Street of Storytellers

By: Doug Wilhelm

Published by Rootstock Publishing, 2019

<p>Notable Social Studies Trade Book, awarded by National Council for the Social Studies and The Children's Book Council </p><p>Gold Medal, Young Adult Fiction, Independent Press Awards</p><p>Silver Medal, Teen Fiction, Benjamin Franklin Awards, Independent Book Publishers Association</p><p>YA Fiction Book Award, Independent Book Publishers of New England</p><p>Indie Editors Choice, Kirkus Reviews</p><p> </p><p>An American kid, in a place he doesn't understand. </p><p>This multicultural thriller for YA and adult readers is about three families across two cultures. It's about the power of music, the impacts of extremism, an ancient true story - and taking the risk, even when it's big, of thinking for yourself. </p><p>Luke blames his parents' divorce on his dad's obsession with finishing a book about a lost civilization in a dangerous part of Asia. But his father wants his son to understand, so during a school holiday he brings Luke to Peshawar, the legendary frontier city in northwest Pakistan. Luke refuses to learn anything about his dad's project; instead he's drawn into the strange, intriguing Old City, where a violent new extremism is on the rise. He's dazzled by a rebellious girl, Danisha, but they can't ever be seen together. He's recruited by her brother to assist the jihadis - but he also bonds with Yusuf, an Afghan refugee who knows what could happen. Then there are the musicians Luke befriends, and a warmhearted Sufi teacher who opens his eyes. </p><p>This is an adventure book that's about something. Once you start reading, it will grip you till the end.</p>