It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.
Half-Muslim, half-Hindu 12-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark, first by train but later on foot, to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.
Told through Nisha’s letters to her mother, The Night Diary is a heartfelt story of one girl’s search for home, for her own identity—and for a hopeful future.
BL 4.5
8 Points
Half-Muslim, half-Hindu 12-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark, first by train but later on foot, to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.
Told through Nisha’s letters to her mother, The Night Diary is a heartfelt story of one girl’s search for home, for her own identity—and for a hopeful future.
BL 4.5
8 Points
Activity 1: Print the map that has a link below. Shade India orange and Pakistan green, Then, use Google Maps to look up the city Mirpurkhas, Pakistan and label it on the map.
On the back of the map, answer these questions:
Before India and Pakistan became their own countries, who was in control?
On the back of the map, answer these questions:
Before India and Pakistan became their own countries, who was in control?
- What year did India become independent from Britain?
- What religion became the majority in India? What religion became the majority in Pakistan?
Activity 2: On the cover of the book, there are many different hands that represent Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh people. How can you tell which hands are which people? What do you notice about the cover art? Create a different cover that you think conveys the meaning of the book better than the current one.
Activity 3: Nisha has many powerful quotes. Some examples of those quotes are on pages 129, 163\2. 110, 152, 160, 178, 188, 192, 205-206, 242, 248, 217, 230. Pick one of these quotes and write it down. Draw an illustration to represent the quote.