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Those Children
When ten-year-old Ferzana Mahmud and her three older siblings lose their mother to cancer, everything changes. Their heartbroken father moves them from their familiar Chicago neighborhood to a city thousands of miles away in his native Pakistan. To help them adjust to life in Karachi and the eccentricities of their extended clan, Ferzana, Fatima, Raza and Jamila escape into a fantasy world of their own making. As superhuman creatures with incredible powers, they investigate the members of their grandfather's household. In the process, they discover astonishing facts not only about the Mahmuds but also about the nature of family, love and loss in the troubled yet beguiling city that is now their home.
Told from the perspective of an adult Ferzana reflecting on that fateful year, we see Karachi through the impressionable eyes of a child as she negotiates everything from religious schism and genealogy to patriotism and puberty. Fresno's love of sleuthing helps her to piece together her family's complicated history - a history that brings with it the promise of hope and redemption.
Told from the perspective of an adult Ferzana reflecting on that fateful year, we see Karachi through the impressionable eyes of a child as she negotiates everything from religious schism and genealogy to patriotism and puberty. Fresno's love of sleuthing helps her to piece together her family's complicated history - a history that brings with it the promise of hope and redemption.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2017
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70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 20, 2017
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves reading fiction. The book is truly riveting
in every sense – the plot has an unexpected twist at the end which makes the story even more interesting; the descriptions of people, places and memories are deep and palpable and the language flows smoothly. I got so involved with the characters and was so moved by some parts of the story that I plan to read it again!
in every sense – the plot has an unexpected twist at the end which makes the story even more interesting; the descriptions of people, places and memories are deep and palpable and the language flows smoothly. I got so involved with the characters and was so moved by some parts of the story that I plan to read it again!
November 12, 2018
This was another one of my impulse purchases - the cover looked great, the blurb had my attention, AND, it was on sale. These are not mere excuses because now that I've read it, I can tell you that all put together, they made a fabulous book.
An adult Ferzana Mahmud looks back at that fateful year when she was ten, had lost her mother to cancer, and her father decided to move the family, which included her three older siblings, to his native Pakistan.
Trying to adjust to their new life in Karachi and the eccentricities of their extended family, the four children escape into a world of fantasy. Imagining themselves as super-humans with incredible powers, they begin to investigate the members of their household.
What catches your attention here is how the story is narrated through the eyes of a precocious ten year old. While she may not make sense of everything, Ferzana's age plays to her benefit and it is she who, more often than not, rescues the foursome from trouble. However, underneath all their hullabaloo and the attempted rebellion, there lurks a quiet attempt at uncovering secrets that no one talks about, but which float in the air within the house.
What spoke to me at the core of this novel was how family, love and loss can repair and rebuild broken bridges. A father's dilemma in providing for his children while struggling to mend his remaining relationships; a patriarch torn apart by his past, unwilling to let go of his ego; a family united by name but divided in so many ways; and amidst them all, these children who don't know where they truly belong.
This is a novel that touched a nerve deep within and by the end it is not the revelation of the secret, but the destination that the family's journey together brings them to, that is a realisation of a new dawn.
An adult Ferzana Mahmud looks back at that fateful year when she was ten, had lost her mother to cancer, and her father decided to move the family, which included her three older siblings, to his native Pakistan.
Trying to adjust to their new life in Karachi and the eccentricities of their extended family, the four children escape into a world of fantasy. Imagining themselves as super-humans with incredible powers, they begin to investigate the members of their household.
What catches your attention here is how the story is narrated through the eyes of a precocious ten year old. While she may not make sense of everything, Ferzana's age plays to her benefit and it is she who, more often than not, rescues the foursome from trouble. However, underneath all their hullabaloo and the attempted rebellion, there lurks a quiet attempt at uncovering secrets that no one talks about, but which float in the air within the house.
What spoke to me at the core of this novel was how family, love and loss can repair and rebuild broken bridges. A father's dilemma in providing for his children while struggling to mend his remaining relationships; a patriarch torn apart by his past, unwilling to let go of his ego; a family united by name but divided in so many ways; and amidst them all, these children who don't know where they truly belong.
This is a novel that touched a nerve deep within and by the end it is not the revelation of the secret, but the destination that the family's journey together brings them to, that is a realisation of a new dawn.
December 21, 2019
To tell you the truth, I wanted to read a different book named "Without Dreams" from Shahbano Bilgrami but that's not available on Kindle. I had to buy this book and trust me, I am not regretting my decision of reading a story from this beautiful author. The story revolves around Ferzana as a child and her never-ending quest to know more about her family especially her dead mother. Kids are different and more creative than adults and this book gives you immense courage and strength in exploring the truth about Mahmud Family via child's eyes. There are moments where truth comes to existence with lots of depth and emotions that you feel like just going to the end to know what did it all start? I loved the way her father describes his emotions towards his mother, country, as an ex-army person, story of partition to his four kids after nazma's death (his wife). Those moments make you believe that love is the same in all languages and religion. I would recommend it to all for its honesty, truthful characters and seeing the world from the perspective of Ferzana (She turned out to be the soul of the book).
June 18, 2021
The book’s protagonist is clever and compelling throughout, and her need to escape from reality to deal with loss is relatable and endearing. Her entourage of siblings and their extended family are beautifully rendered with strengths and flaws. This is a wonderful story, full of character, that captures what it really means to be “family.” To top it all off, the author detailed the Pakistani setting so wholly that it appeals to every sense and is equally rich in character.
July 30, 2020
This is a wonderful book. The storyline is intriguing and unique. It has elements of comedy and tragedy, woven together into a beautiful coming of age story. One of the best books I’ve read this year for sure!
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April 2, 2021The story is all about the quest of Ferzana and her 3 siblings to know more about her mother and family. Those children lost their mother at very young age, and had to move to karachi, Pakistan from Chicago with their heartbroken father. Farzana, Raza, jamila and fathima investigates about the mahmud family in a childish manner and unwinds many family scerets. Its a FEEL GOOD kinda story.
September 12, 2020
This was much better than I expected but a very hurried ending + description for my taste.
March 10, 2017
This book touched me in so many ways. Having grown up in both the East and West myself I could relate to this story on so many levels. This is such a fun read and provides an interesting twist at the end which makes me eager to read more of her work. It is rare to find a story with a satisfying ending...this book certainly ticked all the right boxes for me! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about how children try to navigate through life when huge changes take place at home and in the heart.
March 11, 2017
Loved the book. An engaging mix of fantasy and reality. A story of hope and redemption...much needed in today's world.
February 27, 2017
Hard to put the book down!!! Kudos to Shahbano Bilgrami for a beautifully executed book. An interesting and heartfelt story of how the children invented their fantasy world to deal with the loss of their mother and then to be taken away from their familiar surroundings to a place which was foreign to them in every way....loved it!!!
February 21, 2017
A really different book. I enjoyed the storytelling style as well as the themes explored, relationships and family, ties of blood and friendship, and the surprising twist ending.
May 14, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. Bilgrami creates a realistic and poignant account of children in mourning and a household divided by love, loss and bias. The style of writing is deft and engaging and the characters come to life through skillful and well-rounded portrayal.
The story unravels through the wide eyes of the youngest sibling, 10 year old Ferzana, who is bright, eager and innocent. Like her other siblings, she is protective of her disabled older sister Jamila for whose benefit (as well as their own), they play imaginary games and assume imaginary alter-egos as a means to alleviate the burden of their difficult reality.
And meanwhile - although concerned with a family dealing with personal struggles - the novel does also provide an insight into Pakistani society in general and the lines of conflict that run through it.
Overall, a moving story of upheaval that I highly recommend.
The story unravels through the wide eyes of the youngest sibling, 10 year old Ferzana, who is bright, eager and innocent. Like her other siblings, she is protective of her disabled older sister Jamila for whose benefit (as well as their own), they play imaginary games and assume imaginary alter-egos as a means to alleviate the burden of their difficult reality.
And meanwhile - although concerned with a family dealing with personal struggles - the novel does also provide an insight into Pakistani society in general and the lines of conflict that run through it.
Overall, a moving story of upheaval that I highly recommend.
November 19, 2018
This book is so inspiring, I just LOVE it! It's so original and fresh, and so different from all the cringy romance books/chick lit books. This is NOT a romance or a chick-lit- it's a story about love, family and healing. It's just beautiful. Underrated for sure.
August 26, 2017
i read this book at the time that pakistan and india were celebrating their 70th in london. this is a story that is as personal as it is political. the main protagonist is curious young child who along with her siblings is coming to terms with the loss of her mother. through it, it shines a light on the generosity and small mindedness of pakistani culture in which the children find themselves. it reminded me of the pakistan i knew growing up...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews