"A moment in history that changed lives for ever, seen through the eyes of three young children."
April 2025 Book of the Month
Shortlisted for the Carnegie and now the UKLA Book Award with her debut novel Safiyya’s War, Hiba Noor Khan has written another masterclass in historical fiction, this time shining an unflinching and evocative light on a very dark period of history for the Indian subcontinent.
The Partition in 1947 is insufficiently studied or known about and yet it is very much a part of family history for so many in our society and often the reason why families are here at all. With her superb ability to create indelible and credible child characters, that live with you long after you close the book, she enables us not just to learn about what happened in that turbulent time, but to really feel the emotional impact.
Narrated through the third person voices of Lakshmi, Jahan and Ravi, all born on the same day in miraculous circumstances and all linked to a remote village nestled under an ancient banyan tree. Lakshmi would remain there, and the boys returned frequently, returning for a family wedding as the book opens. The lyrical descriptions of their life and the close-knit community, where Muslim, Hindu and Sikh co-existed in peace and harmony and all the diverse traditions were celebrated, act as the perfect counterpoint to the horror yet to come. As Lakshmi gets her dearest wish, joining the boys in Lahore to attend school, the political crisis gathers pace and the children become involved in trying to prevent terrorism, but eventually they will become separated as each family struggles to find safety across the arbitrary borders. Yet ultimately the strength of their bond keeps hope alive that they will be reunited. A hope for peace, reconciliation and healing for the whole country.
Thought provoking, compelling storytelling, with maps and glossaries to aid understanding, this emotionally charged story is an absolute must read.
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