Razia's Ray of Hope: One Girl's Dream of an Education (CitizenKid)

Amazing story!

Very inspiration book about an amazing woman. She shows how one person can make a difference, even when going against a culture that opposes her idea of educating girls. I look forward to reading it with my nephews.

Was going to give as a gift But it was a sad story. Donated to the local library.

Razia's Ray of Hope is a fictionalized account of the building of the Zabuli Education Center, a school for girls, in the Afghan village of Deh'Subz. Told through the eyes of a young girl who dreams of an education for herself, it is a slice of life story beginning with the laying of the first stones of the school and ending with Razia's enrollment.Although Razia has the support of her baba gi (grandfather), her father and brothers refuse at first to give her permission to attend the new school. Limited by their own upbringing, their concern about losing Razia's contribution to the family's income and their fear for her safety, they initially say "no" after a family council meeting. It isn't until a visit from Razia Jan (the founder of the school) and an assurance of safety that they begin to understand that allowing Razia (the young protagonist shares the name of the real life founder) to attend is good for the family, the village and the country.Razia Jan says, "I ask for your tolerance, if not support...If men are the backbone of Afghanistan, then women are the eyes...without an education, we will all be blind."This story is beautifully and honestly written. As part of the Kids Can Press "Citizen Kid" series ("a collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens"), it serves as a powerful introduction to the lives of women and children in Afghanistan and the power of education to change those lives. It is an accessible story for children young and old. Enhanced by multi-media illustrations that capture both the beauty and harsh realities of the small village, this book truly does provide a ray of hope.

Based on the a school for girls in Afghanistan, this title shows that tenacity and dreams can overcome many obstacles. Razia longs to attend school just like her brothers but girls aren't allowed to get an education due to Taliban regulations. She has taught herself to read and wants the opportunity to better herself through classroom learning. The collage illustrations include muted colors for everyone other than Razia, whose orange coat and turquoise scarf drawn attention to her on each two-page spread. A wonderful story of perseverance and triumph. Background information about the disparity in formal education around the world, a brief biography on the real Razia Jan, whom the story's protangonist is fashioned after, a glossary of Dari words, and classroom activities to accompany the story are included. A great lead-in story to discussions about education, sexual equality, and comparisons of lifestyles from one culture to another.

I usually love books about girls, and education and hope, but for some reason, I didn't love this book.  I really like the pictures with their mixed media feel and textures, but I found small things annoying in the book, that based on other online reviews really put me in the tiny minority.  Most people seem to drool over this 32 page AR 4.1 picture book, I, however, think there are a lot of inspiring books about girls in Afghanistan dreaming of an education that one needs to do something different, and do it well to win me over.So the basic premise, in this text heavy, tiny font, book, is that Razia learns they are building a new school close to her home in Afghanistan for girls, and wants to go.  Her grandfather also wants her to go, but one of her older brothers, Aziz, won't allow it, so she isn't allowed to go.  No historical lead up explaining why her grandfather talks about days when women were educated, and now it is a rarity.  No summation on the Taliban or the 17 years of war that the grandfather mentions.  So, unless the reader knows some background on Afghanistan, the story may not resonate with them or provide needed context for connection and appreciation.  Even the afterward, about the real founder of the school, offers very little context.  The brother's decision is final until one day he falls ill and can't read the medication directions, and Razia can, eventually he relents and she is allowed to go. The story hints that the rocks around the school are from the quarry he works at so he now feels confident she will be safe, and that his initial refusal was a concern for safety.  They hug and seem loving, and once school starts Razia has to learn as much as she can to be able to go home and teach Aziz and her mom.  I like that when she initially is told no, she doesn't sit and assume a helpless manner, but rather goes to the school and meets the founder herself.  I find it odd, and irksome that the head of the school is also named Razia and it isn't even noted. I get that is her real name, but why have the two main characters in a book have the same name and then not even acknowledge it? I didn't get why the little girl couldn't have a different name, seems distracting to me, and imply that every girl has the same name in Afghanistan.  I also didn't get the hierarchy. The grandfather wants her to go, the father and uncles have legit concerns of where she is needed in helping the family farm and orchard, but why did the brother's opinion trump them all? There is no mention of Islam, but they wear hijabs and burkas, so I think the stereotype is implied.  And that was another thing, they made it seem like she would be corrupted if she went out alone or without the burka on, but then Aziz shakes the headmistress's hand, as if that isn't against religious and custom norms. I felt that the kindness of the brother at the end was disjointed too, a bit too forced. The grandpa seemed kind, but the rest of the family seemed cold and rigid and not overtly concerned with Razia's well being and growth.  Yes, they did have a jerga, to discuss and consider it, but I felt like Razia never had a voice, and while education is important, having a voice is too.  More has to change in society and in literature to give me real hope, and this book sadly fell short.

Razia's Ray of Hope: One Girl's Dream of an Education=== OVERALL ===This book is in a high quality large hardback format with an unusual and beautiful style with original illustrations throughout making it highly attractive. The book aims to teach children to value their education by putting them in the shoes of another child who has to fight for it and contains an engaging story about a little girl in Afghanistan who wants to go to school, and it succeeds to some extent.However, I was sorely disappointed because, for a book aiming to educate children, there is a lack of educational material. The story launches straight in with no background or context and there is no educational information at the back of the book from which children or teachers can draw. If you have a good factual source of information about what life is like for children in Afghanistan, patriarchal societies and misogyny then this book could make a really lovely adjunct to teaching children the value of education. Otherwise, it does leave a giant hole in its usefulness.=== THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK ===* Big format hardback book that's perfect for balancing on the knees when reading a child a bedtime story or having an older child read to you* Colourful, attractive and unusual design with lovely illustrations* Engaging story about a little girl who wants to go to school* Beautiful quality book=== NIGGLES ===* Assumes an awful lot of knowledge about life in Afghanistan without providing any source of information or pointing readers/teachers towards any sources. The book would've been vastly improved by including some background information at the back together with sources of reference for further reading. Since the aim of this book is to educate, its absence from the book is a serious flaw.* The book launches straight into the story without any introduction or background - nothing at all. For a book aiming to educate children about the value of education this again is a serious flaw.* It's not till you get to the back of the book that you come across the list of Dari words used in the book - why not have the list at the front so children know where they are and can quickly refer to them as they read the book?For sale at the time of writing this review £12.99.

This is a very attractive and informative book for primary/Year 7/8 schoolchildren that brings into focus the lives of children denied an education by virtue of their gender.Amazon have categorised this with adult books, and I ordered this thinking I was going to read a biography of Razia. This is a children's book, however.What this is, is a beautifully illustrated children's story that tells how, as a child, educationalist Razia Jan was initially denied an education by her father and brother. It tells of how she overcame their objections with the help of her grandfather and the female teacher of the new girls' school opening in her neighbourhood.Swatches of vividly patterned, coloured and textured clothing incorporated in to the illustrations make this a visually interesting book. There is plenty here for children to think about and discuss, a vocabulary which introduces new words from the Pashto/Dari cultures, and helpful teaching notes to enable teachers and home educators to get the most out of the book.At the end of the book is a short biography of the 'real Razia Jan', a wholly inspirational and remarkable woman.A useful cross-cultural classroom resource, a thought-provoking and inspiring story.

Razia's Ray of Hope written by Elizabeth Suneby is a beautiful book filled with a beautiful story as it tells of one girl's love and hope for an education. The book is well written and I know our 11 year old absolutely loved it, and she thought it fascinating how this girl would do anything for the chance to go to school, while she says she would do anything for a day off from school! I liked this book as it told a story of bravery and hope for this young girl who simply wanted an education.Personally, this is going to be a book which will be treasured through the years and brought out to tell the story of one girl called Razia as she simply tells how much she wanted to learn.I would recommend this book to all, the message it holds is strong and personally, I loved not only the excellent writing, it also had the added advantage of being beautifully illustrated throughout.

This is a book to be read often and treasured. It's a large hard-backed book with beautiful illustrations, telling the story of a girl from Afghanistan who desperately wants to go to school. It's based on a true story of a girl who convinced the men in her family that she should have an education.I love this book because it introduces young readers in the west to issues happening around the world - and lets them see how lucky they are to have the right to an education. My 8 year old daughter really absorbed the message of this book and it made her think about what it means when she complains about getting up early to go to school or having to do homework.This is an important book and a wonderful one to share with young girls and boys.

This is a lovely book, telling the story of a girl in Afghanistan who was desperate to go to school, and in the end she does get that chance. The story is told very simply, so that it's accessible for young children, and with beautiful illustrations on every page. This book is a simple and effective way to bring up topic of education with children, and that not everyone has such easy access to schooling as we do in the UK - especially for girls. The book is based on a true story too, and has some facts at the back of the book.