This story is based upon a true story, the story of the lives of a family, and the dangerous journey they took, leaving Afghanistan and heading to the Netherlands. Fifteen plus years later, Van de Vendel met this family, and heard their story of their journey, the moments of danger, and how this journey had charted another path for this family, one that would change their lives for the better. These two men wrote a YA story together of this family’s journey, and many years later wrote ’Mishka’ for younger readers, beautifully illustrated by Annet Schapp.
This revolves around the youngest member of the family, their sister Roya, and their lives after they were able to find a home and after settling in, Roya’s desire to have a pet rabbit, which is supported by her three older brothers, as well. And so they head to a pet store, where a young woman is about to tell her what kind of rabbits they have and before she can finish what she was going to say, Roya just points to a dwarf rabbit, and exclaims ’THAT ONE’. It is exactly what she wanted.
Mishka the rabbit becomes a member of their family, as well as somewhat of a confidant, someone Roya can share her thoughts, hopes and fears with.
Both Roya and the rabbit become the gateway to the story of their escape from Afghanistan, which is shared gradually, from multiple viewpoints, Roya’s brothers, Bashir, Hamayun and Navid, as well as her parents.
One day when Mishka escapes her hutch, and ends up at the house of a woman who has her own rabbits. Roya is determined to find Mishka and with the help of her brothers, who put up signs throughout the neighborhood, but when they finally find the woman, she is suspicious and reluctant to believe them.
This is a beautiful story that shares a little bit at a time of the journey this family took, and the healing they still need at times.
Pub Date: 12 Nov 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Levine Querido