The Alterations Lady: An Afghan Refugee, an American, and the Stories that Define Us

by Cindy Miller, Lailoma Shahwali (Primary Contributor)

A heart-tugging true story of identity, friendship, and perseverance from a survivor of the war in Afghanistan and an American who is forever changed by what she hears.  When Cindy Miller met Lailoma Shahwali, who was altering her daughter’s wedding dress, she expected their interactions would be brief. But in Lailoma she found not just a seamstress, but a survivor who opened up about her remarkable experience enduring Afghan war crimes, her husband’s brutal murder in front of Lailoma and her young son, and her escape to the US and journey to a new life and the American dream.  A breathtaking account of triumph in the face of all odds,  The Alterations Lady  documents Lailoma’s courageous pursuit of education as an Afghan girl, what she endured when extremists took over her beloved country and she was stripped of her rights, her relentless determination to protect her child, and much more. It is also an evocative reminder of the life-changing importance of remaining attuned to the continued struggles in Afghanistan today, and of how those in our day-to-day can inspire us to be better, fuller, and more empathetic humans if we simply take the time to listen.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Becky Kistler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly impressed by The Alterations Lady. An absorbing book that moves the reader through the personal history of a young woman in Afghanistan who lives through family devotion, but extremely harsh emotional love and loss. It creates a compelling narrative as she flees her country with her young son to arrive in America, eventually beginning life anew in Arizona. A book about overcoming fear in one country and then another, the author has written a compelling lifeline for resilience and determination.

[Kirstin · Rating 2 out of 5]

In The Alterations Lady, Cindy Miller relates the story of Lailoma Shahwali, an Afghan refugee. Although Lailoma’s story is harrowing and redemptive, the writing does not do it justice. The storytelling is very scattered and would have benefited from additional political and historical context.

[Kathryn Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the easier books I’ve read for a nonfiction since it reads like a story

[BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply fantastic and brilliantly told. Lailoma's story is one of extreme courage and core inner strength. She worked to be a doctor and yet was up against rigid extremists who seek to hide women away. All Americans should read this... This will shape your understanding of Afghanistan--with its beauty and problems--and how you look at immigrants. What some people have overcome in order to save their families... marvelous.