Enduring Freedom
by
Jawad Arash ,Trent Reedy
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Workman Publishing
Imprint
Algonquin
ISBN
9781643750408
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War , Violence: Graphic Descriptions , Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism , Language: Racial or Ethnic Epithet/Slur , Violence: Domestic/Physical Abuse , Violence: Self-Harm Reference/Discussion
In this dual-narrative tale, a teenage American army private and an Afghan boy living under the horrors of the Taliban, caught on separate sides of the world during the tumultuous times leading up to and following 9/11, come to discover how much more they have in common than they ever could have imagined.
On September 11, 2001, the lives of two boys on opposite sides of the world are changed in an instant.
Baheer, a studious Afghan teen, sees his family’s life turned upside down when they lose their livelihood as war rocks the country.
A world away, Joe, a young American army private, has to put aside his dreams of becoming a journalist when he’s shipped out to Afghanistan.
When Joe’s unit arrives in Baheer’s town, Baheer is wary of the Americans, but sees an opportunity: Not only can he practice his English with the soldiers, his family can make money delivering their supplies. At first, Joe doesn’t trust Baheer, or any of the locals, but Baheer keeps showing up. As Joe and Baheer get to know each other, to see each other as individuals, they realize they have a lot more in common than they ever could have realized. But can they get past the deep differences in their lives and beliefs to become true friends and allies?
Enduring Freedom is a moving and enlightening novel about how ignorance can tear us apart and how education and understanding can bring us back together.Authors’ notes.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War , Violence: Graphic Descriptions , Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism , Language: Racial or Ethnic Epithet/Slur , Violence: Domestic/Physical Abuse , Violence: Self-Harm Reference/Discussion
Details
Format
Page Count
352
Trim Size
8 3/10" x 5 1/2"
Dewey
F
AR
5.4: points 13
Genre
Fiction
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Sep 2021
Book Genres
Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Topics
Taliban. Afghan War, 2001. Friendship. Soldiers. Muslims. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001. Operation Enduring Freedom, 2001. Afghanistan. Writing. War and military.
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up–Set in the aftermath of 9/11, this story follows two young men from opposite ends of the earth whose lives have changed forever. Joe, a white U.S. Army soldier studying to be a journalist in his freshman year of college, is sent on his first tour to Afghanistan. Ready to take on the Taliban and seek vengeance on those who were responsible for 9/11, Joe comes to the realization that Afghanistan is not what he expected. Baheer, a teenage boy living in a war-torn Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, is trying to live day by day. Given the choice between farm work or going to school, Baheer realizes quickly that the future he wishes for Afghanistan lies in learning. When Joe and Baheer’s worlds collide, both are challenged in their beliefs, responsibilities, cultural differences, duties to their country, and their people. An unlikely relationship is formed and put to the test. Readers will find Baheer to be a genuine teenage boy whose struggles do not change him from doing what is right based on Islamic teachings he learns from his grandfather. Joe’s growth is more apparent as he challenges himself to write the truth. VERDICT Loosely based on the authors’ real-life experiences with each other, this is a story of friendship, hardship, acceptance, and courage.–Sara G. Ahmed, Upper Darby Township + Sellers Memorial Free Pub. Lib., PA
Horn Book
Baheer, an Afghan teen, faces a hardscrabble life under the Taliban, while post-9/11 American high-school senior Joe’s college plans are put on pause as he begins his military tour. Joe’s desire for retribution wanes when he is assigned a reconstruction mission instead of fighting on the front lines. As the boys’ paths cross, mistrust clouds their judgment, but an unlikely friendship emerges through their shared experiences of war’s gruesome realities. They realize their interdependence: Baheer hopes to improve his English and find work, while Joe seeks to write about the “unbiased truth” of war. Writing in alternating points of view, the co-authors draw on their real-life friendship (further explored in appended authors’ notes) to tell a touching story about differences and finding common ground. Though regional geopolitics are rendered in easy binaries that gloss over America’s role in the rise of the Taliban, the story effectively focuses on those most affected by violent conflict and the characters’ shift in perspective from prejudice to openness. Joe’s reading of war literature leads him to realize the common hardships people face in a war zone, while Baheer’s engagement with Persian classics, Afghan poetry, and Quranic verses help him understand the humanity of all people. Through their individual reflections, they come to understand that education is the key to rebuilding a society, and they work together toward this goal. SADAF SIDDIQUE
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