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beklovesbooks's review against another edition
2.5
Moderate: Police brutality, Confinement, Blood, Physical abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Death, War, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
brilee92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence, War, Violence, Torture, Sexism, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Confinement, and Adult/minor relationship
sassmistress's review against another edition
4.25
Personal opinion: This book is worth a read when the time is right, with parental caution advised. While it was written in 2000, it gives you a more on-the-ground look at the Afghan people suffering under Taliban rule--their history, national identity, and quiet acts of resistance. I didn't get the conclusive, satisfying ending I have come to expect as a reader of primarily sci-fi/fantasy, but that's real life--one chapter closes, and another one begins. It's an emotional read, and I stayed up too late to finish reading it in a few hours.
This book obviously deals with some heavy topics and while it does not abandon hope, it does depict the realities of life under the thumb of the Taliban. The book is a work of fiction based on the experiences of real people. The main character is 11 years old, so I would use that for a guidance point, but suitability will be VERY dependent on the reader and your preferences as a family. As one character says, "in other parts of the country, girls your age are getting married and having babies" (paraphrased), so I don't think it necessarily needs to be restricted to teens and older. IMO This is a relatively safe place to be exposed to, and process, some things that are happening in our fallen world that may be new to most preteens. Despite the specific content I'll call out below, there is courage, hope, resilience, and resourcefulness.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Excrement, Religious bigotry, and Drug use
- Religious sentiments do not appear, except for the following quote: "The word Taliban meant religious scholars, but Parvana's father told her that religion was about teaching people how to be better human beings, how to be kinder. 'The Taliban are not making Afghanistan a kinder place to live!' he said." - Multiple beatings occur, mostly against women and children. These are not graphic, but hard to read nonetheless. The most that is "shown" from it is a nosebleed and fear. - The eldest son of the family died prior to this story, by a land mine. Grief abounds, both from deaths and loss, as the well-educated family falls further into poverty with every bombing. The destroyed city, Kabul, is contrasted with its bright, bustling pre-war heights.sarahaf712's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Violence