Not a bad little read, but I preferred the "Parvana" series by Deborah Ellis. ( )

When Jameela's mor (mother), dies her father decides that he and Jameela will move from their home to Kabul and start a new life. Jameela's dad has a very bad temper and hes self centered and uncaring. Her dad got re-married to a pretty but very selfish, self centered, uncaring, not thankful, mad lady. Jameela is a very hard worker and she works for her step mother day and night and she does her best to please her step mother. But still, her step mother doesn't want her and tells her dad to abandon Jameela, and he actually did. The worst does not happen. Instead, she is rescued and taken to an orphanage – for her, a place to rest and learn in school, something that she has always wanted to do. She finds stability and forgets and forgives her family.
I recommend this book because it's based on a real life story and it was extremely touching. And I hope we can find a way to help girls like Jameela without taking away their cultural heritage or their self-respect.

Wanting Mor is the story of young Jameela who draws strength to carry on through lifes hardships from her memories of her deceased mother. Jameela was born with a cleft palate which caused people to stare at her. Her mother let her know she was loved. She was poor and uneducated. After her mother died she and her father moved to Kabul. Her father becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol, remarries and Jameela's life goes from bad to worse. When her father suddenly remarries she learns what real hate is. She works like a slave for her step-mother until the day her ste-mother demands Jameela be left behind in the market. Her father does as her step-mother demands and Jameela must now rely on total strangers to survive. This could be the story of many young girls living in countries that place no value on the lives or rights of women. The message of relying on friends and faith is a message for everyone. This is a definite must read. ( )

I don't believe there are many books about Afghanistan for children, and this one manages to be 9-to-12 appropriate while at the same time showing the incredible difficulties of life (especially as a female) in that most unfortunate of nations. Probably the author's background as a Muslim (albeit a Pakistani one) contributed to the authenticity of the narrative.

That said, it was kind of predictable, most of the characters were flat, and (without trying to spoil the book) it had a sort of Lifetime movie quality about it, especially in the ending. Still, I suppose this is as good a book as any for a kid who's a little too young to be reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. ( )

I purchased this book from Chapters because Rukhsana Khan came to the school where I was working several years ago, and I really enjoyed some of her picture books and thought I'd also enjoy a novel by her. This is the story of Jameela, a young girl living in Afghanistan. When the book begins, her mother dies, and Jameela's father decides that they should go to Kabul where he believes he will have a better chance of finding work, and they will find food and better shelter. She is forced to leave her mother's grave fairly suddenly. Almost all remembrances and keepsakes of her mother are sold by her father to get money for their journey. When they arrive in Kabul, he takes them to the home of friends, but Jameela is expected to work hard at this place. The remainder of the book details what happens to jameela after she gets to Kabul, and to tell you any more would ruin the book.
I didn't find it very exciting, but I did find it to be detailed. I particularly enjoyed the Muslim words worked into the story, and the glossary in the back which allowed me to look up anything I couldn't figure out from the context. ( )