This is my third time recently reading about the events of May 13, 1969. According to the official government report, 196 people died, many others were injured, and the vast majority of those affected lost their homes and belongings during the week long violence.
The thrilling story is about 16 year old Melati after the death of her father. She suffers from panic attacks and believes she is being controlled by a Djinn. The Djinn character really reminded me of Khawf in As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow. It constantly manipulates her thoughts and repeatedly shows her terrifying visions of her mother’s death. Melati spends every day trying to appease the Djinn.
One day, Melati and her friend Saf are suddenly caught in the middle of racial riots. Cars and buildings are burned, innocent people are attacked, and chaos spreads everywhere. During the violence, Melati and Saf are forced to separate, which only worsens her panic. Luckily, she later finds refuge with Aunt Bee’s family, who treat her with kindness despite the dangerous situation around them. The government announced a strict, immediate curfew. I found the scenes terrifying. People turned into madness because of stupid rhetoric, speeches and political ideologies.
This story, based on real events, felt just as haunting as reading about the Japanese occupation in Malaysian history. We may continue to speculate about the true underlying causes, but the fear and scars left behind still linger until today. Even though the book is quite short, the message gives you so much to think about long after finishing it. I also appreciated how the author explored mental health, especially because it was considered taboo during that era. Melati is such a brave character. I really love how the author portrayed her journey of survival, fear, grief, and healing all at once.