Ritu Hemnani
Ritu Hemnani is a journalist, teacher, and storyteller, who hopes for every child to see themselves in the pages of a book and know that their stories matter. She is also a voice actor and motivational speaker. Ritu recognizes herself as ethnically Indian, a British national, and calls Hong Kong her home, where she lives with her husband and three children. Ritu’s debut historical Middle-Grade Novel-in-Verse, Three Colors of Hope, is set for publication by Harper Collins/Balzer and Bray in the Spring of 2024.
Ritu is passionate about promoting diversity and nurturing inclusivity and empathy through writing stories that center marginalized communities and encompass universal truths; spotlighting human interest articles with heart, and collaborating with local literary and charity organizations to promote literacy. She shares the seeds of her writing journey and the inspiration behind her deep dive into her own family history in her 2019 TEDx Talk, An Inheritance Worth Sharing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-GelCkt-t4 When not writing or teaching, Ritu delights in family game nights, strumming the strings of her guitar, and paddling through Hong Kong waters on her carrot-colored kayak. You can find Ritu on Twitter @rituhemwrites or at her website.
“Drawing from family history, Hemnani delivers a wrenching historical verse debut that traces the eagerly anticipated end of British rule in India and the subsequent conflicts between Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh populations during the 1947 Partition, which forced millions to relocate. In his hometown of Sindh, 12-year-old Hindu Raj flies “through the fields.../ of wildflowers and birdsong,” guiding his kite “in the endless blue,/ free and wild/ as it/ fights/ and/ snaps.” Raj’s carefree frolicking disappoints his father Baba, who favors Raj’s sister Maya and compares him to his brother Vijay. Acceptance comes from Raj’s Muslim best friend Iqbal. When the Partition begins, violence erupts across India, but Baba hopes that “the madness/ won’t spread to us.” Yet Raj watches powerless as Iqbal’s home is burned (“When he sees me.../ his eyes never looked/ so cold”) and Raj and his family are forced to flee to Bombay, where they face myriad injustices as religious refugees. Raj experiences agonizing losses throughout, which are rendered in Hemnani’s aching verse. Compelling stakes ratchet up the tension in this illuminating and harrowing story about displacement, grief, and hope.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“A historical novel in verse that glides smoothly and rises with hope. Set in 1947 during the tumultuous days of the Partition, this is the story of 12-year-old Raj, a Hindu boy who loves flying kites with Nana, his grandfather, and Iqbal, his Muslim best friend. But Raj’s world is soon fractured by a line drawn on a map. Readers are immersed in rich descriptions of food as Amma prepares kaju mithai, fragrant with cashews and cardamom, and measures spices for sweet mango pickle. The boys cement their friendship with a Diwali treat of almond and pistachio varo; at Eid al-Fitr, they share a bowl of sheer khurma. Food evokes deeper introspection about home in the face of the losses that keep piling up and serves as a reminder that joy is quadrupled when shared. The tension rises while politically aware Raj struggles to make sense of the changes around him, and the story moves from Hyderabad in Sindh to Bombay. The difficulties are undercut with glimmers of optimism and humanity, and family and friendship form the backbone of the story, which opens with Raj’s exhilaration about kites—lions in the sky—and the upcoming Kite Festival. Ultimately this is a tale about being lion-hearted, soaring after falling many times, and still reaching for the sky. It’s also about lines that divide, that cut across hearts and countries, and that are seared into memories. An exquisite, memorable story about new beginnings and the quest to belong.”—Kirkus, Starred Review