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saramarjorie10's review against another edition
4.0
There are too few books that explore the Middle East from a child's eyes. Shooting Kabul kept me guessing to the very last page. I could feel for Fadi as he told the story of his family escaping Kabul, only to lose his sister. I felt heartbroken as a young boy blamed himself for a loss that was not his fault. Senzai does an incredible job documenting the family's immigration to San Francisco, and simply yet powerfully explains the change in American attitudes towards Middle Easterners following 9/11. The only trouble I had with this book is the neat ending wrapped up in a bow. Yes, this is childrens literature, the the climax and resolution to Fadi's story happen in 3 pages. Either way, this book will definitely have a place in my classroom this year.
zoefcampion's review against another edition
5.0
The book Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai is about a boy named Fadi who has run away from the Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan to Fremont, California. But, in the process of escaping his little sister, Mariam, gets lost in the crowd and does not make it to America with the rest of the family. As the events of 9/11 unfold, getting Mariam out of Afghanistan seem slim. Then, when a photography competition is announced with a grand prize to India, Fadi sees a chance to go to Afghanistan to rescue Mariam. But can he really win a photo competition?
I really liked the book Shooting Kabul. N.H. Senzai does a good job of making the book suspenseful. Here is an example of that:"Instinctively he clung to Mariam's hand, but her sweaty fingers slipped through his just as the truck rolled forward and picked up speed." I recommend this book to people who like adventure stories and realistic fiction.
I really liked the book Shooting Kabul. N.H. Senzai does a good job of making the book suspenseful. Here is an example of that:"Instinctively he clung to Mariam's hand, but her sweaty fingers slipped through his just as the truck rolled forward and picked up speed." I recommend this book to people who like adventure stories and realistic fiction.
buffy87's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed the story, and the relatability of it. Took me back to the time of 9/11, and my own experiences of racism and fear. Fadii's overarching storyline was great. The only thing that pulled me out of the novel and distracted me was the complexity of how the sixth graders spoke and thought. Definitely a young adult book I'd recommend.
morakoz's review against another edition
Shooting Kabul is about a family of five living in Afghanistan in 2001. They needed to move back to America because it wasn't safe for them there. They had gotten past the security process and had the tickets all they needed to do was get on a truck to take them to the airport. As they were running to the truck they lost their littlest girl in the crowd. Other then that everything went fine, but only four of them arrived in San Francisco. The bother decides that its his fault and he needs to save her, so he joins a photography contest with a grand prize trip to India.
I thought this book was an okay book. It was good during some parts but others weren't as good. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot line. I never lost interest in the book so I kept reading it and I was also surprised in the ending.
I didn't like it because it was an easy book for me to read and it wasn't very detailed. most of the things that happened were repeated. It was also I very short book so not many things happened to them besides going to America and there adventures in America.
I thought this book was an okay book. It was good during some parts but others weren't as good. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot line. I never lost interest in the book so I kept reading it and I was also surprised in the ending.
I didn't like it because it was an easy book for me to read and it wasn't very detailed. most of the things that happened were repeated. It was also I very short book so not many things happened to them besides going to America and there adventures in America.
rachelp's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't realize this book is for younger readers until I opened it and saw the slightly larger print. It is told from the point of view of a young boy named Fadi. His story begins in Afghanistan just before 9/11 and ends in San Fransisco. Part of their escape from the Taliban went awry and Fadi is convinced it is all his fault. He struggles to find a way to fix it and to find a place for himself in post 9/11 America.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
After the Taliban pressures his father to join them, Fadi and his family must flee Afghanistan. They sell all their belongings and use their life savings to secure passage to Pakistan. On the night that they board the truck, something terrible happens. People are scrambling to board the truck, desperate to escape the country. Fadi's six-year-old sister Mariam drops her doll and, in turning back to look for it, lets go of Fadi's hand. The truck takes off, trying to outrun the Taliban members who have appeared on the scene.
And Mariam is left behind in Afghanistan as Fadi and the rest of his family make their way to America. Will they ever see her again?
Shooting Kabul is a moving portrait of one family's escape from Afghanistan and their struggle to adapt to life in America, especially post-9/11. It'll make the issues in Afghanistan clearer to kids who might have a muddy picture of what's happened "over there" during the last decade. The plot lagged in a few places, but the book is successful overall and I'll definitely be looking for more from this debut author.
Merged review:
After the Taliban pressures his father to join them, Fadi and his family must flee Afghanistan. They sell all their belongings and use their life savings to secure passage to Pakistan. On the night that they board the truck, something terrible happens. People are scrambling to board the truck, desperate to escape the country. Fadi's six-year-old sister Mariam drops her doll and, in turning back to look for it, lets go of Fadi's hand. The truck takes off, trying to outrun the Taliban members who have appeared on the scene.
And Mariam is left behind in Afghanistan as Fadi and the rest of his family make their way to America. Will they ever see her again?
Shooting Kabul is a moving portrait of one family's escape from Afghanistan and their struggle to adapt to life in America, especially post-9/11. It'll make the issues in Afghanistan clearer to kids who might have a muddy picture of what's happened "over there" during the last decade. The plot lagged in a few places, but the book is successful overall and I'll definitely be looking for more from this debut author.
And Mariam is left behind in Afghanistan as Fadi and the rest of his family make their way to America. Will they ever see her again?
Shooting Kabul is a moving portrait of one family's escape from Afghanistan and their struggle to adapt to life in America, especially post-9/11. It'll make the issues in Afghanistan clearer to kids who might have a muddy picture of what's happened "over there" during the last decade. The plot lagged in a few places, but the book is successful overall and I'll definitely be looking for more from this debut author.
Merged review:
After the Taliban pressures his father to join them, Fadi and his family must flee Afghanistan. They sell all their belongings and use their life savings to secure passage to Pakistan. On the night that they board the truck, something terrible happens. People are scrambling to board the truck, desperate to escape the country. Fadi's six-year-old sister Mariam drops her doll and, in turning back to look for it, lets go of Fadi's hand. The truck takes off, trying to outrun the Taliban members who have appeared on the scene.
And Mariam is left behind in Afghanistan as Fadi and the rest of his family make their way to America. Will they ever see her again?
Shooting Kabul is a moving portrait of one family's escape from Afghanistan and their struggle to adapt to life in America, especially post-9/11. It'll make the issues in Afghanistan clearer to kids who might have a muddy picture of what's happened "over there" during the last decade. The plot lagged in a few places, but the book is successful overall and I'll definitely be looking for more from this debut author.
kportalareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
shiroofficial's review
3.0
This is not really the kind of book I read, only read it for literature but I guess it was a good portrayal of how tough or basically the overall feel of life as someone fleeing the Taliban etc. It is informative and a pretty good portrayal on how life is. But like I said, not my type of genre:) (since it wasn’t really my kind of book it took a really long time to read because I started reading many other books and stopped reading this.)
tcbueti's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great combination of different types of suspense: worry over what has happened to his sister Mariam, over the photo competition, over the school bullies post 9/11, and of course his guilt over what he feels was his role in losing his sister.
Describes the artistic process very well, as well as how bystanders can find strength in numbers (though that may be a bit rosy--probably the bullies could have found reinforcements, too!) A compelling story on many levels, and a picture of a modern immigrant's experience.
Describes the artistic process very well, as well as how bystanders can find strength in numbers (though that may be a bit rosy--probably the bullies could have found reinforcements, too!) A compelling story on many levels, and a picture of a modern immigrant's experience.