Malini

Gr 4–8—Malini's story takes place in Sri Lanka during the death throes of a decades-long civil war. Malini is 14 years old, very academic, and the daughter of the school principal and sister to Banni, who is a spirited eight-year-old. The novel opens with a dramatic scene as six of the 22 boys at school are conscripted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to fight in the war. Soon after, Malini and Banni are separated from their parents as the fighters try to usher the locals out of town to be used as human shields. With just a cell phone, Malini and Banni begin the long and dangerous trek to their grandparents' house—a journey that will be fraught with storms, soldiers, bounty hunters, and death—though they make a few friends along the way. The strength of this title lies in its ability to convey the unfortunate reality of war without too much violence occurring on the page. Additionally, Hillman has introduced much information about Sri Lankan, Hindu, and Buddhist cultures without overwhelming readers. While Malini and her traveling party encounter an almost uncanny amount of luck on their journey, the narrative serves its purpose well. The series is unique among middle grade literature and for that alone has merit.