Mahtab's Story - Softcover

Libby Gleeson is a highly acclaimed writer who has published more than 30 books for children and teenagers, including Cuddle Time, Half a World Away, and

The Great Bear (with Armin Greder), which  won the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi in 2000. She has been shortlisted for the CBC Awards 12 times.

Grade 6–10—In 2004, Gleeson met with a group of young Muslim expatriates. They shared their stories of persecution in their homelands and their arduous journeys to safety in Australia. Mahtab's Story, a work of fiction, is based on the experiences of an Afghani teenager. When readers first meet Mahtab, her family has been torn apart by the Taliban and she, along with her father, mother, and younger siblings, is preparing to make a dangerous escape by way of Pakistan. Her father eventually separates from the group and treks ahead, leaving the rest of the family to live in a one-room hideaway where they depend on the kindness of a stranger they refer to as "Hairy Man." Eventually, the family tires of waiting and decides to continue on to Australia, though they've not heard from Mahtab's father in months. The journey is both sad and inspiring. Gleeson has created a protagonist with the strength of a woman yet the naïveté of a child. Her writing style is fluid, and it captures readers' attention from the very beginning. This is a striking piece of literature.—Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL
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