The Weight of Our Sky: Mental Health Amidst Racial Tension

The Weight of Our Sky is a book that sheds light on the historical events that happened between the Chinese and Malays. I will admit that my knowledge about the tension before reading this story was close to none. With an incredible title and catchy book cover, the young adult novel written by Hanna Alkaf tells the unheard stories of individuals who were caught up in the middle of this war.

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The Weight of Our Sky Synopsis

Content Warnings: Graphic violence, death, racism, OCD, and anxiety triggers

“By the time school ends on Tuesday, my mother has died seventeen times.” – is the gripping opening line of The Weight of Our Sky. This is the story of Melati Ahmad (Mel), a girl who was separated from her mother when a racial tension between Chinese and Malays is sparked on the evening of May 13, 1969 in their home city of Kuala Lumpur.

Mel lives in a world stricken with war, a 24-hour curfew, and no means of communicating with her mother. She has also been battling a supernatural spirit who constantly whispers to her, known as Djinn, by tapping her fingers in series of threes (3s) to keep her mother safe.

With the help of a Chinese boy named Vincent, Melati is determined to reunite and save her mother while trying to overcome the violence on the streets and her own demon.

Conquering Demons

Jasmine flowers are so pale, so delicate … you’d think they couldn’t survive in this relentless tropical heat. But they thrive on it. They grow strong and gorgeous, and they bloom.

Mental health was not a priority in 1969, when the story takes place. superstitions and stigmas surrounding the issue were commonly believed . As a result, those with mental illness were mistreated and often labeled as ‘crazy’.

The author handled the sensitive topic with great awareness and accuracy. I think that many will resonate with how Melati struggles with her life because of her mental health, and how she feels she must hide her issues from other people due to fear.

The Weight of Our Sky explores Mel’s internal and external battles at length throughout. At one point in the story, she and best friend, Saf go to the movies where they witness the horror of violent riot. Melati and Saf are taken hostage, but Mel was saved. She then struggles internally as she moves along in her journey, always thinking of ways she could have saved her friend. Her constant mental health suffering, and the association with an internal demon, the Djinn, make Mel a very tortured character. She fights to survive in order to save her mother.

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Aside from mental health, the book shed light to the external struggles between races and historical events brought about by political interest. I admire and agree with the intention of the author to not let this side of history fade in the background, which illustrates the extensive internal and external struggles of the heroine.

Humanity Restored

Better an outside force we can unite against rather than the bickering that divides us from within.

A historical novel commonly features the gruesome images of brutality, violence, and death. In this novel, it also explored the unheard voices of the people involved in the riot. Because of this, I became invested and wanted to know more of the context around the conflict.

The novel puts the main character in situations where she must rise above her impossible reality, though she is constantly having to choose who is worth saving in this world, and wondering: What’s the use of being good if it just gets you trampled on? What can I do if I can’t even help myself?

My heart is full from the unexpected heroic acts I witnessed throughout the book. There’s so much joy from reading these scenarios highlighting resilience and pure kindness. The characters introduced in this story came with unwavering motivation and determination to protect their own family, and eventually found their way saving others as well.

Final Thoughts

It means where you plant your feet is where you hold up the sky.

The Weight of Our Sky humbled me, as it taught me about the importance of learning more of lesser-known historical events. It was also a unique take on OCD and anxiety. I admit that it was not an easy read but it ended with a hopeful and fulfilling tone. I look forward to reading the webtoon version of this novel.