Age: Middle School
Family: Twin sister and brother
History: Partition of India
Location: Pakistan/India
Religion: Hinduism & Islam
Trigger Warning:

Spoiler

seeing murder

First line: "Dear mama, I know you know what happened today at 6:00 a.m., 12 years ago. How could you not? It was the day we came and you left, but I don't want to be sad today. I want to be happy and tell you everything."

Told through diary entries to her deceased mother, Nisha has social anxiety at school and leans on her brother to speak for her. As the threat of violence against Hindus looms over the newly created state of Pakistan, Nisha and her family must flee south to the new India experiencing extreme hardship along the way.

Spoiler

Towards the end of the book, Nisha experiences the trauma of violence up close as she sees Hindus and Muslims fighting each other to the death. Although safe in a new home across the Pakistan border, Nisha regresses further into her proclivity to be silent after this horrific experience. Much to her surprise, her Muslim childhood cook, mentor, and caretaker arrives at their new home after taking the long and dangerous journey to be with them. After such tragic events unfold to Nisha, the ending is such a breathe of relief.