ALA Booklist Review

January 5, 2011

Most books that cover women’s lives in Afghanistan under the Taliban recount suffering and loss, but journalist Lemmon wanted to shed light on the untold stories of enterprising women who found ways to take care of themselves and their families during the five oppressive years the Taliban was in power. Kamila Sidiqi’s hopes of using her teaching degree were dashed when the Taliban overtook Kabul and its suburbs. As the oldest unmarried daughter, Kamela knew it was up to her to find a way to provide for her family. Realizing women still need clothing to wear under their chadris, Kamila asked her older sister to teach her and her younger sisters to sew. With her younger brother in tow, Kamila approached local merchants and found buyers for the clothing she and her sisters made, until she found herself with a plethora of orders and a number of neighborhood women who wanted to take part in the business. An inspiring, uplifting story about one woman’s extraordinary courage and ingenuity in the face of adversity.