The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell is a poignant story of two Afghan girls, Rahima and Shekiba, set in two different time periods. Rahima's story unfolds in modern-day Afghanistan, while Shekiba's takes place about a century earlier. The narrative alternates between these two timelines, and though it may take a moment to adjust to the shifting perspectives, this duality enriches the storytelling. The novel vividly portrays the intense struggles women in Afghanistan have faced throughout history. Both Rahima and Shekiba live as bacha posh —a cultural practice where girls dress as boys to gain freedoms otherwise denied to them. The novel captures the emotional, physical, and mental transformations these girls experience as they move between male and female identities. It deftly explores how society's perception of them shifts with each change, and how this impacts their own sense of self. As the title suggests, both Rahima and Shekiba strive to break free from the oppressive d...