Shahana: Through My Eyes (Rosanne Hawke, A&U)

This is an outstanding first entry in the ‘Through My Eyes’ series for readers aged 11-14, which aims to increase awareness of the devastating effects of war on children. It takes place in Kashmir, which as author Rosanne Hawke notes is one of the longest-running but least-understood modern conflicts. Hawke brings her extensive knowledge of the region to the story of Shahana, a 13-year-old orphan living with her younger brother in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, who risks everything to help a boy from the other side of the border. Their journey is an emotionally powerful one, capturing the hardship and humanity of life in a war zone and the difficult moral choices children face while trying to survive. Building empathy and understanding, Hawke doesn’t shy away from the terrible realities of growing up in a place where existence is fragile and exploitation is rife. However, delving into Kashmir’s political complexities, the reader is asked to consider the situation from many angles—a strategy both accessible and contextual, providing excellent scope for a discussion of a broad range of issues in the Middle East. Its biggest strength, however, is in emphasising the resilience and dignity of the Kashmiri people, demonstrating the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between cultures. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this series will go to UNICEF Australia.

Meredith Lewin is a Sydney-based freelance proofreader and reviewer who has worked for a children’s publisher

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews