Lion of the Sky
Coached by his kind grandfather in the art of kite flying, shy Raj, 12, is desperate to prove himself, since he keeps failing at the things his father prizes—being bold, and math skills. With Iqbal, his Muslim best friend, by his side, Raj (Hindu) lives an idyllic life. The boys fly kites, climb mango trees, cool their feet in the Indus River, and sneak delicious sweets to each other. The boys are excited about both the Kite Festival–which Raj intends to win—and India’s upcoming independence from British rule.
But it’s 1947, and Britain draws a line on the map to split the country into two: Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. Independence Day brings religious strife and violent street clashes. In a matter of days, some fourteen million people are displaced, forced to leave their homes, their belongings, and their livelihoods behind.
Written in lyrical free verse sprinkled liberally with Sindh words, Lion of the Sky captures the mixed feelings of a young boy trying to find his place in the world, complicated by the chaos and heartbreak of national upheaval. It’s a tough story to read at times, but all the events are handled in a way that’s not too graphic for readers 12-14.
