Ciudad de barro / Mud City (Alandar) (Spanish Edition)

Gr 5—7—In this conclusion to the trilogy about Afghan refugees during the Taliban regime, readers follow the moving story of Shauzia. Her journey begins when she decides to leave the Women and Children's refugee camp across the border in Pakistan after a disagreement with Mrs. Weera, an ex- teacher who runs secret organizations to help women and children. Once Shauzia leaves the camp, she discovers that it isn't so easy being on her own. The freedom she hopes to find in France, her family history, as well as the depth of emotion she has for Parvana, a young girl whose life is completely changed when her scholar father is incarcerated by the Taliban in El viaje de Parvana (Alandar, 2005) are crucial to understanding this character and why she is so willing to continue on her own despite the hardships she encounters. While Ciudad de barro can stand alone, it is recommended that children read the first installments in order to fully understand Shauzia's motivations. The use of the "vosotros" form instead of "ustedes" may confuse readers not familiar with this verb conjugation primarily used in Spain. A captivating multicultural novel that vividly portrays the suffering of homeless children in Afghanistan.—Rebecca A. Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA