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Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan
If the stories that come out of Afghanistan are ever to contain hope for the future, then the young people readers will meet in these pages are that hope. From street workers to female students in newly formed academies, children who work in family businesses, and pickpockets who steal from visiting photographers, these are the faces of young Afghanis who universally wish...more
Hardcover, 80 pages
Published
September 30th 2008
by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
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Afghan Dreams is a sobering look at the lives of children in and around Kabul. At the same time it is both beautiful and horrific. The beauty lies within the eyes and soul of each child featured in this photo tour. The horror abounds in the stories that comprise their past and the uncertainty of their future.
Tony O’Brien’s pictures are compelling, to say the least. They capture, without words, the necessary conclusion that children are the largest casualties of the longstanding Afghan wars. Mike...more
Tony O’Brien’s pictures are compelling, to say the least. They capture, without words, the necessary conclusion that children are the largest casualties of the longstanding Afghan wars. Mike...more
Afgahn Dreams is made up of photos and interviews with children and teens from Afghanistan. War has continually marched across Afghanistan's borders and many children go without the basic food and education that many American children take for granted. Tony O'Brien and Mike Sullivan traveled to Afghanistan and talked with children. Their overwhelming wish was for peace and education.
Though more factual information about Afghanistan would have made this a more complete book, it's an interesting...more
Though more factual information about Afghanistan would have made this a more complete book, it's an interesting...more
Genre: non-fiction
Format: picture book
Grade level: middle school - high school
Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan by Tony O’Brien and Mike Sullivan captures how war affects children and teens in the region where it is occurring. This book provides the honest opinions and feelings about life and war in Afghanistan from children between the ages of 8 and 18.
The authors’ note in the beginning of the book explains that Afghanistan has been the center of wars for decades. The country is pover...more
Format: picture book
Grade level: middle school - high school
Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan by Tony O’Brien and Mike Sullivan captures how war affects children and teens in the region where it is occurring. This book provides the honest opinions and feelings about life and war in Afghanistan from children between the ages of 8 and 18.
The authors’ note in the beginning of the book explains that Afghanistan has been the center of wars for decades. The country is pover...more
The authors (with Sullivan's photography) take many impressive pictures and interview children and teens from Afghanistan. The two together make for a powerful story. The children come from different backgrounds, have different dreams and different ambitions. Some, most of the ones attending school, see themselves in professions, helping others. Others just hope to survive the week. I think one of the more telling stories was from a young boy who had just learned to be a pickpocket. He admits he...more
Children from Afghanistan have many of the same dreams that children from the United States have, but they also deal with severe struggles. This book opens a window to give a glimpse of some of these dreams and struggles. Examples include Wahaab, age 10, and Shaheen, age 10, who turned to thievery hoping to earn enough to help provide for their families and now find themselves facing the prospect of jail. Then there is Nasi, who sells plastic boxes in the morning and studies music and math in th...more
I picked this book up because I don't know much about the people of afghanistan, except for what I hear from the media. I was deeply moved by the accounts in this book. It is written by actual children living in afghanistan and they explain their daily hardships and their struggles. They talk about being poor and not knowing what tomorrow will bring. They also talk of having to labor rather than to go to school. The photographs are almost as heartbreaking as the stories themselves. This is a gre...more
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An outstanding photo-documentary that is timely and offers a little more understanding of the children's life in Kabul and its nearby countryside. Since there is not a lot of extra background information, there is an honest directness that really appeals to me. However, because there is not a lot of writing on the background, the young readers need to be guided in some way to further understand the social and political scenarios that produce these children and their voices. The photographs are s...more
Thought provoking and poignant--an eye-opener!
I sat next to Tony O'Brien when we were both signing books at Salve Regina University's March Into Reading event. He is a photo-journalist, head of the Documentary Studies department at Santa Fe College. He traipsed across Afghanistan interviewing kids about their hopes and dreams. The result was this incredible book. He says he plans to do more books like this. I hope he does!
I sat next to Tony O'Brien when we were both signing books at Salve Regina University's March Into Reading event. He is a photo-journalist, head of the Documentary Studies department at Santa Fe College. He traipsed across Afghanistan interviewing kids about their hopes and dreams. The result was this incredible book. He says he plans to do more books like this. I hope he does!
Beautiful photographs of young people in Afghanistan accompany their words about their lives and their hopes. Among others, we hear from children working in markets, making carpets, and surviving through theft. Very few of the children are fortunate enough to simply be students. Regardless of their situation, what shines through their eyes and their words is a sense of hope in the future.
I actually ordered copies of this book for our system, even though it wasn't in the 900's. It was a good purchase. This book is a collection of short interviews with children from Afghanistan. These children are in all kinds of different situations, and circumstances. They talk about school a lot, which the foreword acknowledges may be because they were asked.
I would love to use this book in my classroom one day! It would be great for students to hear stories from kids that are their own age and are in different cultures! It's very educational, as well as emotionally stirring. The pictures are beautiful as well!
Expressive photographs of preteen and teenage Afghans, together with their brief storie of their lives and their dreams. Juxtaposition of tragedy and hope.
Excellent introduction for middle school students to the lives of young people in Afghanistan.
Excellent introduction for middle school students to the lives of young people in Afghanistan.
Amazing photogrpahs paired with short passages of dreams of children ages 9-18 living in Afghanistan. Perfect for learning about other cultures of the world, comparing dreams of children around the word, and seeing how war affects children.
This was one of our state award nominees, and I loved it. The photographs are amazing, and the stories are moving. With all that's going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan, every young adult should read this book. My kids who read it were touched.
Very moving, too bad the kids aren't in charge of the world instead of the religious warmongers. You desperately hope these kids will someday be able to fulfill their dreams.
What a window into the lives of children in a country ravaged by war and occupation. Still, there is hope.
Nov 24, 2008
Junko
marked it as to-read
children from Afghanistan photographed and telling their stories (jacqui got in Madison)
Beautiful photos; powerful statements by child laboureres.
Picture Book/Nonfiction
Ages:11-16
Ages:11-16
This book was absolutely beautiful.
Thirty five poignant stories. I almost cried. I've learned so much more about Afghanistan through this book than 209520395820 hours of news.
This book gives diary-like bios of children in Afghanistan. It is emotionally touching which makes it both beautiful and horrific. Students can learn about the effects of war and responsibility from the stories of the children in the book. It also helps American students realize that students in Afghanistan have similar hopes and dreams as them. I would use this for older elementary students.
This is an excellent book that takes you into the daily lives of Afghan young people. The pictures are vivid and moving without being overly sentimental. It is a great way to help students see what life is like and see how children may seem different, but also have a lot of similarities even on the other side of the world.
May 27, 2013
Tatiana
marked it as to-read
May 26, 2013
Heymal
marked it as to-read
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