Hashimi, N: One Half from the East

Perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia, Thanhha Lai, and Rebecca Stead, internationally bestselling author Nadia Hashimi’s first novel for young readers is a coming-of-age journey set in modern-day Afghanistan that explores life as a bacha posh—a preteen girl dressed as a boy. Obayda’s family is in need of some good fortune, and her aunt has an idea to bring the family luck—dress Obayda, the youngest of four sisters, as a boy, a bacha posh. Life in this in-between place is confusing, but once Obayda meets another bacha posh, everything changes. Their transformation won’t last forever, though—unless the two best friends can figure out a way to make it stick and make their newfound freedoms endure. Nadia Hashimi’s first novel for adults, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, was a bestseller that shares a bacha posh character with One Half from the East. But what happens when the lines between being a boy and being a girl begin to blur? Exploring Identity: When ten-year-old Obayda becomes Obayd, she discovers freedoms she never imagined—and challenges she never expected. An Unlikely Friendship: In another bacha posh named Rahim, Obayda finds her first true best friend, a confidant who understands her secret life like no one else can. Sisterhood and Family Bonds: As the youngest of four sisters, Obayda’s transformation tests her family’s bonds as they struggle to find their way after a tragedy. Life in Afghanistan: A powerful look at modern-day life in Afghanistan, from the bustling city of Kabul to a small, traditional village.