What the Kite Saw: A story of collective resistance to war
Zinnia Sengupta 
The Book: What The Kite Saw
The air was palpable with a sense of grief and acknowledgement as the Children’s Book for All community sat down on a quiet Sunday morning to read What the Kite Saw, a haunting yet hopeful story about children in conflict regions, written by Anne Laurel Carter and illustrated by Akin Duzakin. Our facilitators, Rhea and Vani, began by sharing Aya’s story, a young Palestinian woman whose husband and brothers have been martyred by the Israeli occupation; Aya is passionate about learning English and teaching them Arabic in exchange, and she is trying her best to care for her two children during this genocide. The funds raised through this reading went to Aya’s beautiful family.
The cover page prompted a conversation about kites, and children who fly kites even when the world around them holds them captive within its strings. One of us wondered, ‘Are kites the only free beings in occupied lands?’
Inspired by the children of Palestine, the story revolves around a young boy who watches his father and brother being taken away by soldiers and has to stay confined at home with his mother and little sister. A participant remarked about how unusual it is for a children’s book to be so direct and honest about ‘adult’ themes such as these. ‘I can only hope stories like these will make children who live these realities feel seen, heard and held,’ someone added. Something that stood out for us was the grim, monochromatic palette of the illustrations, quite a rarity in this genre. Only the children and the trees are in colour, a stark contrast with the greys of the soldiers and buildings around them.
“I can only hope stories like these will make children who live these realities feel seen, heard and held.” - A hope expressed by a participant
As the child assumes the role of a ‘protector’ and we see his sister imitating the only world she knows and playing ‘ambulance, ambulance’ with a bandaged doll, the discussion veered towards how children in conflict zones are forced to ‘grow up’ and assume responsibilities far beyond their age. ‘What would it look like to simply take a breath in these circumstances? Or is the luxury of safety too far-fetched for children in war zones?’ asked someone. As we all took a moment to truly comprehend the weight of the story unfolding before us, we held each other’s grief and our love for children across the world who have been denied access to their childhoods.
As the book draws to a close, we see the boy and his friends come up with the idea of making their own kites. The group agreed that the one thing that no one can ever take away from children is their imagination, curiosity and determination to build a kinder world. As they fly their bright creations from the balconies the next night, some kites are shot down by the soldiers, putting an abrupt end to their newfound excitement. ‘How fragile the oppressors are, to be scared of a child’s laughter!’ said someone. Our young protagonist then exercises his own agency and sets his kite free, narrating a story about everything his kite would see on its journey over their occupied city, including his father and brother in what seems to be a different realm. The group expressed its awe of the boy’s unshakable resolve and quiet resistance. ‘It is of utmost importance to share these complex stories with children everywhere, and nurture the infinite empathy they are born with, instead of hiding difficult truths from them,’—a crucial takeaway from this reading.
‘The one thing that no one can ever take away from children is their imagination, curiosity and determination to build a kinder world.’ - A reflection shared by a participant
As we all sat down to make our own kites of liberation and shared them with each other, someone said that it felt like spring in their heart. Onwards we go with a renewed sense of commitment for children across the globe to live beautiful, free lives as is their birthright!
CBA Community holding their kites of liberation
If I must die,
If I must die
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze—
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself—
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love
If I must die
let it bring hope
let it be a tale
- A poem by Refaat Alareer
This reading was facilitated by Rheea Mukherjee and Vani Subramaniam
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