Razia's Ray of Hope: One Girl's Dream of an Education

Razia is excited when her grandfather tells her there's a school for girls being built in their Afghan village. At last, girls will have the same opportunity to be educated as boys. "Every night I fell asleep dreaming about going to school like my brothers," she says. Her grandfather wants Razia to enroll in the school. He remembers a time, before the wars and the Taliban, when educated women in Afghanistan became doctors, government workers and journalists, and how this made families and the country stronger. Razia knows, however, that she will need permission from her father and her oldest brother, Aziz, in order to be allowed to attend the school. She begs her grandfather, "Please, Baba gi, ask Baba and Aziz if I may go. I must go." But will her grandfather's words be enough to convince the younger men of the value of an education for Razia?

Inspired by real-life Razia Jan's experiences when she built the Zabuli Education Center outside of Kabul, Afghanistan, author Elizabeth Suneby uses a fictionalized story to deftly personalize the plight of many children around the world who are not being educated. The layered, mixed-media illustrations by Suana Verelst add contextual details about life in an Afghan village. This book works perfectly for a social studies lesson on global cultures. Extra resources include an overview of children worldwide who do not attend school, the story of the real Razia Jan, a glossary of Dari words found in the text and activity suggestions.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Published: 09/01/2013
ISBN: 9781554538164
Pages: 32
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 12.10h x 9.10w x 0.50d
Award: Jane Addams Children's Book Award - Honor Book
Award: Middle East Book Awards - Winner

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2013
School Library Journal 09/01/2013 pg. 134
Booklist 09/15/2013 pg. 71
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2014 pg. 46 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 161632 / Razia's Ray of Hope: One Girl's Dream of an Education
Reading Level: 4.1 / Interest Level: Middle Grade / Point Value: 0.5