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Lion of the Sky
Additional information
| Author | Ritu Hemnani |
|---|---|
| Genre | Middle Grade – Historical |
| Release Date | May 7, 2024 |
| Publisher | Balzer+Bray |
Description
An evocative historical novel in verse about a boy and his family who are forced to flee their home and become refugees after the British Partition of India. Perfect for fans of Other Words for Home.
Twelve-year-old Raj is happiest flying kites with his best friend, Iqbal. As their kites soar, Raj feels free, like his beloved India soon will be, and he can’t wait to celebrate their independence.
But when a British lawyer draws a line across a map, splitting India in two, Raj is thrust into a fractured world. With Partition declared, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim families are torn apart—and Raj’s Hindu and Iqbal’s Muslim families are among them.
Forced to flee and become refugees, Raj’s family is left to start over in a new country. After suffering devastating losses, Raj must summon the courage to survive the brutal upheaval of both his country and his heart.
Inspired by the author’s true family history, Lion of the Sky is a deeply moving coming-of-age tale about identity, belonging, and the power of hope.
About the Author
R
itu Hemnani is a journalist, teacher, and storyteller, who hopes for every child to see themselves in the pages of a book and know that their stories matter. She is also a voice actor and motivational speaker. Ritu recognizes herself as ethnically Indian, a British
national, and calls Hong Kong her home, where she lives with her husband and three
children. Ritu’s debut historical Middle-Grade Novel-in-Verse, ‘Three Colors of Hope,’ is set
for publication by Harper Collins/Balzer and Bray in the Spring of 2024.
Ritu is passionate about promoting diversity and nurturing inclusivity and empathy through
writing stories that center marginalized communities and encompass universal truths;
spotlighting human interest articles with heart, and collaborating with local literary and charity organizations to promote literacy. She shares the seeds of her writing journey and
the inspiration behind her deep dive into her own family history in her 2019 TEDx Talk, An
Inheritance Worth Sharing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-GelCkt-t4
When not writing or teaching, Ritu delights in family game nights, strumming the strings of
her guitar, and paddling through Hong Kong waters on her carrot-colored kayak.
You can find Ritu on Twitter @rituhemwrites or at her website: www.rituhemnani.com
