A Door in the Earth

Amy Waldman's A Door in the Earth is a gripping, thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of power, perspective, and idealism in the midst of America's longest-standing war.

Parveen Shams, a young Afghan American woman, finds herself torn between her charismatic professor and the comfortable but predictable Afghan-American community in her Northern California hometown.

Inspired by a best-selling book called Mother Afghanistan, she travels to a remote village in the land of her birth to join the work of the author's charitable foundation.

However, upon arrival, she discovers that the clinic is mostly unstaffed and the villagers do not exhibit the gratitude she expected.

As the reasons for her pilgrimage crumble beneath her, the US military turns up, bringing the war in their wake.

When a fatal ambush occurs, Parveen must decide where her loyalties lie - with the villagers or the soldiers? This novel is a "breathtaking and achingly nuanced" (Kirkus, starred review) exploration of the complicated truths beneath America's engagement in Afghanistan.