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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
In today's world the word transgender is not a taboo. People have a choice in who they want to be. However, I can't image living in a world where the culture does put such high importance on the male that females have no choice but to become bacha posh. I am very luckily to not have to experience this. I was born in South Korea and was adopted.
I thought the author did a great job of giving readers both young and old a look into another culture. For the young demographic that this book is geared towards, it is very age appropriate. Obayd and Rahim were good characters. I really did feel for them both and their situations. I am glad that this book had a happy ending. I look forward to checking out more books by this author.
I thought the author did a great job of giving readers both young and old a look into another culture. For the young demographic that this book is geared towards, it is very age appropriate. Obayd and Rahim were good characters. I really did feel for them both and their situations. I am glad that this book had a happy ending. I look forward to checking out more books by this author.
adventurous
fast-paced
Brief review originally published 24 May 2020 at Falling Letters.
A suicide bomber leaves Obayda’s father unable to work, forcing Obayda’s family to leave their home in Kabul for her father’s home village “in the middle of nowhere” (9%). 10 year old Obayda has three sisters and no brothers, with another sibling on the way. At the encouragement of Obayda’s aunt, Obayda’s mother decides Obayda will now live as a boy, Obayd, in the Afghani practice of the bacha posh.
One Half from the East is a slice of life narrative. Readers follow Obayda’s new experiences living as Obayd, and her relationship with fellow bacha posh Rahima.
Hashimi’s author note provides further context on the experience of girls and women in Afghanistan, and the role of the bacha posh.
The Bottom Line: One Half from the East offers a thoughtful and moving look into the life of a young girl heavily impacted by the gender expectations of her culture.
A suicide bomber leaves Obayda’s father unable to work, forcing Obayda’s family to leave their home in Kabul for her father’s home village “in the middle of nowhere” (9%). 10 year old Obayda has three sisters and no brothers, with another sibling on the way. At the encouragement of Obayda’s aunt, Obayda’s mother decides Obayda will now live as a boy, Obayd, in the Afghani practice of the bacha posh.
“A boy can work and earn money. A boy is good luck. A boy brings other boys into the family. Girls can’t do any of those things. You’re not in Kabul anymore, my dear.” (12%)As someone who reads more stories about gender identity and expression than about girls growing up in Islamic republics, I had to continually adjust my reception of Obayda’s story. One Half from the East is not really about Obayda and Rahim exploring identities as trans boys. It’s about cultural expectations and gender inequality. That being said, there is a brief discussion between Obayda and her sisters towards the end about what makes a boy a boy.
One Half from the East is a slice of life narrative. Readers follow Obayda’s new experiences living as Obayd, and her relationship with fellow bacha posh Rahima.
Hashimi’s author note provides further context on the experience of girls and women in Afghanistan, and the role of the bacha posh.
The Bottom Line: One Half from the East offers a thoughtful and moving look into the life of a young girl heavily impacted by the gender expectations of her culture.
What a fascinating, thought-provoking book. If you are interested in gender roles, Afghanistan, and/or stories about strong girls you can't miss this one. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
A fascinating and eye-opening book. I had never heard of the bacha posh custom of Afghanistan. This was at times a depressing story, but the author lightened it with bits of humor and the backdrop of Obayd/Obayda's supportive family. I look forward the reading Hashimi's adult novel The Pearl That Broke It's Shell to learn more about one of this book's secondary characters.
Fascinating story about a topic I really had no previous knowledge of (the bacha posh tradition in Afghanistan), and an interesting commentary on gender roles in cultures around the world. Good YA read that I can easily recommend to my students.
I read my first book by Nadia Hashimi about a year ago called The Pearl That Broke Its Shell. It told the story of a young Rahima that became a bocha posh (a custom where a boy becomes a girl in Afghanistan in order to help out their family). It was one of the most moving books that I've read in a while and it is a book that will stay with me for a while as well. It was such beautiful writing and storytelling and it made you very thankful to be a woman in the western world.
I was very pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book, Nadia's first young adult book, and recognized names and characters and storylines from The Pearl That Broke It's Shell.
One Half From The East tells the story of another bocha posh that becomes a boy to help her father come back to them after a tragic bombing in Kabul. Obyad meets Rahim (The Pearl That Broke Its Shell) and they quickly become fast friends and vow to never be girls again. What follows is another beautiful story of life in Afghanistan is harder for women but the strength of the girls and women that live over there. If you're a fan of The Pearl That Broke It's Shell or The Kite Runner, definitely pick this one up!
I was very pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book, Nadia's first young adult book, and recognized names and characters and storylines from The Pearl That Broke It's Shell.
One Half From The East tells the story of another bocha posh that becomes a boy to help her father come back to them after a tragic bombing in Kabul. Obyad meets Rahim (The Pearl That Broke Its Shell) and they quickly become fast friends and vow to never be girls again. What follows is another beautiful story of life in Afghanistan is harder for women but the strength of the girls and women that live over there. If you're a fan of The Pearl That Broke It's Shell or The Kite Runner, definitely pick this one up!
One of those children's novels that anyone of any age could read and love.
A fairly straightforward story about an Afghani girl who becomes a boy to help her family and discovers joy in the freedom her new role offers. Deals with gender in a very gentle way.
What I Liked
Never in my life have I heard about the tradition of bacha-posh. Culturally, it still makes little sense to me, but I learned so much by reading through Obayda's eyes.
Rahim was my favorite character by far. Her story as a bacha-posh best shows the gender differences between even young boys and girls in modern Afghanistan. Life is so much better for Rahim when she is a boy.
What I Didn't Like
One Half from the East seems to be written for pre-teen children, which is unfortunate, because the impact that it could have is stunted by simplified writing.
Never in my life have I heard about the tradition of bacha-posh. Culturally, it still makes little sense to me, but I learned so much by reading through Obayda's eyes.
Rahim was my favorite character by far. Her story as a bacha-posh best shows the gender differences between even young boys and girls in modern Afghanistan. Life is so much better for Rahim when she is a boy.
What I Didn't Like
One Half from the East seems to be written for pre-teen children, which is unfortunate, because the impact that it could have is stunted by simplified writing.