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Title: This author knows Pakistan and Afghanistan first-hand
Review: As a school librarian, I first read this story because it won the Newbery Award. I was overwhelmed by the power of its writing and the insight it gave me into another culture, and have since given it to my nieces and read the author's other books. Last weekend I attended a reading teachers' conference just to hear the featured author. Everyone should have this opportunity. I learned she was a UPI reporter in Pakistan and Afganistan from before the Afghan war with Russia, through the '70's and '80's, and then during the early '90's she lived with nomadic Muslim tribes, learning their language and culture first-hand, before returning to the U.S. to write "Shabanu." Everyone should read this book!
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