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The Secret Sky

A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
An eye-opening, heart-rending tale of love, honor and betrayal from NBC foreign news correspondent Atia Abawi Fatima is a Hazara girl, raised to be obedient and dutiful. Samiullah is a Pashtun boy raised to defend the traditions of his tribe. They were not meant to fall in love. But they do. And the story that follows shows both the beauty and the violence in current-day Afghanistan as Fatima and Samiullah fight their families, their cultures and the Taliban to stay together. Based on the people Atia Abawi met and the events she covered during her nearly five years in Afghanistan, this stunning novel is a must-read for anyone who has lived during America's War in Afghanistan. Perfect for fans of Patricia McCormick, Linda Sue Park, and Khaled Hosseini, this story will stay with readers for a long time to come. Advanced Praise for THE SECRET SKY: "["The Secret Sky" is] a tale of the indomitable Afghan spirit of hope and love. Among the many novels set in Afghanistan for young people or for adults, "The Secret Sky" stands alone. Unputdownable. Unforgettable." -Trent Reedy, author of "Words in the Dust" "The Secret Sky brilliantly captures the magic and the heartbreak of Afghanistan as only someone rooted in its mystery can....This first novel by a top foreign correspondent has the authenticity of raw journalism and the poetry of a gifted writer. A must read for anyone who wants to understand the contradictions of the Afghan soul." -Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and anchor of "Andrea Mitchell Reports" "A riveting tale written from the heart....This powerful love story will leave you angry at injustice, and awed by courage. It shocks and inspires." -Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent, BBC
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from June 30, 2014
      Three characters take turns narrating foreign correspondent Abawi’s debut, about a cross-cultural love affair that tears at a small Afghan community. Pashtun landowners and Hazara farmers maintain a respectful peace—their children play together, but a “Hazara girl could never marry a Pashtun boy.” Fatima dreams of a future in Kabul, where girls “can become doctors, lawyers, midwives and even artists!” After Samiullah returns home, disillusioned with teachers’ cruel indoctrination at his madrassa, his childhood friendship with Fatima blossoms into love. Meanwhile, Samiullah’s cousin Rashid seeks to gain favor with the local Taliban by reporting their attachment, resulting in horrific consequences for both families. Decades of tribal strife influence the present, causing some to cling to tradition, while others encourage change, like a grandmother teaching her granddaughter to read. Disturbing depictions of physical, emotional, and sexual violence against women, men, and children, both within families and between different groups, contrast with extravagant acts of courage, kindness, and sacrifice. Throughout, Fatima, Samiullah, and Rashid wrestle with what constitutes faithful living, as represented by two mullahs offering wildly different interpretations. A suspenseful, enlightening, and hopeful love story. Ages 14–up.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrators Ariana Delawari and Assaf Cohen fully inhabit the vulnerability and uncertainty of present-day Afghanistan teenagers Fatima and Sami as they slowly fall into a love forbidden by both family and society. Delawari and Cohen dramatize both characters' internal monologues as they process their feelings of love and fear. Cohen also voices Sami's cousin, Rashid, a product of radical Islamic indoctrination who believes that the runaway lovers must be punished. Cohen deftly distinguishes between candid Sami and Rashid, who is fueled by rage and obsession that he has come to see as truth. When narrating the novel's most horrific scenes, the narrators never overplay the tragedy but commit fully to the heartbreaking lines of dialogue, forcing listeners to engage with the important and difficult subject matter. E.M.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:720
  • Text Difficulty:3

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