Zarina Divided

I saw Reem Faruqi had a new book out, so I got Zarina Divided from the library. The books description says, "Zarina loves her life in Poona, India. She spends her days happily hanging out with her best friends, Geeta and Jahana, and playing with her three brothers. However, Zarina and her family are given unsettling news: Muslims and Hindus are to separate by religion. Hindus are expected to stay in India, while Muslims are expected to move to a new land, Pakistan. Zarina is heartbroken at having to move away from all she knows and loves, and after the frightening journey to Pakistan, she feels unsure that the unfamiliar country will ever feel like home. When an accident happens that leaves Zarina grappling with extreme guilt, she decides it’s best to attend boarding school far away, much to the protest of her mom. Will a fresh start at a new school give Zarina the chance to thrive in Pakistan, or will the divisions within herself and her family continue to widen?"

This was such a great read! It was a super quick read since it was written in verse (probably just took me an hour), but I loved the characters and the storyline. I didn't know much about the partition in India, so it was great to learn more--plus it was super cool that this was based on the experiences of the author's grandmother. I thought the author did a great job portraying the difficulties of the experiences surrounding the partition in a middle grade–appropriate way. This one was really close to loved it. I definitely would recommend this to others.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)