Same Sun Here

’And then I thought to myself that it’s the same sun here as it is there, and that made me feel like you’re not so far away after all.’Published in 2012, this is a story aimed at YA readers that tackles several relevant social issues that will speak to all ages. Set partially in rural Kentucky, where River lives, and Manhattan, where Meena lives, this explores not only immigration, nature, families, fathers whose work forces them to live apart from their families, and mothers who are left to make decisions for their family, as well as the marital dynamics of decision making. Throw in racial issues, Meena being a relatively new immigrant from India, and River, who is part Irish and part Cherokee, as well as the standard stresses of those pre-teen and teenage years.Meena and River become friends over time as pen pals through a school project, sharing their thoughts, frustrations and dreams. River’s mother is an environmental activist, protesting the mountaintop removal, which has the potential for devastation for the local residents. River teaches her about life in rural Kentucky, and Meena shares her story of her life living with her grandmother in India before she joined her parents and older brother in NYC years later. But living in Manhattan has issues for their family, as well. Landlords who intentionally make living there more unappealing for those under rent control laws by shutting off water, or heat add to the stress that the parents feel, which is felt by all who live there. Add the open hostility toward those who are or appear to be immigrants in both locations, and they have many stories to share. There is also the shared love of reading.’I like that library books have secret lives. All those hands that have held them. All those eyes that have read them.’This story is shared through the letters they send to one another over time, each revealing a little bit more as time goes by. The problems they are dealing with at home and at school, the things they love about their lives, and their frustrations, as well.Beautifully co-written by Silas House and Neela Vaswani, this was filled with both lovely and heartbreaking moments, and was a story filled with love for all ages.

This is an absolutely fabulous book. I came across it while looking for a relevant novel to read in my 6th grade science class. I put sticky notes in every place I thought there was a social issue or science topic being talked about that would make a great discussion. The major topics in this book are immigration, environmental science, being your true self, racism, family, living away from loved ones, activism, stereotypes, appreciating nature, being a middle schooler, standing up for what you believe in, and many many others. It's a fantastic book for young and old. It is written in a very readable style style for middle school. Be forewarned, everyone who reads this book is going to want a pen pal.

I purchased this for my sixth grade niece who is eleven. All reviews that I read claimed this as appropriate and wonderful for middle-schoolers. When it arrived, I flipped through the pages. The young main characters were wondering about the term, "nymphomaniac"; they misunderstood its meaning. SO, even though my niece is an advanced reader, she's not mature enough for this material. I'll save it for a couple of years.

I saw this is phenomenal as an English teacher, a parent of two busy boys, and as person. The audible version is great listen to it in the car wherever you go and you've tricked the kids into listening. We really enjoyed hearing the two characters' voices. It feels as if you really get to know these two characters: River and Mena. Parents it reminds you of being twelve and hungering for knowledge and wanting to take on the world. And the kids are hanging on every word to hear about Kentucky and to hear about New York City and India and the food and what they have in common with the girl, with the boy and similarities between the two characters. If given the chance to teach this book, I would!

I actually did not read the book. I started it, but realized that I wanted my grandson who lives in Italy. My son's child.. His mother is Italian.I sent it to him because, I wanted him to experience the penal connection, plus to read, learn about New Yorkcity, the immigrant story, and then for sure about my home state of Kentucky.The youngsters look and ideas about their home.I love Silas House. I have read most of his books. I knew him a bit from his home in Kentucky, my towns was very near his. I also knew, was friends with his grandmother.Love the story line of this book. Very wonderful writing.

I learned about this book while listening to an NPR interview with the authors who said that after deciding to co-author the book, they did not plan the plot, but let the plot unfold as they wrote letters to each other as the character they were representing. This was billed as a book for young adults, but I thought it sounded interesting so I downloaded it onto my Kindle.I am definitely not a young adult but thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The book was well written in an interesting style -- two young pen pals writing to each other. Reading each letter and wondering how the other character would respond was like a mystery, or like one of the poems composed by the young people in the book. The book was also informative. It is not only the young who need to be reminded of some of the important issues of our times.

3.5/5 starsI can’t believe that was how this book ended...I wanted more. This book is told in the form of letters between a 12 years old Indian immigrant girl, Meena, and her 12 years old American pen pal, River. In all honesty, there is not much excitement in this book but their friendship is beautiful. Their letters were sweet, innocent, sometimes a bit funny but it was also real. I enjoyed this book.

So loving and happy to reads about people who care about each other for India to the United States love the book so much