Mahtab was hollow. Empty, as if her flesh and blood, her energy, that kept her breathing and running, thinking and talking, was gone. Nothing was in its place. She was hungry. Hungry for water, for her father, for her grandmother, her aunts and uncles, for the trees in the back yard, the cabinet on the wall, the silver and glass objects so lovingly collected, for her mountains, the jagged peaks that cut the sky. Her father was dead. She felt sure of it. She was just a speck of dirt on the floor, drifting through the gap between the boards, falling to the ground.Mahtab and her family are forced to leave their home in Herat and journey secretly through the rocky mountains to Pakistan and from there to faraway Australia. Months go by, months of waiting, months of dread, with only memories and hopes to sustain them. Will they ever be reunited with their father, will they ever find a home?This compelling novel by one of Australia's best-loved children's authors is based on the true story of one girl's voyage to Australia with her family.'This is an important, eye-opening book, powerfully written. Readers will identify with Mahtab's longing for freedom and safety, and will hold their breath with each heart-stopping bump in her journey. Mahtab's Story makes us realise it's long-past time to create a world of justice and sanity. Congratulations and thanks to Libby Gleeson for giving us such a skilled piece of writing.' - Deborah Ellis, author of the 'Parvana' books
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Libby Gleeson AM is a popular, highly acclaimed writer who has published over 30 books for children and teenagers, including Eleanor, Elizabeth, Dodger, Love Me, Love Me Not and the Hannah series. She has been shortlisted for the CBCA Awards twelve times; she won the Younger Readers Award in 1997 with Hannah and the Tomorrow Room, the Picture Book of the Year Award in 2002 for An Ordinary Day (illustrated by Armin Greder) and the Early Childhood Award in 2007 for Amy and Louis (illustrated by Freya Blackwood). The Great Bear (with Armin Greder) was the first Australian book to win the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award, in 2000. Libby has been a teacher and lecturer and is a regular contributor to national conferences. She chaired the Australian Society of Authors 1999-2001, and in 2007 she was awarded membership to the Order of Australia for her services to literature. See also Libby's website: www.libbygleeson.com.au