Based on a true story from Afghanistan, this touching picture book tells how a young girl stops speaking after the disappearance of her parents during the reign of the Taliban. Her grandmother is desperate to help and despite the great risks, she seeks to enroll Nasreen in one of the secret schools for girls she has heard about. The story - dealing with courage and the healing process - is simply told, in the grandmother's own words, and is well matched by the style of illustration.