Shadow

The narrative shifts back in time as Aman begins telling his and his family’s story. He recalls that his grandfather told stories of when Bamiyan, like the rest of Afghanistan, was a peaceful place. Aman’s family are of the Hazara people. Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 ended the peace and brought scarcity to the region. Aman’s grandfather fought the Russians with the Mujahadin resistance, but he was killed long before Aman was born. The Hazara people have suffered great persecution under the Taliban, forcing them to hide in cliffside caves, where Aman was born. Despite the hardship, Aman is happy: He has friends and goes to school in the village.

Aman’s mother and grandmother often argue about his grandmother’s jewels, which she keeps hidden away and refuses to sell, even when they have little money for food. His grandmother says that she is saving them for something even more precious than food.

The Taliban destroy most of the city of Bamiyan. Aman’s mother even witnesses them destroying the enormous, ancient statue of Buddha that made the city famous. The Taliban are cruel to the people of Bamiyan, but they are driven out by the arrival of American troops.