Same Sun Here, co-written by Silas House and Neela Vaswani, details a year in the lives of two young people: an Indian immigrant living in New York City, and a small-town boy from Kentucky. Written as a series of letters between the two main characters, this middle grade novel is narrated by each author writing from the perspective of a separate character. Published in 2011, the book received the Nautilus Book Award, the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, and was listed as number one on the Indie Next List. This guide refers to the Candlewick Press 2013 reprint edition.

Plot Summary

Twelve year olds Meena Joshi and River Dean Justice begin writing letters to one another as part of a school pen pal assignment. Meena shares about her life in New York City as an Indian immigrant, and River explains what life is like in his small community of Black Banks, Kentucky. The two quickly become friends, and they agree to be their truest selves with one another. They also find that they share several similarities. For example, their fathers both work far away from home, they both appreciate nature, and they both have a close relationship with their grandmother.

Along with these similarities, Meena and River also navigate several differences that spur them to respectfully voice their opinions and agree to disagree. They also learn from their differences, such as the different ways okra is prepared in Meena’s culture versus River’s. River learns a few words in Hindi, and Meena learns about the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, a staple in River’s Kentucky community.

Throughout their almost yearlong correspondence, River and Meena go through some major life difficulties. A big coal company is destroying the mountains in River’s hometown, and River joins his Mawmaw in fighting back against the company to save the environment and keep their town safe. Meena struggles with grief and anger at the death of her grandmother, Dadi, and faces homesickness for the Indian mountain town where she grew up. Both River and Meena miss their fathers and wish their family could be together. Finally, Meena worries their apartment landlord will find out her family lives in their apartment illegally and throw them out onto the street.

Throughout the ups and downs of the year, River learns how to bravely and respectfully speak up for what he believes, and his family gets back on their feet. Meena prepares to become an American citizen, and she learns that having her family means everything will be ok, even as they face difficulties together. Despite their differences and the distance between them, River and Meena forge a strong friendship that teaches, stretches, and sustains them at a significant time in their lives.