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.

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. ( )

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. ( )