Amil and the After is a companion to Newbery Honor The Night Diary, which explores the events leading up to and immediately after the partition through the eyes of Amil’s twin sister, Nisha.

In Amil and the After, readers get a sense of Amil’s world through his thoughts and illustrations. Author Veera Hiranandani captures Amil’s voice through warm and clear prose that confronts the fallout of partition while still capturing the important “little” moments of everyday life.

This historical fiction novel addresses a number of topics that are timely — displaced children, learning disabilities, family dynamics, loneliness and anxiety — while still transporting readers to a different time and place. And laced through it all is a feeling of hope and love.

Amil and the After is a compelling middle-grade read that can be read alone, but will be that much better if read in conjunction with The Night Diary.

Amil and his twin Nisha from The Night Diary are now settled in Bombay (Mumbai) with their father and grandmother and their Muslim servant (who has left Pakistan to be with the family) Things in India are chaotic in the first months of independence and the partition. Amil uses his drawing to calm himself when he remembers the treacherous journey from their home in Pakistan to India, when he almost died. He has found a new friend and soon discovers that this new friend too has come from Pakistan but is hiding his identity. When the new friend becomes ill, Amil challenges his father and his family to do more. There's a real sense of the times in Amil's actions and those of his family.

Twelve-year-old Amil and his family have traveled far to escape the danger and turmoil taking place at the new border between India and Pakistan. As a blended family of Hindu and Muslim people, they must hide their Muslim connections to prevent being ostracized in their new home. Their journey to Bombay, India was treacherous, and Amil desires nothing more than to settle down with a true friend and a bicycle. And though they are lucky to have the things they do, the trauma Amil and his family faced will forever color their collective future.

This historical fiction middle grade novel immerses young readers in India after the division between the Muslims and Hindus in the mid-twentieth century, and it follows the same family featured in The Night Diary by the same author. Interestingly, the story begins after the struggle to survive the bloodshed, and it is only through periodic asides that readers gain a sense of exactly what the family faced on their journey, if they have not read the previous novel. Indian food, culture, and language are found throughout the narrative, which places readers squarely in Amil’s world whether they have a background in Indian history or not. Additionally, the multigenerational and extended family group in which Amil lives is a compelling component of the novel.

Amil is the focal point of the story, and his drawings appear frequently throughout the book. These images help to break up the text while providing readers with a visual means of better understanding the narrative. Complex emotions of loneliness, uncertainty, and grief are felt throughout the story, and readers will be drawn to the ways in which the characters manage their feelings in a new and unfamiliar home, especially after experiencing trauma. Though the story takes place more than fifty years ago, there are intriguing parallels to refugee migration in the present day. A glossary and author’s note at the end of the book provide additional context for those wishing to learn more. This is a thought-provoking and accessible historical fiction novel for middle grade readers.

Though this is historical fiction, this book is timely and hugely important, and will be much-needed in the days ahead, as it closely relates to the current state of our world. Beautifully written, wrenching, yet hopeful, I truly hope this book finds its way into classrooms. Teaches children about war, family, and how to survive chaos after a huge, emotional, life-changing upheaval. Highly recommended.

Amil and the After is the sequel to the Night Diary. Twelve year old Amil is struggling with school and begins drawing in a journal to help tell his story through drawings. Amil’s father is a doctor in the hospital and works a lot. So much hate still exists and they worry about the life they are living.

I loved the Night Diary and really enjoy this sequel. It was neat to see the book through the eyes of Amil and see how the family was doing in India. I really enjoyed the drawings that went with the story. It made the scenes really come to life. If you have read the Night Diary, you need to read the sequel

I was so happy to return to the story of this family that fled to New India after the 1947 Partition that left millions dead and started conflicts between friends, families, and neighbors. This book beautifully addresses the "after" - what happens after this type of conflict as families try to rebuild their lives, their careers, their relationships. Amil and his sister Nisha along with their father, their Dadi and Kazi are each seeking a return to normalcy that might have a bit of joy, friendship, and purpose. Amil is portrayed as a kid with clear learning differences (likely dyslexia, ADD) but finds peace and joy in his incredible drawings. There's a sweet friendship story that unfolds that highlights a big theme of this book - the importance of taking care of others no matter their differences - religion, ethnicity, social class, economic class, or age. While I found the story gripping, I wouldn't call it 'fast-paced', I loved it for the pace it offers that encouraged reflection. I might warn readers to read this one slowly - soaking in the drawings, the relationships, and how these characters overcome obstacles. Perfect for anyone who loved THE NIGHT DIARY or other moving historical fiction stories like that one.