Lion of the Sky

Gr 5 Up–Raj’s name literally means king, but he isn’t the king of anything; not like his big brother Vijay who is king of math, or his little sister Maya who is queen of getting what she wants. Instead, Raj finds himself sneaking into the kitchen to watch his amma cook, playing with his Muslim best friend Iqbal, and trying to stay out of trouble at school for not understanding math. His dream is to become the King of Kites during the Kite Festival and finally hear his Baba say, “Dado sutho, well done!” But when the independence of India brings so much more trouble and pain than Raj could have ever imagined, he finds himself lost, confused, and wondering if he will ever be happy again. Set in 1947 when India gained independence from the UK and the partitioning led to the splitting of one country into India and Pakistan, this novel in verse tells the familiar yet unique story of a young boy trying to find his place in the world, as the world around him erupts into chaos. A culturally rich reading experience that is heartbreaking and inspiring, this will have readers crying at the loss of Raj’s innocence and cheering for him as he takes on bullies and fights social norms to support his family. An author’s note with explanations about India’s independence and the Partition are included, as well as a glossary of the many terms and languages featured throughout.