MARIAM IS ONLY FIFTEEN WHEN SHE IS SENT TO KABUL TO MARRY RASHEED. NEARLY TWO DECADES LATER, A FRIENDSHIP GROWS BETWEEN MARIAM AND A LOCAL TEENAGER, LAILA, AS STRONG AS THE TIES BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER. WHEN THE TALIBAN TAKE OVER, LIFE BECOMES A DESPERATE STRUGGLE AGAINST STARVATION, BRUTALITY AND FEAR. YET LOVE CAN MOVE A PERSON TO ACT IN UNEXPECTED WAYS, AND LEAD THEM TO OVERCOME THE MOST DAUNTING OBSTACLES WITH A STARTLING HEROISM.