Courage: My Story of Persecution

by Freshta Tori Jan, Dave Eggers (Editor), Zainab Nasrati (Editor)

As a girl and as part of an ethnic minority in Afghanistan, Freshta Tori Jan was persecuted relentlessly. Her family faced kidnappings and daily murder attempts on the bus, on the way to school, in the workplace, and beyond. Freshta’s school was shut down by the Taliban, and many of her friends were murdered and shot. Her journey through poverty, terrorism, and other forms of injustice has enabled her to be a voice for those unable to share their stories and those unable to receive the opportunities she has sought. She believes in empowering youth in order to bring about change and be the leaders of today and tomorrow.



With a voice that is both accessible and engaging, Freshta brings forward a captivating first-person account of strength, resilience, and determination, and delivers compelling narrative nonfiction by young people, for young people.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Biography, Memoir

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2022

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to W.W. Norton & Company for sending me a print ARC of this book.

Freshta’s story may be short, but it is beautifully written and will stay with me for a long time. Her harrowing experiences were heartbreaking to read. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of Afghanistan’s Hazara population and the genocide that the Taliban has been inflicting upon them. I am grateful to Freshta for shedding light on this issue and for all that she has done, and continues to do, to raise awareness. Her story was incredibly eye-opening to me as an adult, and I know it will be equally impactful on the young audience for which it is intended.

“Every group that faces persecution or oppression is valuable and deserves people’s care and attention. One person’s life is not more important than another’s, no matter their ethnicity or color or class. A life is a life.” -Freshta Tori Jan

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The I, Witness series focuses on young people who have experienced trauma, persecution, or tragedy in their lives and yet have persevered and become activists for change. In “Courage,” Freshta Tori Jan tells her story of life in Afghanistan, the abuse by not only the Taliban, but those who viewed her minority ethnic group as worthless. With strength that almost defies imagination, Freshta fights for herself, her people and her gender. The facts of her life are inspiring and will hopefully give young people insight and appreciation of what others have endured simply to experience the basic rights of education, safety and security. Unfortunately, there is much redundancy in the text and the ideas are conveyed in an overly simplistic way. I will be searching for non-fiction that inspires, but with more mature writing.

Thank you for the print advance reader’s copy (ARC), Norton Young Readers.

[Nate Roels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freshta's story is powerful and emotional. It opens a reader's eyes up to struggles in Afghanistan that he/she may not have previously been aware of, and inspires others to seek ways to promote and foster positive change in the world, especially in Afghanistan.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, Harrowing Story

A girl grows up being a refugee during the Taliban and eventually gets a scholarship to a school in the USA.

[Laila - Stories Steeped in Magic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5
Genre: Autobiography
Thank you Norton Young Readers for providing a physical copy through Youth Services Book Review.

What did you like about the book?
Freshta Tori Jan tells her story of living in Afghanistan and the danger, struggle, and journey she had to endure before getting where she is today. Freshta is Hazara, an ethnic Afghan minority that has been heavily persecuted by the two majority groups: the Pashtuns and Tajiks. Because of this, she has faced brutal hostility throughout her life. From fleeing her hometown after the Taliban takeover and experiencing constant abuse at her new public school, to her mother receiving death threats and being stalked by dangerous men, Freshta wished for change and to stop the violence from happening to others. The book provides a first person account of someone living in Afghanistan from 1999 to 2013, the historical timeline of the country, and the humanitarian dilemmas enveloping the people. The reading level is low, but the content aims for an older audience, as Freshta means to tell her story simply so others can easily understand her goals.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book? Kids, tweens, and teenagers looking for real-world accounts of different countries, especially the Middle East, or life in the Middle East in general. People looking for biographies of young women striving to change their lives and make a difference.

Date of review: March 29, 2022

[Erica Sonzogni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luckily, most children have never felt the fear of war in their own backyard or the trauma of genocide. Sadly, Freshta lived most of her childhood in violence before she was able to immigrate to the United States. In Courage: My Story of Persecution, Freshta describes growing up in Afghanistan under the Taliban's rule. She explains the difficulties she experienced going to school and the amount of times she had to move from her home in order to escape threats until she was finally safe and free. Her family was not as fortunate.

The challenges that Freshta experienced are horrifying, yet children around the world should learn what happens in other societies that restrict freedom. This novel uses younger sentence structure suitable for tweens and teens. Be aware, however, that it mentions prostitution and sex slavery so would not be suitable for elementary-aged students. The book lists ways that young people can get involved in justice movements and how their actions make a difference. This novel was extremely powerful and one that teens will not only learn from but be inspired to take a stand against prejudice and discrimination in our own country as well as abroad.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant account of overcoming adversity in Afghanistan to achieve a better life and help others. This inspirational autobiography tells the story of Freshta Tori Jan growing up as a discriminated ethnic minority who is forced to flee her country due to civil unrest and violence toward her, her family, and other Hazara. There are accounts of violence towards women and minority groups that could disturb younger readers.
The author faces many challenges and perseveres making it out of her adverse conditions to continue her education and help bring her message and share the plight of the Hazara to the world. Further details and a rough timeline of the author's life are included at the end. Ideas for how young readers can make a difference like Ms Freshta Tori Jan are also available. Recent events must be heartbreaking for the writer to witness--more so than the average American watching the news. I only hope that her efforts help bring justice and peace to areas experiencing violence and oppression.

[Jaclyn Hillis]

I, Witness is a new children’s nonfiction series that shares personal narratives.

“One of the best ways to understand a complicated moment in history is by reading the story of a person who lived through it.”

Freshta Tori Jan is a survivor of poverty, terrorism, and persecution by the Taliban. Hazaras are an ethnic group of Afghanistan. They were the largest ethnic group, and now they comprise less than 9% of the population.

This is a very short book, perfect for middle grade readers, but is one that will stick with me. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of Afghanistan’s Hazara population and the genocide at the hands of the Taliban. Freshta’s experiences are heartbreaking and I’m thankful she is able to share her story and shed light on these injustices.

Content warnings: terrorism, violence, racism, racial slurs, xenophobia, poverty, assault, animal abuse/death

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be perfectly honest, I had never even heard of the Hazaras before reading this book. Though the story is relatively short, Tori Jan’s narrative is incredibly compelling, telling the story in a brisk, informative way that is perfectly suited for middle grade.

I also appreciate this book for including discussion questions and ways for young readers to get involved.

If I had one complaint, I think the cover may be a bit too juvenile, and I worry it may turn some middle school-aged readers off. However, I recognize that that’s the design for this series.

All in all, I loved this story, and I would recommend it to other readers of any age to learn more about life in Afghanistan.

[David L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freshta Tori Jan has written a deeply felt memoir that goes directly to the heart. We Americans, who live in a world inundated with facts and information, sometimes lose sight of the fact that the human beings we read about live and breathe in fear for the safety and lives. Freshta helps us to understand the how courage must face unbelievable threats, torture, and destruction to overcome each day. She is a true inspiration and this memoir should be the first of more to come. Thank you, Freshta, for telling such a compelling story to never give up! David

[Lizanne Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to School Library Day of Dialog and Norton Young Readers for this arc. It is part of a nonfiction series for young readers that tackle global issues through the voice of someone who lived through it. This entry is the story of Freshta Tori Jan and her experiences in Afghanistan living through the Taliban takeover. After reading this entry, my middle school library will definitely be purchasing them all. I highly recommend!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the 9 to 12 year olds who are curious about world events and want to meet other kids or hear about organizations founded to help - this I, Witness series is amazing.

It’s not a mystery or fiction. It’s real life stories of what kids have had to live with and how life is in other places.

This is Freshta Tori Jan’s story of life in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Highly recommend. It’s easy to read and as an adult you can read it in an hour and then share it with your kids.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

As bleak as her story is, Freshta tells it un an unflinching and raw voice. She is a compelling writer, speaking out against the persecution of her people in Afghanistan, and the incredibly long and dangerous journey that the chaos in her home country has created for so many.

Advanced reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated hearing her story and perspective and experience living in Afghanistan. Large print and spacing makes it appealing for children to read. Although, hard topics are discussed I felt like she did a good job of relaying it at an appropriate level for children.

[Austin Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great narrative that sheds light on Afghanistan’s history & Freshta’s first-person story growing up in poverty and the persecution she faced. A light read that is easily finished in a day.

[Carrie Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read format for kids.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young adult's story of her childhood in Afghanistan. Not the most beautiful, linguistically, but these stories never cease to amaze me at how some of the world lives.

[Olivia Greenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short read but very impactful. I listened to this audiobook in one sitting, and it was amazing!! It is so important to listen to other peoples stories, good and bad. "All the teachers at my school treated me like a human" (25.13). "They dumped bodies on mountain sides, hillsides, ditches, and even roadsides" (41.13)" These two golden lines stood out to me because it shows the range of emotions that this women went through. Its a story of a women who gets persecuted because of her part in an ethnic minority in Afghanistan. I could never imagine walking or driving around my home, with dead bodies everywhere, that is absolutely traumatizing. These personal stories help me understand what it must feel like to go through something like this.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of her writing but well into her journey of making a difference in the lives of people. As she gets her legs, I believe she’ll continue to tell her story and gain momentum in advocating change! Delighted to learn her story and support Freshta!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easy to read personal account of the persecution of a young girl and her family in Afghanistan.