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4th out of 22 books
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6 voters
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Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan
Young Nasreen has not spoken a word to anyone since her parents disappeared.
In despair, her grandmother risks everything to enroll Nasreen in a secret school for girls. Will a devoted teacher, a new friend, and the worlds she discovers in books be enough to draw Nasreen out of her shell of sadness?
Based on a true story from Afghanistan, this inspiring book will touch reade
...moreHardcover, 40 pages
Published
June 28th 2011
by Beach Lane Books
(first published October 6th 2009)
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Abigail
rated it
Recommends it for:
Kids Who Complain About Going to School / Young Readers Interested in Afghanistan
Recommended to Abigail by:
The Picture-Book Club
Shelves:
picture-books
When Nasreen's father is arrested by the repressive Taliban regime, and her mother disappears while out searching for news of him, the young Afghan girl retreats inward, building walls of silence and stillness around herself. Her grandmother, worried that she might never emerge from this internal exile, takes the extraordinary step of enrolling her in one of the secret and highly illegal schools for girls set up in Afghanistan, in defiance of the Taliban. Will books and learning "open her e...more
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Leslie Morrison
rated it
Nasreen's parents have disappeared, and she has stopped speaking.
This book tells the story of one girl, her grandmother, and the power of education in Afghanistan. It portrays a quiet perseverance, a show of unity between granddaughter and grandmother, a holding out of hope when all signs point to giving up and giving in. Slowly Nasreen goes from passive to active, but I think it's the grandmother who is the true hero here. She persists, insists that Nasreen push herself onward. The e...more
This book tells the story of one girl, her grandmother, and the power of education in Afghanistan. It portrays a quiet perseverance, a show of unity between granddaughter and grandmother, a holding out of hope when all signs point to giving up and giving in. Slowly Nasreen goes from passive to active, but I think it's the grandmother who is the true hero here. She persists, insists that Nasreen push herself onward. The e...more
This story is written from the perspective of Nasreen's grandmother. Her son, Nasreen's father, was taken away by Taliban soldiers, who, during this time, controlled Afghanistan. Once Nasreen's mother left in search of her husband, Nasreen no longer speaks. Her grandmother finds a secret school for girls, where she brings Nasreen. Nasreen eventually trusts a friend there enough to speak to her. As Nasreen awaits the return of her mother and father, she eases out of her sadness, using the kn...more
Published in 2009 by Beach Lane Books
Interest Level: 2nd-4th Grade
This book has a lot of promise as it begins with a serious look at oppression under the Taliban regime and what that means for a family that is torn apart. The story then transitions to Nasreen and her grandmother (who is the narrator) getting her into a secret school and getting her to talk. It seems as if all of Nasreens troubles go away because of the school, but there is no resolution to the familial troubles ...more
Interest Level: 2nd-4th Grade
This book has a lot of promise as it begins with a serious look at oppression under the Taliban regime and what that means for a family that is torn apart. The story then transitions to Nasreen and her grandmother (who is the narrator) getting her into a secret school and getting her to talk. It seems as if all of Nasreens troubles go away because of the school, but there is no resolution to the familial troubles ...more
Set during the rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan within the last decade, this is a story of a grandmother’s willingness to risk everything to pull her granddaughter out of the darkness and into the light; a story of the power of reading and education to bring the spark back into a devastated little girl’s world; a story of women’s small triumph over the Taliban as they met secretly—illegally—to make sure that girls would be educated.
This book could be used with K-3 as a way for st...more
This book could be used with K-3 as a way for st...more
"Nasreen's Secret School" is based on a true story about a girl in pre-wear Afghanistan, whose parents disappeared due to the unjust action of some the Taliban government. Because of the immense loss, Nasreen stopped talking and shut herself out from the world. Her worried and caring grandmother decided to send Nasreen to a secret school for girls behind the green gate. She wanted her to experience and learn about other worlds. This book goes into Nasreen's journey at school and he...more
As a young girl growing up in Heart, Afghanistan Nasreen’s world is turned upside-down when the Taliban take over. One night her father is taken away by the soldiers for no reason and her mother goes out into the streets to try and find him. Nasreen becomes mute with grief. To try and ease her pain her Grandmother finds out about a secret school for girls and brings Nasreen there. The school opens up Nasreens eyes to how life can be and the wonders of other places. Over time she makes frien...more
Reading level: 2-5
Winter tells an amazing account of a Afghanistan girl. The pictures in the story are made to look almost like paintings that you would find in a museum. Rather than showing a lot of action, it's as if the author took a piece out of the story, froze it, and created an in-depth painting about it. The pictures aren't extremly obvious as far as what they are,they are open for a lot of discussion, espeically for the higher grades. Some of the pictures do involve g...more
Winter tells an amazing account of a Afghanistan girl. The pictures in the story are made to look almost like paintings that you would find in a museum. Rather than showing a lot of action, it's as if the author took a piece out of the story, froze it, and created an in-depth painting about it. The pictures aren't extremly obvious as far as what they are,they are open for a lot of discussion, espeically for the higher grades. Some of the pictures do involve g...more
This picture book is based on a true story. The author, Jeanette Winter, has a very detailed author's note in the beginning of the book. She gives the reader background into an organization in Afghanistan that "founded and supported secret schools for girls during the 1996-2001 reign of the Taliban." (p.4) This information is important to the story. Children who are not of Afghan descent might have little or no knowledge about something we take f...more
Thanks to the Children’s Picture Book Club, I had a chance to read this book. It is a true story of a girl named Nasreen who lost both her parents when the Taliban reigned in Afghanistan. After losing her parents, Nasreen stopped talking. I can only imagine how that must have felt! The story is uplifting and shows the ability of Nasreen’s caring grandmother to find a way to help Nasreen become educated in a seemingly impossible situation. My favorite page is the description of how Nasreen no lo...more
A very important story about the power of an education and the beauty of optimism, persistence and ingenuity in the face of adversity. I also really appreciated the author's note at the beginning, clarifying the differences between women's status in pre-Taliban Afghanistan to what came after. I think this was an excellent way to show that it was a select group of people, not "all Muslims" or "the Muslim religion", limiting the rights of women. Unfortunately, I can't say I ...more
Jane Adams Award Books for Younger Children 2010
This is a true story of Nasreen at a secret school for girls. In an author’s not at the beginning of the book it states that, in Afghanistan, girls and women are not allowed to go to school, work outside the home, leave home without the accompaniment of a male for a chaperone, and their bodies must be covered all but the eyes. One day soldiers come and kidnap Nasreen’s father. After waiting several days for him to return, Nasreen’s m...more
This is a true story of Nasreen at a secret school for girls. In an author’s not at the beginning of the book it states that, in Afghanistan, girls and women are not allowed to go to school, work outside the home, leave home without the accompaniment of a male for a chaperone, and their bodies must be covered all but the eyes. One day soldiers come and kidnap Nasreen’s father. After waiting several days for him to return, Nasreen’s m...more
Lisa Vegan
rated it
Recommends it for:
children who’ve experienced losses; children who enjoy learning about kids in other cultures
This is one of six books, and the last I read, for the September discussion at the Children's Books group's Picture Book Club, whose theme for the month is “back to school” books.
This is a Global Fund for Children book. It’s based on a real girl and her grandmother; the grandmother tells the story.
Nasreen and her grandmother are Muslim and live in Herat during the reign of the Talaban. Some horrific things happen and Nasreen develops elective mutism. Her grandmother, show...more
This is a Global Fund for Children book. It’s based on a real girl and her grandmother; the grandmother tells the story.
Nasreen and her grandmother are Muslim and live in Herat during the reign of the Talaban. Some horrific things happen and Nasreen develops elective mutism. Her grandmother, show...more
The story, based on real life people, is touching and could be a good starting place for discussion about what it was (and is) like in Afghanistan from before the Taliban, during, and now after. While one can see hints of horrors behind the story, issues like Nasreen's parents' fate are skirted over in order to keep the audience appropriately young. The illustrations have a refined simplicity with blocks of pattern and shape that seem to increase the drama through their lack of realism. They ...more
This is a story of a young girl and her grandmother in Afghanistan. Nasreen's parents are missing and her grandmother takes her to a secret school to help her know all about the world around her. School is forbidden for girls. Through this school Nasreen finds comfort while her parents are gone.
I found this story especially touching as an adult because more than likely her parents have been killed by the soldiers. I don't know if student will understand this book, however I might re...more
I found this story especially touching as an adult because more than likely her parents have been killed by the soldiers. I don't know if student will understand this book, however I might re...more
Nasreen's Secret School carefully approaches the subject of the turmoil in the Middle East. When Nasreen's father is taken away by the Taliban she slips into a despair. Desperate to help her granddaughter, Nasreen is enrolled in a "secret school". Through the power of education, Nasreen regains hope for the future of her family and country. The story is told from the point of view of Nasreen's grandmother and explores the topics of love, knowledge, and hope. The painting-like illu...more
I realize we all need to be aware of the goings on in other country especially the horrific way women are treated. I just hope this type of book is appreciated by children.
2010 Jane Adams Award Winner
Based on a true tale, this is the story of how a little girl went to school while living in the male dominated reign of the Taliban. This is a very “sweet” version of life in Afghanistan. Younger kids might enjoy it, but for older kids a paired reading with The Breadwinner might give a better understanding of the hardships and sacrifices that were made in order for girls to attend school.
The author’s note in the beginning is a must read. It t...more
Based on a true tale, this is the story of how a little girl went to school while living in the male dominated reign of the Taliban. This is a very “sweet” version of life in Afghanistan. Younger kids might enjoy it, but for older kids a paired reading with The Breadwinner might give a better understanding of the hardships and sacrifices that were made in order for girls to attend school.
The author’s note in the beginning is a must read. It t...more
I read this book to my class last week. I showed them a map of Afghanistan where the story takes place. This is a story where a grandmother tries to help her granddaughter find her voice by taking her to a secret school. It is the time when the Taliban rule Afghanistan and don't allow girls or women to become educated, to work outside the home or even to leave home without a male escort. Although the text is simple the vocabulary is rich. The text and the illustrations create a mood of dark...more
Winter really has a gift for making her books accessible to a wide age range. This particular book tells the story of a young girl whose parents are taken from her at a young age. Her grandmother, worried about her well-being, enrolls her at one of the secret schools for girls (under Taliban rule, girls are not allowed to attend school in Afghanistan), and eventually the support and love of the other girls brings Nasreen out of her shell... a little. The ending isn't exactly happy, but it is hop...more
This book tells the painful story of what it was like to be female in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, and especially how an education was denied to women. A brave group indeed went against the law and held a secret school that gave hope to these girls.
The story of Nasreen herself is so sad, presumably losing both her father and mother to an Afghan prison (or worse). The spark of hope that an education brings is told very well through both the words and illustrations in thi...more
The story of Nasreen herself is so sad, presumably losing both her father and mother to an Afghan prison (or worse). The spark of hope that an education brings is told very well through both the words and illustrations in thi...more
This would be ideal to use with children when your school takes up the Mortenson's "Pennies for Peace" campaign. Has some striking, simple statistics at the beginning about the effect of the Taliban on women's/girls' education in Afghanistan. The story is simple & the pictures are more effective than the words, so I think it would be a good choice even for kids as young as 1st grade. Reminds me of "The Librarian of Basra."
A true story of a little girl whose father is taken away by the Taliban and whose mother goes looking for him. She stops talking and her grandmother finds a secret school for her to attend so she can find some peace, knowledge and beauty again in the sad world under the Taliban. A wonderful story of courage and how knowledge changes you. We are so blessed to live in a country where education is free and available for all.
This very simple book by Jeanette Winter attempts to explain the impact of conflict and the Taliban have had on a small little girl She then explains how her access to a secret school helps this child survive the trauma. This is one of many very simple picture books that have been written about conflict. They are not bedtime reading, but I do wonder what young children take from them or how educators use them.
I have found that the struggle women is a common theme in most the middle eastern books I have read. Typically these stories are sad and they make you wan to go and help these young girls. You are so proud of Nasreen's grandmother for helping her to learn about the world. I agree that the parents were probably killed by soldiers which is another theme that I have found in this cultures literature.
This would be a nice nonfiction book to help educate younger readers about the Taliban and Afghanistan if coupled with other more detailed text. It is a well developed plot, told in a very simple style, that does not get too preachy or violent despite the (young) main character dealing with the possible loss of both her parents. The author's note provided some helpful details; the text was very simple and not very specific for a nonfiction book. Themes of overcoming grief, overcoming oppression...more
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This is another book off of the new book cart, and it also has to do with schools around the world. These books sometimes go in themes. I liked this simple book because it doesn't offer too much detail or promise amazing unrealistic changes. It is about a girl who faces terrible things and finds learning opening up the world to her.
Charlyn Trussell
rated it
During the Taliban's reign in Afghanistan, women and girls had many of their rights taken away. Among these was leaving their homes and education for girls. Secret schools sprang up to educate the young girls in the villages. This is the story of one young girl's growth in one of these secret schools.
Anna
rated it
I liked this a lot. I love the pictures and the insights into the problems that children, especially girls, face in Afghanistan. I plan to use this alongside Deborah Ellis' The Breadwinner.
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