Partition is, admittedly, an incredibly complex topic. It could be too much to address in a traditional novel, much less in a verse novel like this one. But Hemnani makes it work, partly by not trying to explain everything. We don't get a full picture of the politics of the region, the history of British occupation. We only get a snapshot of life in the region under British rule and the rapid shift after Partition is declared. The narrative covers a reasonable time span, less than a year, and shows us very different pictures of life in that time. More importantly, it's about more than just the affects of Partition. It is just as much about Raj's relationship with his father, the expectations he feels like he cannot meet.

I think that this is a book that will work some and not work for others I feel like there is a cohesive story, but the style is what pulled me away from the story. I know that there are plenty of people who would love a book like this and while I would love to have things like this available to the patrons in my community I don't think that we have a large enough Muslim population to warrant purchasing this book at this time. I also do not have very many kids asking for books in verse.

The heartbreak of the Partition and a devastating event in their family means Raj must have the courage of a lion to carry on. He’s forced to leave his home and best friend behind while also struggling to make his father proud. Learning to do what he loves alongside his mother in the kitchen lifts his happiness like his beloved kites. This novel-in-verse is both heart-breaking and heart-warming and educates the reader about the time period.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was great to read a story set in a time and place I didn’t know much about. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

This was a novel in verse about the Partition of India. I loved the story and learning some of the history of this region.

This novel in verse follow 12 year old Raj and his family before, during and after Partition. Raj’s family is a wealthy family. Raj is struggling at school & with his father. He finds comfort in flying his kite. When India is split during Partition, they are forced to flee and start over. So much happens to Raj, but he never gives up hope!

This is quite a story. I couldn’t put it down. This story is inspired by the author’s family history. I highly recommend this story!!

This beautiful novel in verse brings readers into a family story of the British Partition of India. Forced from their homeland, 12-year-old Raj and his family must find a way in a new country as refugees.

An historical fiction novel filled with themes of identity, belonging, and hope, this middle grade text addresses complex issues through the eyes of a child, helping to make meaning of world events. “The strongest people are those who stand up for others” is a powerful message in the book.

A lyrical and important text of our time. Thank you #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for the ARC! Look for a May 7 release date!

This is such a beautiful novel in verse of a look at India during a troubling time.
We get to see a lot of the Hindu and Muslim cultures and how they survive and thrive by one another, but also what happens when they are forced against each other.
Raj is such a great character and I loved his family. I loved all the descriptions of the food and the colors of everything. It made it all so vibrant in my mind.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I was immediately intrigued by the cover of Lion of the Sky with the two boys flying kites, and when I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it. For some reason I’ve been coming across more books, and middle grade ones at that, talking about the Indian Partition and the experiences of those who survived. This was my first story which focused on a Hindu family migrating from Pakistan, and the similarities and differences of the experiences are striking, and utterly heartbreaking.

If you’re not familiar, the Indian Partition happened in August 1947 when India won its independence from British rule, and as a final act of colonialist violence a man, Radcliffe, split the country based on whether a region was Muslim-majority (today, Pakistan) or Hindu/Sikh-majority (today, India). This caused a lot of violence and the forced migration led to several million displaced and approximately a million lives lost. The trauma and harm from that time still impacts the people to this day.

I loved Raj as a narrator and how his community and friends helped him keep going even as his world shifted, with the lessons he learned. I also really loved how change was so hard for his family after moving from Sindh to Bombay, but they were able to find ways to keep surviving and even thrive as best they were able in this new environment. This was all around an intense read, but so worth it and definitely something I’d recommend picking up if you want to learn more about the Indian Partition and the experiences of people suddenly and with no notice losing their home because of British interference.

[cannonball review will post May 5, 2024]