Title: One More Mountain
Authors: Deborah Ellis
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Publication date: November 1, 2022
RRP: $16.99 (AUD)
Teaching resource: A comprehensive teaching resource written by Robyn Sheahan-Bright is available to download from the Allen and Unwin website.
One More Mountain, the fifth book in the Parvana series by Deborah Ellis is set in modern-day Afghanistan in 2021 after US withdrawal and the country is again under Taliban rule. This arresting story inspired by real events, recommended for readers 11 – 14 years, continues Parvana’s story as a thirty-two year old woman who shows unwavering courage, resilience, resourcefulness, ingenuity and selflessness (as she has throughout her life) living in a war torn country. It should be noted that this could be read as a stand-alone title. In this book, Parvana, together with her childhood friend, police officer Shauzia, care for young girls who flee their homes, defying their fathers and refusing to marry men that were chosen for them and they also rescue girls from abusive men. Together they live in Green Valley, a women’s centre where girls are cared for, educated, taught life skills and the value of solidarity. More than that, these girls experience freedom, friendship and beauty.
This book contains alternating narratives. One storyline follows that of the girls in Green Valley Sanctuary, with one of the main characters being, Damsa, a fifteen year old girl, who comes from a wealthy family and fled her home with no papers, money, food and water. She had been on the run for days, escaping her father who wanted her killed as she refused to agree to an arranged marriage. Shauzia rescues her and brings her to Green Valley. Here, Damsa meets other girls including thirteen year old Zahra who is the mother to baby Lara. The Taliban pay a visit to Green Valley looking for two “fugitives”, Damsa “an escaped bride, who has brought shame upon her family” and Shauzia. Parvana’s experience and the way she meticulously designed the women’s center means the girls can quickly hide in rooms behind secret doors. Parvana is then able to convince the Taliban that she doesn’t hide girls from their families and she only takes in widows and orphans. The Taliban question Parvana about her husband, Asif and want to sight his identification. She calmly constructs a story about his whereabouts and informs them about when he will be returning. The Taliban vow to pay another visit in three days when Asif returns to Green Valley. These words from the Taliban see the girls forced to flee Green Valley and embark on a perilous journey to a new safe haven, all while trying to evade the Taliban.
The second narrative focuses on Parvana’s husband, Asif, their son Rafi and Parvana’s sister Maryam. Parvana organises for Maryam and Rafi to go to the airport to catch a flight out of Kabul to New York to live with their Aunt Nooria to fulfil their dreams – of Rafi becoming a ballet dancer and Maryam performing and singing to audiences. While on route, Parvana hears word that the Taliban have captured Kabul. People are desperate to flee and the airport becomes almost impossible to get to. Options are limited. Desperation forces Asif, Rafi and Maryam to make choices they otherwise would have avoided at all costs. An explosion at the airport (which readers may recall hearing about in news reports and seeing the scenes unfold as people desperately tried to board evacuation flights) changes everything and the story then follows the aftermath of the explosion and the implications and losses for Parvana’s family.
While this story highlights the fragility of war affected countries and their people as well as the complexities and horrors of war in an accessible and sensitive way for children; it is also a story that explores the human face of war and the qualities that are universal and shine in the face of terror. The victims of war in this story display an indomitable spirit, such tenacity, resilience, courage, hope, resourcefulness and above all love. They find and create joy. This story shows the ripple effect of kind people who live to serve others and how the ripples spread far and indelibly touch many. This is a powerful story about our shared humanity and highlights the power of hope, courage and love.