The Secret Sky

Gr 9 Up—Fatima and Samiullah have known each other their whole lives, growing up together in a rural village in Afghanistan. She is a Hazara girl, he a Pashtun boy; they should not be considered equal, but their village is relatively open-minded. Sami has recently returned from a stint at the madrassa, an Islamic religious school. Now a teen, it is no longer permissible for Fatima to spend time alone with any men outside of her family. However, she and Sami cannot deny their mutual attraction and begin spending time together in secret, risking their lives in doing so. Rashid, Sami's cousin, discovers their secret and threatens to reveal all. This is an important story; it gives sensitive insight to a culture that many Americans do not understand beyond what they read in headlines. It also does not shy away from the horrors of a deeply divided, war-torn country: boys are raped, murder is widespread, and parents mutilate their own daughters. The author's introduction, note, and glossary give helpful, enriching background. That said, it is difficult to get past the marginal writing. Clichés abound—water sparkles like diamonds, hearts race and skip a beat regularly, lips are consistently described as "perfect" or "heart-shaped"—and there is more telling than showing. Rashid's chapters are a weak spot. Meandering prose about pomegranate trees disrupt the story's flow and pacing. The author has an authoritative voice about Afghan culture, and so many readers could benefit from a well-written, gripping story about that country's nuances and challenges; regrettably, this is not it.—Laura Lutz, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City