Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani (review)

Reviewed by: Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani Cassidy Russell Hemnani, Ritu Lion of the Sky. Balzer + Bray, 2024 [416p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780063284487 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780063284517 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 When violence breaks out as a result of Partition in 1947, and the region of Sindh becomes part of Muslim Pakistan rather than remaining part of India, Raj, a twelve-year-old Hindu boy, and his family are forced to leave their wealth and home behind. On their way to Bombay, Raj's younger sister disappears on the train, and his family unit begins to crumble. His Baba and brother can't find work in their new home; Raj's parents are fighting; and, most upsetting, Baba—who was already hard on Raj—now blames Raj for his sister's disappearance. Everything seems lost until Raj asks his mother to teach him how to make her sweet mango pickle and gifts it to friends and neighbors, resulting in a new business venture (and more importantly, hope) for a family who needs to find a way to live with what and who they've lost. This verse novel weaves historical information and Sindhi language into a powerful story about friendship and bravery, and Raj's epic journey ends on a believably hopeful note without downplaying the unimaginable things he and his country face. The horrors of the British rule and its aftermath are brought into focus by the more character-driven aspects of the narrative, such as a moving connection between Raj and his Muslim best friend that transcends religious difference and the fact that Raj's beloved grandfather stays behind when the family flees in order to give respectful cremation to unclaimed Hindu dead. Raj's ultimate realization of his own worth and his decision to fight for what he finds important will resonate with kids who often feel like a disappointment and cause readers to echo the words that Raj at long last hears from his Baba: "Dado sutho. Very good." An author's note and glossary provide more information and historical context.