Shooting Kabul (The Kabul Chronicles) Paperback – July 12, 2011

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.

What a wonderful story! The main character was well developed and the story itself gave me a great deal of insight into the plight of Middle Easterner and Greater Middle Easterner Americans and immigrants. It is so easy to stereotype and judge people according to their race and the actions of some within their group.Fadi is a very sweet and thoughtful character. Through his thoughts and actions the reader comes to empathize, understand and care deeply for him and his family.The final outcome was a bit coincidental and slick, but I didn't care. I was so satisfied that Mariam was back where she belonged and the family could then move on.I loved the double use of shooting in the title. I always tell my students that they shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but we also talk about how important it is to think about your audience as a writer and of course the same is true for the production of the book. The cover, the title, the first line, the first paragraph, the first page...These are all important to your audience. Wonderful book that I will be sure to buy for my school library.

What stands out most about this book above all is Mrs. Senzai's compelling storytelling ability. She does a lovely job of keeping the reader immersed in the story and wanting to know what happens next. The characters are believable and, dare I say, loveable. The children will particularly pull at your heart strings if you have kids their age.There are times when some of the "factoids" of the region and period are related in the form of dialog between the characters and it kind of comes off as a news article or Wiki entry. However, I don't fault her for this because she is actually doing something laudable in making the effort to inform the reader about Afghanistan under the Taliban in the process of telling a captivating story that takes place in that context. Considering that young readers are the target audience I would actually praise her for writing with a social conscience and making an effort to educate as well as entertain.The fact that I found myself caring for what happened to the characters made me feel that the author accomplished the objective of her storytelling very well. I would go so far as to say that someone could write a film script off of this very easily. I, for one, would be delighted to see that.

This book made me really think about what it was like to be in that time, of war and discrimination. As a kid I was bullied because I was bigger, blonde and spoke out about my feelings, but I know that it was even worse back then. I was born in 2003, so of course I wasn't alive insuring the Afghanistan war, but I can imagine what it was like. This book was chosen for a summer reading book going into seventh grade, for me. I finished it on the second day of me reading it. I am a fast reader, but I am only able to read something quickly if I enjoy it. This book enspired me to wright and eassay on the discrimination and hardship in the life of immigrant coming and going to and from America. This book is amazing and I hope you think so to. I also must point out that to prove what I have said, by saying that I am 11 years old and reading rocks.😉

In SHOOTING KABUL by N.H. Senzai Fadi and his family leave Afghanistan weeks before September 11, 2001. His father has been asked to join the Taliban and instead he chooses to leave the country. On the evening of their escape, Mariam the youngest child accidently is left behind. Each member of the family feels responsible for what happened but Fadi most of all and this is his story. Filled with Afghani history, religion, family and food this is a wonderful story. When I finished the book I wanted more. More of Fadi and life in the US. And perhaps Mariam's story too. One of my favorite books of 2010. For 4th graders and up.