What We Left Behind

What would you take if you had to leave your home forever?

It is 1990. Eleven-year-old Anvita’s world is filled with Bollywood dances, beach picnics, and a growing collection of Barbies. But overnight, everything changes.

When Iraq invades Kuwait, Anvita’s safe world disappears. With only a single suitcase in hand, she and her family leave behind the only home she has ever known and flee to India. But starting over is harder than she imagined. In a place that should feel familiar but doesn’t, Anvita must find the courage to understand what she has lost, rebuild her connections, and find where she belongs.

Inspired by true events, What We Left Behind is a moving story of family, resilience, and finding belonging when the world makes you question where you call home.

“A deeply poignant and heartbreaking story that brings readers face-to-face with displacement, family, and the impact of war on children.” - The Diaspora Bookshelf

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