Penguin Young Readers Group
345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-9605
Telephone (212) 414 3300
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On-Sale:
September 2, 2014
Contact:
Elyse Marshall, Director of Publicity
212-414-3442 / emarshall@penguinrandomhouse.com
THE SECRET SKY
by Atia Abawi
Praise for THE SECRET SKY:
“A suspenseful, enlightening, and hopeful love story.” – Publishers Weekly starred review
“Heartbreaking and heartwarming.” – VOYA review
“A riveting tale written from the heart….This powerful love story will leave you angry at injustice, and awed by
courage. It shocks and inspires.” – Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent, BBC
“THE SECRET SKY is an amazing combination of utterly searing and beautifully romantic. It was like reading
The Kite Runner—a gripping story that gave insight to this beautiful yet magical culture.”
– Daphne Benedis-Grab, author of The Girl in the Wall
“Riveting plot, sympathetic characters and straightforward narration studded with vivid, authentic detail:
a top choice.” – Kirkus review
“This first novel by a top correspondent has the authenticity of raw journalism and the poetry of a gifted writer. A
must read for anyone who wants to understand the contradictions of the Afghan soul.”
– Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and anchor of Andrea Mitchell Reports
“Among the many novels set in Afghanistan for young people or for adults, THE SECRET SKY stands alone.
Unputdownable. Unforgettable.” – Trent Reedy, author of Words in the Dust
A story of forbidden love set in contemporary Afghanistan, told by war
correspondent Atia Abawi, THE SECRET SKY (Philomel; September 2, 2014;
Ages 14 up; $17.99; 9780399160783) is a novel that brings to light the day-today struggles of young people fighting against ancient cultural divides. Debut
author Abawi, of Afghan descent herself, lived in the country for five years as a
news correspondent and brings this experience to THE SECRET SKY, giving
readers an insider’s look at life and love in rural Afghanistan.
Kirkus raved in their review of THE SECRET SKY that “At its heart, this gripping debut by an
Afghan-American journalist is a simple love story, but in today's Afghanistan—riven by culture
clashes, scarred by decades of war—nothing is simple.” Fatima and Samiullah are two teens who
grew up side by side, one the daughter of a Hazara tenant farmer and the other the son of the Pashtun
landowner. A childhood friendship blossoms into a forbidden love as class tensions between Pashtun
and Hazara are stirred up by Rashid, Samiullah’s jealous cousin. Told in three rotating perspectives
that show how the teens’ love affects everyone in their village, THE SECRET SKY depicts both the
violent realities of living in Afghanistan, as well as the beauty of the land and the cultures there.
In THE SECRET SKY, Fatima and Samiullah must fight against their tradition, their families, and
the Taliban to stay together. Abawi deftly navigates the nuances and challenges facing the people of
Afghanistan, confronting face on the contrast of violence and rifts in this war-torn country, while also
shining a light on the “extravagant acts of courage, kindness, and sacrifice” that knit these people
together (Publishers Weekly, starred review). An important entry into the young adult genre, THE
SECRET SKY is a thought-provoking look into a world not often depicted for this audience and will
spark cross-generational conversations and increase awareness at a time when global issues feel ever
closer.
About the Author
Atia Abawi spent almost five years as a foreign correspondent in Kabul and based
these characters and this story on people she met during her work there. Born to
Afghan parents in West Germany and raised in the United States, Atia currently
lives in Jerusalem with her husband, Conor Powell. You can follow her on Twitter
@AtiaAbawi.
THE SECRET SKY: A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan
by Atia Abawi
Philomel / September 2, 2014 / Ages 14 up /
$17.99 / ISBN 97803991607