Reviews

Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani

lilawillow's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

evamadera1's review

4.0

See Recent Reads Vlog #15 published on 5/8
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bibliobrandie's review

4.0

Veera Hiranandani's sequel, Amil and the After, offers a welcome return to the world established in The Night Diary. This time, we experience the aftermath of partition through the eyes of Amil, Nisha's twin brother. Set in early 1948, the story follows the family as they attempt to rebuild their lives in a newly independent India and extends to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. While not quite as impactful as its predecessor, the book offers valuable insights into Amil's perspective and the family's ongoing struggle for normalcy.

eyeleash's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

jaelikes's review

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Very character focused, introspective, and philosophical. I was hoping the setting would have been more present. The marketing failed to inform that this was a companion to a book I haven’t read yet. 

dhee_reads's review

hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

yapha's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This story continues The Night Diary, though this one is told from Amil's point of view instead of his twin sister Nisha's. It is really important to have read that one first for a better understanding of their situation. After a harrowing trip out of what became Pakistan after The Partition, Amil and his family are living in Bombay. School is hard for Amil and he feels like his father is always disappointed in him. He finds solace in his drawings, using them to remember events like his sister used her diary. Amil feels very lucky that his family was able to escape and are now living comfortably. He asks some good questions about why certain people are luckier than others and what he should do with this luck. An excellent exploration of life in post-Partition India. Recommended for fans of the first book, grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

craftymxlibrarian's review against another edition

I'm not leaving a rating because I read this not knowing it was a sequel to another book. I was torn about it at first because I felt like it expected the reader to know a lot of things already that a lot of kids probably don't. Now that I know it's a sequel, that feeling makes sense. So I won't leave a rating yet since I haven't yet read The Night Diary.

thenextgenlibrarian's review

emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

I started this book not knowing it was a companion novel to The Night Diary. Once I realized that, I couldn't help but wonder why this was a choice to write a sequel for. It really didn't add anything to the original story and I found myself not as engaged as I was with The Night Diary. The writing/story line seemed a bit forced, even though this book's topic is important and could potentially appeal to kids looking for more after reading The Night Diary.

CW: Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, War, Death of parent

jwinchell's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I loved The Night Diary and have recommended it many times. It was that book that taught me about Partition. This companion novel- sequel? - continues the story but from Amil’s perspective as the family settles in 1948 Bombay. Highly recommended.