.  She is also the author of The Whole Story of Half a Girl (Yearling), which was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book and a South Asian Book Award Finalist; and the chapter book series, Phoebe G. Green (Grosset & Dunlap). Hiranandani earned her MFA in fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College. A former editor at Simon & Schuster, she now teaches creative writing and is working on her next novel.

Q&A with Veera Hiranandani

Veera graciously responded to a few questions about The Night Diary and her creative process.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write The Night Diary? What seeded its creation?

Veera Hiranandani: My father and his family had to flee their home in Mirpur Khas, Pakistan during the Partition of India in 1947. I heard my father, my aunts, and uncles tell the story as I was growing up that several weeks after India’s independence, my father, his four brothers and sisters, and his mother decided to leave Pakistan and travelled over the new border by train. My grandfather had to stay behind. He was a doctor in the Mirpur Khas city hospital and they didn’t want him to leave until they found a replacement. A few weeks after he decided to leave anyway because he was worried about his family.  They lost their home, their community, but they made it safely. Many did not. When I got older, I became more curious, did more research, and wondered why I never learned about the Partition in school in the US, such a significant event in our global history. When I became a writer, I knew I wanted to shape a story around this time, but it took me a while before I felt confident enough to try.

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of The Night Diary or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.

VH: One aspect of the book I wrestled with many times was how to portray this violent history for young readers—so a memorable hurdle, but not very humorous. I wanted to be as honest as I could. Some people experienced unimaginable violence and some did not. So I tried to strike a balance that would honor the truth of what happened, and at the same time have content appropriate for what a younger reader could handle. I wrote and rewrote many scenes because of that.

JB: How do you see The Night Diary connecting to the curriculum?

VH: I see it connecting in a number of ways—first, simply as a historical piece that can bring alive this time period.  The book also carries themes of empathy and accepting those from different backgrounds or religions, or any kind of differences that separate people. I think it could also work for writing teachers, looking at how a writer goes about fictionalizing history, or it could open up craft questions. For example, students could look at form and structure and how that forces you to make choices as a writer. den0 \

JB: There are many deeply affecting moments in The Night Diary. The scenes in which Nisha and  Amil reach out to and befriend Hafa, the child in the neighboring house, dramatically underscore the immediate and devastating repercussions of the Partition. Because these scenes depict personal interactions solely between the children, they may be most memorable and impactful to readers. Tell us how you conceived of and developed that part of the plot. 

VH: Thank you! I wanted to have a few scenes where Nisha tries to connect with another child who is Muslim during their journey. I thought it would be interesting for the reader to experience how they might discuss what is going on around them and show the simplicity of Nisha, Amil, and Hafa’s connection, how they just want to be normal kids and play together set against the backdrop of this awful adult-created conflict they have no choice but to take part in. They are trying to reconcile what their world is telling them versus the pure desire to connect as human beings, and how sad it is that they shouldn’t.

JB: What did you learn from creating The Night Diary?

VH: I learned so many things, too many to list! I learned new information about the history of the Partition, but I learned more about myself as well. I was an inconsistent student and tended to give up on things that were overwhelming and difficult—things that I thought were for smarter people. But pushing myself through the writing and research for this book gave me a new confidence and belief that if you listen to your own instincts, and if the task is important enough to you, it’s always worth it to keep going, even if you’re afraid you can’t do it.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of The Night Diary?

VH: I touched on it a bit in the last question. I wasn’t the greatest history student. I’m a terrible speller and there were times I thought I just wasn’t that smart. But you don’t have to be good at everything. Everyone has something to offer in their own way.

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from The Night Diary?

VH: I hope readers who have a connection to the Partition will be able to see their family history in a novel, something I never experienced growing up. I also hope readers enjoy learning about a piece of history they may not know a lot about. Perhaps they will take away a greater sense of empathy for those around them, people who may look different from them or practice a different religion. Finally, I hope the book opens up a curiosity about the world, both historically and in the present.

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

VH: I’m not sure. I think you covered it!

Opportunity Alert for Educators

If you live in the Western New York area, you will be excited to learn that Veera will be a spotlight presenter at the Western New York Children’s Book Expo Educator Event on November 9th! Come listen to Veera and eleven other critically-acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators present at this CTLE-credit event designed exclusively for educators! Details and registration information can be found here.

Book Giveaway!

Subscribers who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of The Night Diary. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced when the next guide is posted.

And…the winner of a copy of Hello Summer! by Shelley Rotner is Michele Montoro! Congratulations!