And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization, and Resistance

by Supriya Kelkar (Author) Supriya Kelkar (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
The story of one of the world’s most famous diamonds—stolen from South Asia during colonization and now among the crown jewels in London—is a call to action for readers to decolonize and hold their heads high.

The Kohinoor diamond, one of the most famous diamonds in the world, was stolen from India and fought over throughout centuries of colonial conquest, eventually landing in the hands of British royals who tricked a ten-year-old South Asian monarch into relinquishing it. The diamond was ultimately cut to nearly half its size to suit British beauty standards for the crown jewels—and is displayed to this day in the Tower of London museum, a trophy of colonization. Probing, poetic, and shimmering with the colors and patterns of Indian textiles, And Yet You Shine is more than the true story of a precious gem passing hands. The urgent narrative and well-researched afterword invite readers to consider the origins of museum artifacts and all they represent, how history is recorded, and why acknowledging past injustices and power dynamics can shape the world we live in today—and ensure a just tomorrow. This vibrant and moving meditation on resiliency invites readers of all backgrounds to decolonize—and shine with all their might.
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Review quotes

Kelkar's lyrical telling makes clear the dire results of colonial oppression. . . . Digitally enhanced cut-paper collage artwork dazzles the eye, from the teal-and-blue endpapers containing remnants of the gem's history, to the gleaming treasure whose light shines brightly, to depictions of other jewels with which it has shared company. . . . A gem not to be missed.
—Booklist (starred review)

Exquisite, powerful, and deeply moving, this book shines a spotlight on centuries of oppression and entreats readers to know that, despite injustice, nothing will ever dull their light.
—Christina Soontornvat, three-time Newbery Medal Honoree

And Yet You Shine is a beautifully told story that can help catalyze important conversations about colonization and its legacies.
—Simran Jeet Singh, historian, scholar, and author of Fauja Singh Keeps Going and The Light We Give
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781536228298
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
April 02, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Cultural Heritage
JNF025030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Asia
JNF071000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Activism & Volunteering
Library of Congress categories
-

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