The Story of My Life: An Afghan Girl on the Other Side of the Sky

Written by Farah Ahmedi and Tamim Ansary

Narrated by Masuda Sultan

Farah Ahmedi recounts her heartbreaking journey from war-torn Kabul to America in her New York Times bestselling inspirational memoir.

Farah Ahmedi's "poignant tale of survival" (Chicago Tribune) chronicles her journey from war to peace. Equal parts tragedy and hope, determination and daring, Ahmedi's memoir delivers a remarkably vivid portrait of her girlhood in Kabul, where the sound of gunfire and the sight of falling bombs shaped her life and stole her family. She herself narrowly escapes death when she steps on a land mine. Eventually the war forces her to flee, first over the mountains to refugee camps across the border, and finally to America. Ahmedi proves that even in the direst circumstances, not only can the human heart endure, it can thrive. The Other Side of the Sky is "a remarkable journey" (Chicago Sun-Times), and Farah Ahmedi inspires us all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 22, 2005
• ISBN: 9780743551687

Farah Ahmedi

Farah Ahmedi is a humanitarian, activist, and writer from Afghanistan. After stepping on a landmine was a young girl, she and her family escaped her war-torn homeland and moved to the United States. After winning Good Morning America’s Story of My Life contest in 2005, she published her memoir, The Other Side of the Sky. Now a college graduate and mother of two, Ahmedi is a public speaker who shares her story of loss, hope, and peace with people all over the country. 

Reviews for The Story of My Life

[julierh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

i like reading books by/about women in various parts of the world. this memoir was interesting because its author fled to the u.s. and wrote this book while in high school in suburban chicago.

[margrietruurs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My new favorite book! I cried, I laughed, I admired the wisdom of such a young girl. What a privilege to read an insider's story of Afghanistan. I hope it brings understanding to others.

[bsafarik_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a true story of an Afghanistan girl who lived in war all of her life; the civil war followed by the take-over by the Taliban followed by her desperate escape to Pakistan and then to America. I found this book fascinating because it was a look at what it is like for real people with real lives living with war in their country.

[javerea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it very inspiring

[bluejclub · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every club member gave this one a five-star rating. It reminded us all that we have it good in the United States. We also learned a lot about another culture through this book. The book was very descriptive but still easy to read.

[donttalktofreaks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Touching, awe inspiring, tear inducing book told by a young girl who lost almost her entire family, a leg, but never her resolve. The story of her life, in Afghanistan and her transition to young American girl.