I just finished reading Born Under a Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield. I loved this novel and I didn’t want it to end.

It is the story of Fawad, an eleven year old Afghani boy growing up in Kabul, in post-Taliban Afghanistan. I was nervous to read this book because I was unsure if I was ready to delve into all the pain and tragedy that I know is a part of life for all Afghani people. I was so pleasantly surprised by Busfield’s powerful and moving and often hilarious novel. It isn’t without tragedy, but it doesn’t dwell there.

Busfield is an English journalist who spent 2 1/2 years living in Afghanistan. She learned the language and fell in love with the country and the people, especially the children-and it shows. This is her tribute to them.

Writing in the voice of an 11 year old Afghani boy couldn’t have been easy, but it was pitch perfect. I found myself looking at the world through Fawad’s eyes, and this was so often laugh out loud funny. He is a very clever and lively boy with a big imagination and an even bigger heart. I can’t remember the last time I fell in love with a main character as much as I did with Fawad.

This novel was an unexpected joy, and I think that everyone should read it. I look forward to hearing more from Andrea Busfield.

Note: At the back of the novel, Busfield mentions visiting the Shah M bookstore,  made famous in  ‘The Bookseller of Kabul’  by Asne Seierstad. This is another book about Afghanistan worth reading.