"Enduring Freedom" by Jawad Arash tells the harrowing story of a young Afghan man, who, after the fall of the Taliban, finds himself drawn into the complexities of a new, tumultuous world. Navigating the challenges of identity and belonging, he strives to protect his family while seeking freedom from the shadows of a war-torn past. The narrative explores themes of resilience, hope, and the struggle for a better future against the backdrop of a country still grappling with deep-seated issues. As he confronts personal and societal challenges, the protagonist’s journey exemplifies the enduring spirit of those yearning for peace and stability. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed. This book was published in 2021 by Algonquin Young Readers .

Trent Reedy grew up in Iowa and has always loved telling stories. He majored in English at the University of Iowa and paid for his course by joining the Iowa Army National Guard. Called up to serve in Afghanistan in 2004, he experienced bad feelings both about the war and leaving his wife and home. Then, after reading Katherine Paterson's novel Bridge to Terabithia he started thinking about writing for young people. One of the children he encountered in Afghanistan was a young girl named Zulaikha, who had suffered since birth from a cleft lip. A U. S. army doctor gave her corrective surgery, and Trent was inspired by Zulaikha's quiet courage and dignity. The last time he saw her, he promised that he would tell her story. Returning to Iowa in 2005, he taught English before taking a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. He now lives with his wife and dog Wiggles in Washington State, where he is hard at work on his second book.