Books like The Pearl That Broke It's Shell by Nadia Hashimi
Set in 2007 Kabul, a drug‑addicted father and the absence of brothers leave Rahima and her sisters with limited schooling and freedom. Their survival hinges on the ancient Afghan custom of *bacha paisha*, allowing Rahima to live as a boy and access education and public life. Centuries earlier, her great‑aunt Shekiba, orphaned by epidemic, used the same identity‑shifting ritual to escape poverty and build a new life. The novel weaves these two narratives across time, exploring how each woman negotiates gender expectations, family responsibility, and the quest for autonomy. As Rahima approaches marriage age, the story questions whether she will retain her male guise and how she will navigate a future that demands a new identity.
First publish date: 2014
Genre: Coming of Age/Teen Coming of Age
Authors: Nadia Hashimi
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Some Other Similar Books
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