Mahtab's Story is a gripping tale of a 12 year old who fled Afganastan to find a better future. Her family were forced to make many sacrifices, including leaving their loved ones behind. During their journey to Australia, they had to hide in the darkness both literally and mentally. This heart-touching story of their battle for freedom, had some bumps on the way after they had to hope for the best the whole way. Forever waiting, forever unsure of what can happen next.

This book is an exhilarating, suspenseful adventure of a young girl and her family who had to overcome their dificulties. While reading Mahtab's Story, we can see her emotional and physical journey through a tough period of her life.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 hotdogs as it was a great heart-warming story which i couldn't put down. ( )

Mahtab’s family are suffering under the Taliban. Their life has been extensively curtailed and the world is confusing and frightening. Then Mahtab’s grandfather is taken and killed and her father is badly beaten, something drastic must be done. Mahtab’s parents decide that to flee to a better life is the answer but other members, including Mahtab’s grandmother, decide to stay in the hope that life will improve. Mahtab, her parents and younger brother, Farhad, and her sister, Soraya, leave as soon as possible. Leaving family, friends and the only life they have every known behind they begin a treacherous journey. The family hope to start a new life in Australia, a country Mahtab’s father has heard about from a friend. They feel Australia offers what they seek for their children – safety and freedom.
The journey that Mahtab’s family begin is long, arduous and full of danger. After escaping Afghanistan by truck into Pakistan, Mahtab’s father goes on ahead by plane and boat to Australia hoping to bring the family out soon. After many months, Mahtab convinces her mother to make the same journey in the hope of reaching Australia and finding her father. The journey takes all of their strength and many times they think they will get no further. But their final destination that offers such hope of a new life to the family, proves to be a place of detention and segregation rather than the haven they expected. There is also no sign of Mahtab’s father. Life in the detention centre is difficult for everyone and it is hard to keep hope alive. For every new friend and positive sign there is another action or attitude that deepens their feelings of isolation and imprisonment.
Slowly, events begin to go well for the family and they are finally released and reunited.
This is ultimately a story of struggle, family love and reunion but along the way it poses many big questions about the nature of human beings and their potential for both good and bad and the strength to be found in all of us.

Refugee story similar to ones we have read before. ( )