Shortlisted for the 2012 Branford Boase Award for outstanding Debut novel. Shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.
An atmospheric, quirky and moving debut novel, set in India with incredibly well drawn characters and a multi-stranded storyline rich in detail. It's an accomplished novel that will draw out all manner of emotions from the reader so be warned you'll need tissues on hand!
An extraordinarily rich debut novel, set in India in 1947 at the time of Partition. Although the backdrop is this key event in Indian history, the novel is even more far-reaching, touching on the importance of tolerance, love and family. The main character is Bilal, a boy determined to protect his dying father from the news of Partition - news that he knows will break his father's heart. With great spirit and determination, and with the help of his good friends, Bilal persuades others to collude with him in this deception, even printing false pages of the local newspaper to hide the ravages of unrest from his father. All that Bilal wants is for his father to die in peace. But that means Bilal has a very complicated relationship with the truth...
'Another memorable debut novel ... Beautifully told this debut is set in 1940s India at the time of the Partition, with themes of tolerance that still resonate today' The Bookseller
'A challenging but extremely rewarding book dealing with big themes of truth, prejudice, and friendship, but also the simple love of a boy for his father. The Indian setting conjures up a society on the brink of change, rich in period detail and geographical beauty, and the characters are attractive and vividly drawn. A fascinating introduction to a vital moment in history. Though beware - the ending will make you cry' Daily Mail
'This is a refreshing first novel, simply and expertly told. A great debut' Ink Pellet
'Irfan Master has created a richly detailed portrait of India in 1947 and peopled it with a collection of well realised characters, each of them almost strong enough to merit a novel in their own right' Guardian
Author
About Irfan Master
This is Irfan Master's first novel and has been shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. Irfan is project manager of Reading the Game at the National Literacy Trust. His family is from Gujarat, where the novel is set. Irfan lives in London, SE5.
