Same Sun Here

De: Silas House, Neela Vaswani

Narrado por: Silas House, Neela Vaswani

Audie Award Nominee, Children's Titles for Ages 8-12, 2013

Meena and River have a lot in common: fathers forced to work away from home to make ends meet, grandmothers who mean the world to them, and faithful dogs. But Meena is an Indian immigrant girl living in New York City’s Chinatown, while River is a Kentucky coal miner’s son. As Meena’s family studies for citizenship exams and River’s town faces devastating mountaintop removal, this unlikely pair become pen pals, sharing thoughts and, as their camaraderie deepens, discovering common ground in their disparate experiences. With honesty and humor, Meena and River bridge the miles between them, creating a friendship that inspires bravery and defeats cultural misconceptions. Narrated in two voices, each voice distinctly articulated by a separate gifted author, this chronicle of two lives powerfully conveys the great value of being and having a friend and the joys of opening our lives to others who live beneath the same sun.

©2012 Silas House, Neela Vaswani (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What a joy!

We listened to this book on a long road trip and fell in love with the characters. My nine year old kept saying, “wow, mom, this books is so educational!” It addresses many issues confronting our society but in a way that is accessible to young readers. We absolutely loved the narration!

Daggummit, Silas House!!!

Daggummit, Silas House!! I would like to get to the end of ONE — just ONE of your books without crying at the end because I’m going to miss the characters so much!!!!!

And now you’re ganging up on me with Neela Vaswani?!? UNFAIR.

I wasn’t going to listen to this one because it’s ostensibly for young people. But I had finished all of the other available Silas House books and I wanted more! I was hooked in less than 10 minutes.

I loved this book. Looking at life through the eyes of two young people who are simultaneously very different and very similar was the perfect vehicle to show our candid humanness in all of its dimensions.

The adolescent innocence of the characters, and their burgeoning awareness of social justice and eco justice serves as a poignant way to honor the interconnectedness of all things. Seeing that same value in both Meena and River’s cultures weaves deeper layers into that truth.

Especially now in 2025 as we are in a season where hope is so hard to find, reliving President Obama’s election was stabby. At the same time, I’m grateful that this book has been sowing seeds in our youngers since 2012. I commit to doing all I can to keep the soil around me fertile for the “hope plants” that the Meenas and the Rivers of each generation are tending.

I wish this book had existed when I was growing up, or even when my daughter was. If I’m lucky enough to have grandchildren, they will be getting this book, regardless of what our political climate might be at that time. (I’m going to buy a paper copy, just to be sure.)

I’m looking forward to reading/listening to more of Neela Vaswani’s work.

A warm thank you to you both, many years later, for this wonderful work. ‘Preciate’cha.

excellent book

Excellent narration. As a Kentucky native and first generation American, this book really appealed to me.

Wow!

My new favorite
Book. I felt like I was there. It left me wanting more