The Night Diary

The Night Diary

By Veera Hiranandani

Its 1947, and twelve-year-old Nisha and her twin brother Amil live in the Mirpur Khas region of India.  Amil is a carefree boy with many friends.  Nisha is a shy, almost mute girl, who has few friends, but she’s an excellent student and cook.  When Nisha begins to keep a diary as a way to connect with her mother who has passed away, she has no idea of the strange twists her life will take.

Unbeknownst to Nisha and Amil, India is in political turmoil.  Although their family lives happily among people of all religions, they soon learn that India will be divided along religious lines.  The new India will be for Hindus.  Muslims will live in Pakistan, a brand new country.  

As Hindus, Nisha and Amil live on the wrong side of the line and must travel to the new India to live.  Worse than that, fighting has broken out amongst the many religious factions and people are being killed.  

The family sets out on its odyssey to the border with only the clothes and supplies on their backs.  It is a long, arduous journey and many do not survive.  Nisha continuously writes in her diary to document the unbelievable trip from a relatively wealthy lifestyle to struggle and hardship.  As the journey progresses, Nisha must also contend with her own struggle to find her voice and face her new reality.

The Night Diary is based on real events.  The partitioning of India took place in 1947 and tore the country apart.  Those who love historical fiction will enjoy The Night Diary.

The Lotterys More or Less

The Lotterys More or Less

By Emma Donoghue

In many ways the Lotterys are the ideal family.  There are two moms, two dads and seven kids.  Some kids were born as Lotterys, some were adopted. The Lottery children are all home-schooled and learn by doing.  The Lotterys are lucky -- they won the lottery, and now the parents can stay home full-time with their kids.

In this second installment of The Lotterys series, it’s Christmastime, and 9-year-old Sumac is making sure that the family follows every Christmas tradition that they have established over the years.  She wants to attend the Nutcracker, go to the Polar Pear Plunge, decorate the tree, etc.  

But things are a little different this year.  For one thing, PapaDum and Sic, Sumac’s oldest brother, have gone to India and won’t be back until December 23^rd.  For another thing, the Lotterys have a “couchsurfer” this year.  Luis is from Brazil and is staying with the Lotterys throughout December.

Still, they should be able to do all the things that Sumac loves to do.  Until something incredible happens – there’s an ice storm in Toronto!  Everything is covered with ice!  The city stops functioning and the power goes out.  And it’s really, really, cold.  Not only that, but no flights can land at the Toronto airport, so PapaDum and Sic can’t come home for Christmas.  Even Luis, who was supposed to continue his travels, gets stuck at the Lottery house for Christmas.

Sumac is miserable.  At the most special family time of the year, nothing is quite right.  Can she and the Lotterys adjust their traditions and rescue Christmas?

Megabat

Megabat

By Anna Humphrey
Illustrated by Kass Reich

Daniel is feeling sad after moving to a new house in a new town and he misses his friends in Toronto.  When he hears weird noises in his attic bedroom, he is a bit freaked out.  Then he realizes that the noises are coming from a bat – Megabat –  and Daniel doesn’t really know what to do.  Megabat, it seems, is lost and also misses his friends from the land of Papaya Premium.  In fact, Megabat weeps so much that he creates a large puddle on the bedroom floor – Daniel’s parents even think the roof is leaking!

The crying settles down once Daniel and Megabat get to know each other.  Daniel deduces that Megabat is actually from Borneo and devises a plan to get him back there.  Little does he know that he and Megabat will actually become good friends.

Daniel begins carrying Megabat in his pocket.  He gives him his fill of fruits and juices, and they sit around watching Star Wars together.  Megabat even begins brandishing a juice box straw like a lightsaber.

Megabat says adorable things like, “It is being an honor to meeting yours.” (p.69) He gets very excited over “smoosh fruits”, a.k.a. jelly rolls. (p. 68) He also seems to be falling in love with a pigeon called Birdgirl.  Nevertheless, Daniel knows he needs to do his best to get Megabat home.  With the help of his new neighbour and friend, Talia, Daniel hopes he can complete his mission.

Megabat is perfect for young readers who still need a few pictures in their chapter books.  Highly recommended!