ONE HALF FROM THE EAST

Narrator Ariana Delawari’s guileless tone embodies young, vulnerable Obayda, whose comfortable life in Kabul is turned upside down when her father loses a leg in a street bombing, forcing the family to move to the small village where his family can help with his recovery. Reading without an accent in a childlike pitch, yet giving authentic voice to Afghani names and phrases, Delawari makes Obayda’s story accessible to any young listener. When Obayda is forced to become a “bacha posh”—a girl dressed as a boy—in order to bring good luck to the family, she discovers the advantages given to boys and the dangers that life may hold for girls. Strong writing is paired with an appropriately youthful narration, offering cultural awareness and hope for the future. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2016]