One of our New Gen Debuts of the Year 2011.
A touching and thought-provoking story set in contemporary Afghanistan, Words in the Dust uncovers how the lives of women and girls are changing. Zulaikha, a younger sister born with a disfiguring cleft palate, captures the details of the life of drudgery of herself and her older sister Zeynab as they help their step mother look after the house and their younger brothers. Growing up under the Taliban, these girls have had had no chance of education; instead they think only of making a good marriage. But, the arrival of the American soldiers brings huge changes. Can Zulaikha’s face really be fixed? And can she have an education? So much suddenly seems possible. In contrast, Zeynab’s marriage, arranged by their father and thought to be a great opportunity, goes horribly wrong.
| Primary Genre | Young Adult Fiction |
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