Title: Roop and the River Crossing
Author: Samina Mishra
Illustrations: Shivam Choudhary
Publisher: Puffin Books
Type: Paperback
Length: 40 pages
Genre: Indian Independence
Age recommendation – 7/8 years+
I’m sharing this review by my 11-year-old daughter, Ayesha.
Have you ever wondered how it would feel if suddenly one day you would have to pack your bags, take the minimal necessary requirements and run way from a place which you called your “Home”, Your “Comfort corner”? Have you thought how it is to live under constant fear & uncertainty – not knowing what will happen next? And now think how would a child feel who has only seen love around her all this while, who has just no idea of the bigger world.
“Roop and the River Crossing” is a touching story about a young girl named Roop. The book is set during “Batwara” or The Partition of India, a time when India and Pakistan became separate countries. This was a very difficult time for many people, and the story helps us understand what it was like through a small child Roop’s eye.
Story Summary: Roop loves her kaleidoscope, a toy that shows beautiful patterns when you look through it. It represents her happy world. But soon, she starts hearing new words like “India,” “Pakistan,” and “Partition.” These words bring big changes to her life just like the way the patterns in her kaleidoscope change. One night, Roop and her family have to leave their home and cross a river to find a new place to live. This journey is scary and uncertain for Roop.
“It had been a week.
A week of closed doors, shuttered windows and no school.
A week of confusing bits of overheard conversations.
Like the fragments inside Roop’s Kaleidoscope.
Red- Green- Blue- Purple”
Main Themes: The book talks about important ideas like leaving home, being strong, and finding a new place to belong. Roop’s journey across the river is not just about moving to a new place; it also shows the emotional and mental challenges people faced during Partition especially young minds like Roop who cannot comprehend exactly what is happening. A poor kid has so many questions unanswered. Why is she leaving her friends Noor & Preet behind? Why is “Bebe” telling her to pray? Why are they leaving under the veil of darkness? The story teaches us about the importance of staying connected with loved ones and finding strength in tough times. It also tells us how for a young mind there was no Hindu- Muslim divide.
Illustrations: The book has abstract and colourful pictures. It is these that help tell the story. These illustrations show the emotions and the atmosphere of the time, making it easier for young readers to understand and feel the story.
Writing Style: Samina Mishra writes in a way that is both simple and powerful. She uses easy words to explain big historical events, making them understandable for children. Her writing draws readers into Roop’s world and helps them feel what Roop is feeling.
When I read the book for the first time it sounded average. But the more i re-read it, the more i started connecting with the book. More emotions started spilling out after every read. This made me read it again and again. That is how powerful the book is.
Conclusion: “Roop and the River Crossing” is a wonderful book that teaches young readers about a significant historical event. It also helps them understand and empathize with people who have had to leave their homes and start over. The story is about courage, discovering oneself, and the strength of the human spirit.
CLICK & BUY NOW!“Sometimes home can be as fragile as the glass inside a kaleidoscope. Split up with triangles, split up with circles, split up with lines that splinter the world”
If you got goosebumps after reading this review, you can order the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
Disclaimer: Ayesha is part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc.
