I am always eager to learn more about the people of Afghanistan and other war-torn third-world countries–how they live and survive circumstances that appear to be intolerable to me. I always come away from stories like this thinking about ways my lifestyle must seem intolerable to them. 

Despite the grim setting, Words in the Dust is a tale of hope, forgiveness, and love. Zulaikha is a sweet, devoted young woman who beats incredible odds to overcome illiteracy, poverty, and gender inequalities. It’s all the more touching to learn that her story is based on that of a real girl. 

I highly recommend this beautifully told story to anyone who has a desire to think about the greater world around them–and to be changed for doing so.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  2 derogatory names.

Violence/Gore:  Characters throw rocks at another character with no injuries; a character shoves another character; in an extended scene (2 pgs), a character is beaten and killed by the Taliban; a character appears to have been beaten; a character’s severe burns are described in detail, later the character dies from those injuries; a character hits his wife, knocking her down and bloodying her nose.

Sex/Nudity:  A character implies that certain people take advantage of girls; wedding night activities are referred to vaguely; a character speaks vaguely of her husband’s sexual attention; a badly injured woman is seen naked from the waist up.

Mature Subject Matter:

War, physical and emotional abuse, bullying, loss of family members.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None