The story in The Moon from Dehradun is based on the history of the 1947 partition that created the individual countries of India and Pakistan. Prior to the partition the region had been a colony of Britain from 1858 to 1947. At the end of their rule the British divided the country according to the majority religions. Muslims must live in Pakistan and Hindus in India.

The author, Shirin Shamsi, tells the story from the point of view of Azra, a young, Muslim girl, who along with her family are forced to flee their home because of the riots caused by the British partition. Azra’s Muslim family have lived in a majority Hindu area for generations, and their home is very precious to them. Azra loves her doll, gurya, that was made by her grandmother. The family knows that they will have to move to the area that will be Pakistan. They think they have time to pack their belongings, however, the family is forced to leave suddenly with only a few minutes notice as riots begin and Muslims are attacked. The family departs without taking anything but a few belongings and not even eating the dinner the mother had prepared. Sadly, Azar’s beloved gurya is left behind. On the long journey by train to Pakistan, Azar longs for her doll to comfort her. They travel night and day and see such sadness and terror as a country and its people break into pieces.

The harrowing train journey is captured in the carefully detailed illustrations by Lak. The illustrations expand the story with details not mentioned in the text. For example, when the family reaches the train station to escape to Pakistan, huge crowds of people are shown who are also trying to get on the train.

When the family reaches Pakistan, they are given a home by the authorities. When they enter their new home, it appears that the previous family left their home in a hurry as well. In checking out her surroundings, Azra finds a forlorn gurya left under a bed. In their new home, Azra’s family are joined by neighbors who bring them food. The last wordless, illustration shows a family with a little girl who enters Azra’s home. The girl finds Azra’s gurya. The last spread has both girls holding their guryas separated by distance but joined by a shared tumultuous experience.

This is a story inspired by Shamsi’s family’s journey from India to Pakistan. The back matter has a glossary, maps and an author’s note to situate the reader contextually. This story is powerful as the author is careful to tell her story from the point of view of a young girl. -Recommended by Seemi Aziz, University of Arizona

Title: The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of Partition
Author: Shirin Shamsi
Illustrator: Tarun Lak
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
PubDate: September 13, 2022
ISBN: 978166590679

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• Themes: Seemi Aziz, Shirin Shamsi, The Moon from Dehradun
• Descriptors: WOW Recommends