Mention the word Afghanistan and people often think of images from the news, troops walking through streets, dusty roads with military convoys...rarely does something positive or colorful come to mind. This book offers another view, one that shows people going about their everyday lives. Children rush home from school with their book bags, women knead bread, men work in the fields, and the circus comes to town. Gathering the crops and thinking ahead to winter snow that will help water the next year's planting are all part of the rhythm of village life. But there is time for fun when the chores are finished; time to whirl on a spinning swing or ride to the top of a Ferris wheel.
Yamo and his friend Mirado check out all the circus has to offer - rides, snacks, souvenirs, and entertainment. When the circus leaves the next day, the village seems emptier. The villagers stay busy preparing for the winter and celebrating the snowfall that heralds good crops for next year. Then, the last page tells us that the village was destroyed in the war that winter. There is some hope, since the villagers escaped, even though they had to find other places to live. "However, as spring always follows a harsh winter, the village of Paghman waits quietly for everyone's return."
As the publisher's note explains, the author was a frequent visitor to Islamic countries in the 1970s and 1980s, and what he observed there is reflected in his work. A previous book in this series introduces Yamo and his village to readers, and lets them know that Yamo's brother and Mirado's father are away at war. A third book tells of Mirado's return to Paghman after touring with the circus.
A good title for those looking to offer more cultural diversity in their collections, and to show what childhood is like in different areas of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment