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Title details for Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani - Available

Lion of the Sky

by Ritu Hemnani
Vikas Adam
Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available

An evocative historical novel in verse about a boy and his family who are forced to flee their home and become refugees after the British Partition of India. Perfect for fans of Other Words for Home.

Twelve-year-old Raj is happiest flying kites with his best friend, Iqbal. As their kites soar, Raj feels free, like his beloved India soon will be, and he can't wait to celebrate their independence.

But when a British lawyer draws a line across a map, splitting India in two, Raj is thrust into a fractured world. With Partition declared, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim families are torn apart—and Raj's Hindu and Iqbal's Muslim families are among them.

Forced to flee and become refugees, Raj's family is left to start over in a new country. After suffering devastating losses, Raj must summon the courage to survive the brutal upheaval of both his country and his heart.

Inspired by the author's true family history, Lion of the Sky is a deeply moving coming-of-age tale about identity, belonging, and the power of hope.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 7, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780063284500
      • File size: 125860 KB
      • Duration: 04:22:12

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from February 26, 2024
      Drawing from family history, Hemnani delivers a wrenching historical verse debut that traces the eagerly anticipated end of British rule in India and the subsequent conflicts between Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh populations during the 1947 Partition, which forced millions to relocate. In his hometown of Sindh, 12-year-old Hindu Raj flies “through the fields.../ of wildflowers and birdsong,” guiding his kite “in the endless blue,/ free and wild/ as it/ fights/ and/ snaps.” Raj’s carefree frolicking disappoints his father Baba, who favors Raj’s sister Maya and compares him to his brother Vijay. Acceptance comes from Raj’s Muslim best friend Iqbal. When the Partition begins, violence erupts across India, but Baba hopes that “the madness/ won’t spread to us.” Yet Raj watches powerless as Iqbal’s home is burned (“When he sees me.../ his eyes never looked/ so cold”) and Raj and his family are forced to flee to Bombay, where they face myriad injustices as religious refugees. Raj experiences agonizing losses throughout, which are rendered in Hemnani’s aching verse. Compelling stakes ratchet up the tension in this illuminating and harrowing story about displacement, grief, and hope. Ages 8–12.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Vikas Adam uses a strong but easily understood East Indian accent to welcome listeners into Raj's happy Hindu family. Oblivious to what India's 1947 independence might mean, Raj seeks only to win his father's approval and help his Muslim friend, Iqbal, succeed in the annual kite festival. Adam's narration makes clear Raj's emotive nature, and his distinctive portrayals capture connections with Raj's wise grandfather, cheery sister, and others. After India's Partition, Adam's performance heralds the tension of conflicts to come. Adam balances ugly confrontations, flight to a Bombay refugee camp, and other frightening situations with the lyricism of this novel in verse. Vivid details on food, as well as East Indian phrases, all defined in a glossary on a downloadable pdf, add authenticity to the story. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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