One Half from the East

Written by Nadia Hashimi

A girl disguised as a boy seeks freedom in a world of constraints.

4.0 Goodreads · 2,874 ratings

288 pages· 53,627 words· Est. 7.5 hour read· 650L

$6.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In modern-day Afghanistan, young Obayda is transformed into a bacha posh, a girl living as a boy, to bring her family luck. Navigating this new identity, she meets another bacha posh, sparking a friendship that challenges their world. As they taste freedom, they must find a way to make it last. Can they defy tradition and keep their newfound independence?

From the publisher

Perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia, Thanhha Lai, and Rebecca Stead, internationally bestselling author Nadia Hashimi’s first novel for young readers is a coming-of-age journey set in modern-day Afghanistan that explores life as a bacha posh–a preteen girl dressed as a boy.Obayda’s family is in need of some good fortune, and her aunt has an idea to bring the family luck–dress Obayda, the youngest of four sisters, as a boy, a bacha posh.Life in this in-between place is confusing, but once Obayda meets another bacha posh, everything changes. Their transformation won’t last forever, though–unless the two best friends can figure out a way to make it stick and make their newfound freedoms endure.Nadia Hashimi’s first novel for adults, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, was a bestseller that shares a bacha posh character with One Half from the East.

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