Shooting Kabul [Hardcover]

I am often very kind in my assessment of particular books because of their purpose. Such is the case with "Shooting Kabul" by newcomer to writing, N. H. Senzai, who grew up in San Francisco and Saudi Arabia. She tells the reader it is a story that had to be told, one that continued to niggle at the back of her head.

"Shooting Kabul" is loosely based on her husband as a child and his family leaving Afghanistan because of the Taliban. It involves degrees in agriculture earned in the United States and a return to Afghanistan to improve farming techniques. After the Taliban's return to primitivism and total control of government and culture, the family's efforts (and efforts of many other families) were no longer wanted. It became unsafe to stay, thus a dark-of-night escape to asylum in the United States.

But that's not why I gave this book five stars. The writing, plotting, characters, plot conflicts--all would rate four stars. Ends are too conveniently tied and plot events are manipulated. But guess what? I don't care. What makes this book stand out and why it gets five stars requires a list. Here's why "Shooting Kabul" is a five-star book for children 9-12 and any older audience who wants to know more about Afghan culture.

1. The novel provides an up-close look at a typical Afghan family, actually, a Pukhtun family. The Pukhtuns make up the largest ethnic group of the Afghan peoples, comprising 42 percent of the population. The reader learns a little about religion, language, food, daily habits, family life. A "little" means just enough to weave into the story without overdoing it. The glossary of unfamiliar names and Afghan factos is included in the back of the book, as well as a further reading list. (Extra Credit is one of the recommended books, a book I have also reviewed.)

2. The plot is timed during the Sept. 11 attack on American soil, thus "forcing" American attacks on the Muslim people in American and how they dealt with those attacks.

3. Friendships that crossed racial and religious lines. Both Fadi, the main character, and his older sister, form relationships with others: Fadi with a Chinese-American classmate and his sister with an Anglo.

4. Good family relations. Children cannot possibly get enough examples of good family relationships in life or books.

5. A photography component. Fadi's father Habib taught him how to photograph while they were in Afghanistan and gave him his old Minolta camera. In San Francisco Fadi joins the photography club in his middle school and enters a competition with one of his photographs. Seeing photography as an art form being promoted is a real boon for this book.

The most serious problem in the novel is the loss of the youngest child, Miriam, while the family is leaving by dark-of-night. During the mad rush to climb into the escape truck, Miriam is left behind. A six-year-old girl. There was no turning back with the Taliban hot on their trail. One of the prizes of the photography contest is a trip with a let's-call-it-National-Geographic photographer to one of three countries for a photography shoot (with a parent, of course). One of the countries is India. Fadi believes he can win that trip and find his sister.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to see it in the hands of good teachers. librarians, home-schoolers, and parents to begin a dialogue to improve American-Muslim relations.

Shooting Kabul? Just this moment, this very moment I realized the meaning of the title. Fadi and his dad "shot" many photographs of their city in Afghanistan, starting his love of photography and the twist it plays in the story.

Fadi Nurzai and his family had no choice but to leave Afghanistan. The Taliban had completed their rise to power, and rather than bring all the good they talked about, they provided nothing but bloodshed. Fadi's father, Habib, had secured the family safe passage to America in the summer of 2001 as long as they could cross the border. The plan was to meet a truck that would carry them across to Peshawar, Pakistan. Fadi was in charge of his six-year-old sister, Mariam, while his older sister, Noor, helped with their sick mother, Zafoona. All was going according to plan until the Taliban made an unexpected appearance, and in the turmoil that ensued, the unthinkable happened --- Mariam is left behind.

After a few desperate attempts to return and find her, the Nurzais are forced to fly to America and receive asylum. While staying with relatives in San Francisco, Fadi must go on with life. He begins middle school with the realization that leaving Mariam behind was his fault, and he will do anything to get her back. As Habib, Zafoona, Noor and Fadi plot how to return to Afghanistan to find Mariam, they are dealt another devastating blow: September 11, 2001. They watch in horror as terrorists attack the World Trade Center. After they learn that the people responsible are linked to terrorist groups within Afghanistan, any hope of returning to find Mariam is lost.

September 11th also makes it difficult for Fadi at school. Kids assume he is responsible for what happened in New York and go out of their way to make life miserable for him. So Fadi tries to find solace in the little things, especially photography. He is encouraged to join the photography club by his new friend, Anh, and stumbles upon the answer to his prayers. The club will be entering a contest where the first place winner gets a new camera and a trip to China, Kenya, or India. Realizing how close India is to Afghanistan, Fadi tells himself he must win in order to return and find Mariam.

While his family hires private investigators, checks refugee camp registrations, and gobbles up any small pieces of information, Fadi spends his time photographing the sights of San Francisco. With failure not an option, he takes the perfect picture of his grandparents and submits it with the expectation of winning. All hope of finding Mariam is resting on this photograph, but is it good enough to win?

It's easy to forget that more than American citizens were impacted by the September 11th attacks. N. H. Senzai provides another viewpoint on the tragedy that is important to remember. While Senzai does delve into the devastating implications of the attack, she also provides a story of hope and resurgence that anyone can relate to. SHOOTING KABUL is an important addition to all the 9/11 literature, and young readers will especially be rooting for Fadi to succeed.

Fadi is a sweet Afghan boy who adores photography, the novel FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER, and his family. Fleeing from the Taliban in a truck with other escapees, his family loses his little sister Mariam. It is too dangerous to turn back and find Mariam, which causes heartache for the whole family. Settling in the United States in a post 9/11 atmosphere, Fadi rockily adjusts to life in California. Money is tight, classmates are bigots and, most importantly, he misses Mariam. An opportunity presents itself: there is a chance to find Mariam, and Fadi is determined to do whatever it takes to save his little sister in a Claudia-like/Mixed-Up Files fashion. Warning: You may need a box of tissue at hand while reading this. This was beautifully written and it's something I would read again.

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