One Half from the East

Internationally bestselling author Nadia Hashimi’s first novel for young readers is an emotional, beautiful, and riveting coming-of-age journey to modern day Afghanistan that explores life as a “bacha posh”-a pre-teen girl dressed as a boy. Obayda’s family is in need of some good fortune. Her father lost one of his legs in a bomb explosion, forcing the family to move from their home city of Kabul to a small village, where life is very different and Obayda’s father almost never leaves his room. One day, Obayda’s aunt has an idea to bring the family luck-dress Obayda, the youngest of her sisters, as a boy, a common practice called bacha posh. Now, Obayda is Obayd. Life in this in-between place is confusing, but once Obayda meets Rahim-formerly Rahima-everything changes. Obayd and Rahim can explore the village on their own, climbing trees, playing sports, and more. But Rahim’s time as a bacha posh is almost over-unless the two best friends can figure out a way to keep Rahim from turning back to Rahima for good.