About the Book

Afghan-American author Nadia Hashimi’s The Pearl That Broke Its Shell tells the entwined stories of two Afghan women in the same family, separated by a century, who find freedom in the tradition of bacha posh—an ancient custom that allows girls to dress and live as boys . . . until they are of marriageable age. Crisscrossing in time, it is a luminous and unforgettable tale of two women, destiny, and identity in Afghanistan.

Critical Praise

“Nadia Hashimi has written, first and foremost, a tender and beautiful family story. Her always engaging multigenerational tale is a portrait of Afghanistan in all of its perplexing, enigmatic glory, and a mirror into the still ongoing struggles of Afghan women.” — Khaled Hosseini, author of And the Mountains Echoed and The Kite Runner

“A fascinating look at the unspoken lives of Afghani women, separated by generations and miles, yet achingly similar. This is a story to transport you and make you think.” — Shilpi Somaya Gowda, New York Times bestselling author of Secret Daughter

“Hashimi weaves together two equally engrossing stories in her epic, spellbinding debut.” — Booklist (starred review)

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780062244765
• ISBN 10: 0062244760
• Imprint: William Morrow Paperbacks
• On Sale: 01/06/2015
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.770 in (d)
• Pages: 480
• List Price: $19.99
• BISAC1 : FICTION / Historical
• BISAC2 : FICTION / Own Voices
• BISAC3 : FICTION: Muslim
• BISAC4 : FICTION / Coming of Age
• BISAC5 : FICTION / Contemporary Women
• BISAC6 : FICTION / Family Life