I struggled with how to review this book. There was a scene that I felt would be too graphic for younger readers but also scenes that could have used more detail. Understandably, violent topics can be difficult to balance for younger audiences. I do think her story is important and will develop empathy in readers and prompt readers to ask questions about how and why things like this are allowed to happen. I do plan to purchase for the library.

Students loved this book! I loved it as a teacher because of it’s larger print and cover that made it appear to be a higher level text. Students loved the real-life story of a person going through something hard and being able to relate to it. Great purchase.

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.

CW: terrorism, violence, racism, racial slurs, xenophobia, poverty, assault, animal abuse

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.

I love thinking about the classroom sharing possibilities for Courage: My Story of Persecution. It seems increasingly important to include a wide range of human stories in what young people read, and I feel like this book is an important contribution to that work. It is well-written and opened my eyes to a story that is vital to share. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. This upper elementary chapter book may be difficult for some readers, while it is entirely clean. The biography is about a strong girl in Afghanistan who overcomes more than just the Taliban to continue education in the U.S. I learned new things about different kinds of racism and prejudice in Afghanistan. However, I felt the theme of "courage" was not shown as strongly as it could have been. Perhaps "persistence" or "sacrifice" would have been better. The discussion questions, timeline of events, and summaries at the end of the book make this a great book for discussion or classroom use. I will recommend this for our school library.