Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Partially based on a true story. There is a lot going on: a family's desperate escape from the Taliban in Afghanistan, a young child accidentally left behind in the frantic rush. Everyone feels guilty as if they were the one at fault. Fadi, the middle child, also has to deal with bullies, especially after 9/11 with Muslim hatred running rampant. The family struggles with these issues as well as the mother's illness. There is also his relationship with his older sister Noor, who he finds much to his surprise really understands what is important to him. Fadi learns much from his father, not just about photography but also how to live honorably. In the end, the family all comes together in a poignant conclusion.
I always get weepy with books dealing with 9/11, Iraq, and Afghanistan. This was an excellent book dealing with the human side of the consequences of 9/11 and the Taliban.
Loved reading this with my 9 year old. Opened up so many wonderful conversations.
Loveable characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
This book appealed to me. I had to read it for a 6 grade assignment, and was thinking I wouldn't like it. It was a very well written book, with Mariam getting left behind, the photo competition, and many other things.
This was a decent read. I think I expected it to be more of a tear-jerker than it was but overall, I really enjoyed the story.
It was a bit amazing to see a young boy(Fadi is 11) entrusted with such a big responsibility but when you look at everything they had to do it was really the only option for him(watching his younger sister). I guess it was one of those situations where either way it wouldn't have really been fair or easy for him. (This is a little vague, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.)
I learned quite a bit from this book that I didn't know before and that, in addition, to the writing style and plot made this a 4 star read for me.
It was a bit amazing to see a young boy(Fadi is 11) entrusted with such a big responsibility but when you look at everything they had to do it was really the only option for him(watching his younger sister). I guess it was one of those situations where either way it wouldn't have really been fair or easy for him. (This is a little vague, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.)
I learned quite a bit from this book that I didn't know before and that, in addition, to the writing style and plot made this a 4 star read for me.
I really liked this middle-grade immigrant novel.Fadi is a 12 year old boy living in Afghanistan in the late 90s/early 2000s. He spent some time in the US when his father was getting his Phd at the University of Wisconsin. His idealistic father moved the family back to Afghanistan with the idea of helping his country flourish. As the Taliban grew stronger, it became clear that Fadi's family needed to leave. During the process of leaving the country, Fadi's 6 year old sister got left behind. Most of the story then describes fairly common immigrant experiences - father with a Phd has to drive a taxi to earn a living, bullies at school (especially after 9/11) make life challenging, good teachers and friends make life tolerable. The story's tension is built around the loss, and eventual recovery, of 6 year old Mariam. This would be a great book for classroom discussions and for anyone in the 8-14 year old cohort.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced