Orange for the Sunsets

* A Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books of 2019 Selection * A Canadian Children’s Book Center Best Books for Kids & Teens Pick *

From debut author Tina Athaide comes a soaring tale of empathy, hope, and resilience, as two best friends living under Ugandan President Amin’s divisive rule must examine where—and who—they call home.

Perfect for fans of Half from the East and Inside Out and Back Again.

Asha and her best friend, Yesofu, never cared about the differences between them: Indian. African. Girl. Boy. Short. Tall.

But when Idi Amin announces that Indians have ninety days to leave the country, suddenly those differences are the only things that people in Entebbe can see—not the shared after-school samosas or Asha cheering for Yesofu at every cricket game.

Determined for her life to stay the same, Asha clings to her world tighter than ever before. But Yesofu is torn, pulled between his friends, his family, and a promise of a better future. Now as neighbors leave and soldiers line the streets, the two friends find that nothing seems sure—not even their friendship.

Tensions between Indians and Africans intensify and the deadline to leave is fast approaching. Could the bravest thing of all be to let each other go?

• Unlikely Friendship: Asha is Indian. Yesofu is African. In 1972 Uganda, their bond is tested when the president declares that people like Asha are no longer welcome.
• Dual POV: Told in alternating chapters, this story shows the crisis from both sides—Asha, who is losing her home, and Yesofu, who is promised a better future at her expense.
• Based on Historical Events: A gripping, emotional look at the 1972 expulsion of Asian Indians from Uganda under Idi Amin, perfect for young readers learning about world history.
• Heartbreak and Hope: As soldiers line the streets and neighbors disappear, two best friends must face the heartbreaking question of whether their friendship can survive when their country is torn apart.