A good choice for shared reading about family history, friendship and how the past shapes present relationships. Its historical strand offers substantial discussion, while the school setting gives children an immediate way into questions about belonging and courage.
familyinheritanceidentitygenerationsfriendshipisolationbullyinghonestyPartition of IndiaDelhiSecond World Wardisplacement
FictionNovel
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Themes in Context
Family history and identity
Evie and Maryam’s school family-tree project leads them to coded letters and a connection between their great-grandmothers in Delhi.FavourableFavourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.Favourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.
How the book presents it: The story presents uncovering family history as a route to greater self-understanding and understanding between the girls.
Talk about: How might learning about an older relative alter the way someone sees their own identity?
Friendship, belonging and bullying
Maryam feels isolated at her new school, while Evie must consider what to do when a close friend targets Maryam.CriticalCritical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.Critical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.
How the book presents it: Bullying is presented as wrong, while Evie’s difficulty in acting shows the pressure created by divided loyalties.
Talk about: What could someone do if a friend behaved unfairly towards another pupil?
History, displacement and connection
The older characters’ letters cover unrest in India, wartime England and Safia’s displacement during the Partition of India.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The historical strand is used to connect personal lives with larger political events and to show how past experiences reach later generations.
Talk about: How can a fictional family story affect the way we think about historical events?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
The book links personal identity with wider history rather than treating the past as separate from everyday life. Its movement between generations can support thoughtful conversations about inherited stories, cultural difference, secrecy and how people are perceived.
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What Deserves Attention
Some material may merit preparation: Maryam is isolated, a class bully targets her, and Evie must respond when the bully is a close friend. Historical sections include unrest, displacement during Partition and wartime experiences.
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A Conversation Worth Having
How might family stories change the way Evie and Maryam understand themselves and each other? You could also ask whether knowing the past makes it easier to challenge unfair treatment in the present.
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Reading Approach
Read it in stages if the historical material feels unfamiliar, pausing to distinguish the girls’ present-day experiences from the older letters. Discuss the characters’ choices as they arise, rather than waiting until the ending.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Family history and identity: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
Friendship, belonging and bullying: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
History, displacement and connection: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
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