From Publishers Weekly
One fateful day in July 2001, Zubaida, a nine-year-old Afghan girl, slipped while filling a kerosene heater and set herself on fire. Her burns were so severe, no one thought she'd live. But Zubaida survived, and her father brought her all over the region, finally to the American army base in Kandahar, trying to get help. A Green Beret listened, and Zubaida was flown to a specialized burn center in America for a year of reconstructive surgeries. Flacco's depiction of Zubaida's culture shock is remarkable. The TV and film writer explains how, for the first time, Zubaida was going to school, getting to make personal choices and spending time with children who had the luxury of imagining limitless futures. The medically complex procedures were successful; the social adjustments were difficult. With improved language skills, therapy and lots of love from her host family, Zubaida began to thrive (she even appeared on
Oprah). But then it was time to return to Afghanistan, where she felt like a model ship in a bottle—perfectly formed but going nowhere. Flacco's empathy and ability to tell Zubaida's story like he's inside her head makes for an engrossing feel-good read. Photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–Zubaida Hasan, a nine-year-old girl in Afghanistan, suffered horrible burns in an accidental kerosene fire in her home. Doctors in several cities did what they could to prevent infection, but all advised her father to take her home and pray for a quick death. Going against tradition, where it would be normal for a father to let his female child die, he prayed not for her death, but for a miracle. His search for better care was rewarded when an American soldier, going against orders, brought Zubaida into the military health-care system. She was transported to the United States, where she spent a year without her family, receiving a series of surgeries designed to restore her terribly disfigured face and body. This is a gripping account from the first few pages, and it never lets go. As readers follow Zubaida's journey, they learn much about the Afghan way of life. There are also stunning examples of the strength of the human spirit and the depth of human kindness.
–Gari Plehal, Pohick Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
