Words In The Dust [Hardcover]

Trent Reedy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2011 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 670L (What's this?)

In the tradition of SHABANU, DAUGHTER OF THE WIND and THE BREADWINNER, a beautiful debut about a daughter of Afghanistan discovering new friends and opportunities after the defeat of the Taliban.

Zulaikha hopes. She hopes for peace, now that the Taliban have been driven from Afghanistan; a good relationship with her hard stepmother; and one day even to go to school, or to have her cleft palate fixed. Zulaikha knows all will be provided for her--"Inshallah," God willing.

Then she meets Meena, who offers to teach her the Afghan poetry she taught her late mother. And the Americans come to her village, promising not just new opportunities and dangers, but surgery to fix her face. These changes could mean a whole new life for Zulaikha--but can she dare to hope they'll come true?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Zulaikha's life in Afghanistan is not easy. She is teased constantly for a facial deformity and although the Taliban is no longer in power, it has violently taken her mother from her, and the 13-year-old is left keeping house for a busy, traditional father and his bad-tempered wife. She is trapped by the confines of her culture as well as by her own fears, but things begin to change when she meets a mysterious woman who wants to work with her on her writing and teach her about poetry. When American soldiers roll into town and offer her the chance to fix her cleft palate, Zulaikha allows herself to wish for a better and different future. Reedy was inspired by a girl he met during his tour of duty in Afghanistan, and Zulaikha's character is based loosely on her experiences. Infused with poetry, and wrought with hardship, the story gives a bleak, but ultimately hopeful, portrayal of girlhood in Afghanistan. It is full of hard truths, painful lessons, beautiful human interaction, and the promise of possibility.-Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Born with a cleft lip, Zulaikha struggles to feel worth in a society that values women by their marriage prospects: “What bride-price would Baba get for me? Maybe one Afghani?” Then, by chance, Zulaikha meets Meena, a former professor, who begins to teach her to read and write just as American soldiers arrive, bringing the chance for both more education and surgery to correct Zulaikha’s birth defect. Reedy based his debut on real people and places he encountered while serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan, and the extensive detail about Afghani customs gives the story the feel of a docu-novel while also creating a vivid sense of place and memorable characters. Reedy skillfully avoids tidy resolutions: the grim fate of Zulaikha’s sister, who is married to a much older man, offers a heartbreaking counterpoint to Zulaikha’s exciting new possibilities. A glossary of Dari phrases, an extensive author’s note, suggested-reading lists, and an introduction by Katherine Paterson complete this deeply moving view of a young girl caught between opportunity and tradition in contemporary Afghanistan. Grades 5-8. --Gillian Engberg

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; 1 edition (January 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545261252
• ISBN-13: 978-0545261258
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Middle East
  • #46 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Asia

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Touching Story with an Important Message December 23, 2010

By Ma Junlong

Format:Hardcover

Whatever your feelings on the war in Afghanistan "Words in the Dust" will make you think about this issue in a different way. While we, as Americans, view the war through the lens of politics or ideology, Reedy shows us Afghanistan through the eyes of a young girl named Zulaikha. While we debate war strategy and think of success in terms of the latest statement by General Patreaus or President Obama, Zulaikha hopes only for a chance to learn to read. While we obsess about transforming Afghan society on a large scale, this heartrending story shows the impact of transforming the life of one small girl.

This book reminds the reader that the war is not, as much as we like think it is, about us... it is about Zulaikha and the other children of this windswept and unfortunate country. If you are looking for a book that shows the challenges facing the average family in Afghanistan and paints a beautiful picture of their hopes and dreams you cannot do better than "Words in the Dust".

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Words in the Dust January 17, 2011

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

I just got finished reading Words in the Dust by, Trent Reedy.

In this book Zulaikha a girl that has cleft lip makes her discoveries in life. Being teased all her life and having the nickname "Donkey Face" she realizes more important things in life like her sister Zeynab's wedding and Meena's poetry. When she was a little girl her mother Samia was killed because she was hiding books and they were illegal in Afghanistan. She has a step mother who was mean to her. But only because she was reminded of her past when Zulaikha was around. Zulaikha was worked extra hard and was sent out a lot. This was how she meant Meena a friend of her moms.

My favorite part was when Zulaikha meets Meena because Meena is very kind and you can learn a lot about life from her. I felt that Zeynab's husband did not care about her. It makes me feel lucky about where I live. I normally read fantasy and this story was even better because of the way it was written and, also what it is about and the setting it takes place in.
I really enjoyed this book. I think you will to.
- Laura Wiklund
Age 12

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars words in the dust January 4, 2011

By Darla Peterson

Format:Hardcover

Wow, what a great story. I was wrapped up in this girls life. I didn't want to put the book down and leave her in such a bad place. There have been only 3 books that pulled me in to the point that i missed the character when I finished the book.This is one of them. Great teaching tool for young people. A very real child in a real place with a life so different from theirs. I give it 5 Wow's.