Honor

In Honor, American journalist Smita is called back to her birthplace of India to cover a harrowing story: Meena has been disfigured by her brothers after shaming them by marrying a Muslim man, whom they also killed. While on assignment, Smita faces her own dark past and must reckon with her complicated feelings toward India. She has not returned since she left as a young girl, and her story is also marked by violence, shame, and intolerance.

Honor is a heavy read, but it sheds light on a societal divide with devastating consequences. The author’s note explains that this book is loosely based on a real-life event, which makes the story even more impactful. I appreciated that Smita was cast as an American journalist who had to contend with her own privilege and how that shaped her views of the oppression and violence she was seeing in Meena’s story. It added nuance to the plot, and when Smita’s past was revealed, it truly captured the complicated religious division in India. This book implores the reader to explore several social injustices, but it presents them in a palatable way that is truly unforgettable.