N. H. SenzaiRecensioni

A well written, undervalued story. The plot is memorable. Has universal themes and yet sheds light on a culture and setting and challenges American children may know little about. Boy protagonist is very believable.

Really well done -- alternating point of view between Noura, newly arrived refugee from Syria, and Jordyn, Tampa, FL swimmer. Noura suffers panic attacks associated with water. Jordyn has worsening anxiety after her mother's miscarriage. There are a lot of big current issues in this book -- racism and religious based attacks against Muslims, grief and loss (friend, miscarriage, young soldier, mother with breast cancer), injury and extreme change of circumstances. It's also packed with people of all faiths helping each other, supporting each other's mental health, and finding ways to volubly stand up for their rights. It's also a quickly moving plot that centers on friendship. Good stuff all around.

Excellent story about learning to look beyond the surface and find peace with your imagined enemies.
SPL Global Reading Challenge 2016

Escaping from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2001, eleven year-old Fadi and his family immigrate to the San Francisco Bay Area where Fadi schemes to return to the Pakistan refugee camp where his little sister was accidentally left behind.

As the devastating events of September 11th and the Afghanistan War unfold, a young boy in California begins a quest to find his sister, still back in Kabul. Glossary, Author’s Note, Bibliography, Webliography.

A very good read, with a nuanced view of the Taliban occupation of Afghanistan. A young boy escapes Afghanistan with his family, but his six year old sister is left behind. He must deal with that, with middle school bullies, and with the backlash against Muslims caused by the events of 9/11. Ends a little abruptly.

Cute but a bit too didactic for me in places (that's what I get for reading YA, I guess). It got more interesting once the mystery-solving started.

Nadia's family need to flee Aleppo when the war gets too close. When a bomb hits as they are leaving, she gets separated from her family and finds herself trying to get to the Syrian border. The timeline goes back and forth between the start of the Arab spring and the period of time in 2013 when she is trying to escape. A harrowing journey that also gives much background about the complicated conflict and shifting allegiances.

This book fills a niche in children's books on the middle east conflict. There are few books on this topic. Fadi's family lives in Afghanistan during the turbulent time following the Soviet invasion. The Taliban has come to power. Though people initially supported the Taliban for helping them overcome the war, The Taliban has turned fanatical. They are imposing rules on the people that violate basic human rights. Fadi's dad decides it's time to flee. While escaping, chaos breaks out, and he accidentally lets go of his younger sister's hand. The truck leaves without her and refuses to stop. Her family has lost a child.

Fadi's family continues on and receives asylum in America. They eventually eek out a merger existence, his father as a taxi driver, despite having a phD. US officials continue to search for Miriam while Fadi enrolls in the middle school. Throughout the story, Fadi is haunted by the role he played in losing his sister. Midway through the book 9/11 happens. Fadi faces bullying at school for being Muslim, but he refuses to give up the names of the bullies. He has one focus, to win the photography contest and its prize, a trip to India. If he could just get close enough, he could find his sister himself.

Although the book was insightful about a conflict that few children have knowledge, and is therefore an important book, it didn't capture me the way I hoped it would. The writing is fairly basic. It neither grabs the reader, nor inspires the reader to become emotionally invested. I always hope a book is going to grab me, especially when you have emotional material, like a child lost half-way around the world. I didn't feel the devastation. Still a book worth reading.

ESCAPE FROM ALEPPO by N H Senzai
War is terrifying. When you are 15 and suddenly separated from your family in the middle of a desperate flight with family members slated for imprisonment, civil war becomes a terrifying reality.
Nadia, raised in an upper middle class family with all the modern conveniences Americans enjoy, is left in war torn Aleppo on her own after a bombing raid. Her family is making their way to safety in Turkey. ESCAPE FROM ALEPPO makes war real while presenting the political realities of an international crisis. The book does not sugar coat the situations Nadia encounters in her flight from the city. The situation is realistic. The characters are complex. The politics are presented from a Syrian’s point of view. The writing and plotting is intense. The devastation in once beautiful and vibrant Aleppo is made clear.
The novel is aimed at Middle Schoolers but might be too intense for this younger group. High schoolers will identify with Nadia, a “modern” teen. This would be a good book for discussion, especially of politics and the repercussions of decisions made by foreign leaders.
5 of 5 stars

Escaping from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2001, eleven year-old Fadi and his family immigrate to the San Francisco Bay Area where Fadi schemes to return to the Pakistan refugee camp where his little sister was accidentally left behind.

twelve-year-old Ariana couldn’t be more different from her cousin Laila, who just arrived from Afghanistan with her family. Laila is a proper, ladylike Afghan girl, one who can cook, sew, sing, and who is well versed in Pukhtun culture and manners. Arianna resents her and let Laila know ths.. Laila and Ariana are sharing a tiny bedroom in their cramped Fremont townhouse, and when school starts becomes close with Mariam Nurzai, Ariana’s best friend.

a rival Afghan grocery grocery store opens near Ariana’s family store, reigniting a decades-old feud tracing back to Afghanistan. arianna, Laila and Miriam, and their newfound friend/enemy Wali, join their investigative talents to help the families find a lasting peace before it destroys both businesses and everything their parents have worked for.

This novel is realistic fiction.

Maya’s grandfather has died, so the family is flying to Pakistan to help her grandmother settle their affairs. When Maya arrives, her grandmother tells about how they came to live in Pakistan and that they are truly Indian. She must return to India to retrieve the family treasures that were hidden there before they left. Maya, her sister, and their grandmother sneak away on their adventure. Quickly, Grandma becomes ill and Maya and Zara decide to continue on their own, believing they will be safe even though they’ve been repeatedly told that it’s not safe and there are precautions that should be taken. Maya ends up separated from Zara with no cell phone and with dangerous people.

As the novel progresses, you learn all about the history of India and why Indians live in Pakistan. Maya realizes that her family tree is much different than she thought and is willing to sacrifice and face danger to get the family heirlooms back.

The novel is really a history of India with a little bit of plot thrown in. If you are interested in learning about India--it’s and some of the current political problems, I highly recommend this novel. It’s not a boring novel by any means; it’s just mainly about India.½

At first I wasn't too sure I was going to like this, but once the initial faltering sequence (presented in a series of flashbacks interspersed between current action) was completed, it kind of grew on me. I ended up really caring about the characters and was pleased with how the final resolution was kept at bay right up until just before the very end on the last few pages.

The Pukhtun code of honor comes into play when two competing Afghan grocers in the Bay Area accuse the other of sabotage after both stores are vandalized. Ariana and Wali, the children of the shop owners, embark on solving the mystery of who is really involved. This culturally specific novel provides young readers a window on Afghan culture, the impacts on family of current events in the home country, plus the universal struggle of immigrants striving to succeed in America.

This is a great chapter book for discussing worldwide issues, like racism, the Taliban, why did 9/11 happen, etc. The artistic element of photography plays a big role in the book and can draw in the more creative students. It is written in a friendlier style as we are inside Fadi's head, so even though it deals with heavier topics I think it would be alright for 3-8 grade.

Format: chapter book
Genre: historical fiction

This book is a story about a family fleeing from Afghanistan because the father refuses to work for the Taliban. The family is trying to get to the United States where it is safer. In the process of leaving Afghanistan, the youngest daughter is accidentally left behind and the family has no way of going back for her. Fadi, the son, was holding his sisters hand and couldn't hold on as his father pulled him into the escape truck. Not holding on to his sister devastates Fadi and his family is very upset about not being able to go back for her. They could not go back for her because the Taliban was chasing them and the escape truck would not stop. The family gets to the US and learns to adjust to American life. The family is still haunted by the facts that the little sister was left in Afghanistan. In school Fadi becomes interested in photography. He gets to go to an exhibit done by a photographer who recently shot pictures in Afghanistan. To Fadi's surprise, he see's a photo with his little sister in it. Fadi is relived that she is still alive he tells the photographer about everything. The photographer arranges for the little girl to be flown to the US and be reunited with her family.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book/ Novel

The title of this book sound a bit shocking at first. Shooting Kabul is a story about Fadi, a twelve year old boy and his immigrant family in the United States. In their escape from Afghanistan to California, Fadi's younger sister, Miriam, is lost in a crowd. After arriving to the California it is very hard for Fadi to fit in, he is constantly feeling guilt for losing his sister since he was the one holding her hand in the crowd. Suddenly an opportunity to return to Afghanistan appears! A photography contest, Fadi hopes that winning this contest can be the opportunity to find his sister. Being Muslim causes the family many struggles in the United States because of the fact that 9/11 has been recent. Fadi's main goal is to find his sister and he is willing to do whatever it takes! This book can teach students so many things like: culture shock, importance of family, respect, and perseverance.

Format- Novel
Genre- Historical Fiction
This is a great chapter book about the story of a family that is trying to escape for the talaban and seek asylum in the United States. During the escape the family leaves their young child/sister. She is left behind while the family makes it to the US. The family has to adjust living in the US all while trying to cope the fact that they left behind the young girl. It is a great book to show the struggle of Afghanistan people who lived in the US during 9/11. This book will take you on a journey and keep you wondering if the family will ever see their young family member again.

This story is of a immigrant family from Afghanistan and the perils they endure when father is pressured by war. Family leaves for America so Dad could attend University and return to his homeland to help the country, only to have Al-Qaeda pressure him to help. The family then escapes out of the country during the night only have family member left behind. The family adjusts to new life in S.F. post 9/11, and this is when things turn interesting. Racial profiling, poverty, identity, culture, education system, exploration and bullying. Good story and coming of age for many people.( power struggles with self, society, family, identity.)

Companion book to Shootin Kabul, when many of the characters from the book are incorporated into this story. Learn how 3 young students work together to solve the mystery as to why their families are in a feud.

I read "Shooting Kabul" and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read her latest. This was fun to read, both because of the well drawn characters and the mystery solving the kids do together. It was also nice to catch up with the charachters from "Shooting Kabul".