Thunder Over Kandahar - Softcover

The novel is perhaps best understood not as a fictional slice of contemporary conflict, but as a more enduring example of extreme circumstances inspiring selflessness. (Foreword Reviews 2010-11-19)

McKay...portrays the unsettled nature of life in a war-torn country and especially the plight of the women who have virtually no decision-making powers. Highly recommended. (Resource Links)

Actress Mozhan Marno's dramatic reading turns Sharon E McKay's novel Thunder Over Kandahar into powerful theater for the ears.... Thunder's courageous characters and their cultural dilemmas will linger long after the final scene. (Judy Green Sacramento Bee 2011-02-14)

This suspenseful tale of two young women on their own in modern Afghanistan makes riveting reading.... Well stocked with credible cultural detail and enhanced by black-and-white chapter-head photos, their high-tension odyssey leads to a violent climax and an aftermath marked by surprising twists. Readers will be caught up--though it's so misanthropic that many will wonder how anyone, especially women, could tolerate living in that country. (Kirkus Reviews 2010-10-15)

McKay has created a compelling exploration of the ways the Taliban regime's influence affects not only Afghani girls seeking to become educated, but also its far-reaching effects on whole families and communities. Without ever reading like a textbook or propaganda, Thunder over Kandahar provides insight into girls' experiences in this terrifying chasm of ideological upheaval.... Although the events in this plot-focussed tale may, at moments, seem far-fetched or over the top, when read as a composite of the situations faced often by many Afghani girls and women, it rings true, particularly as it is built upon the strength of McKay's thorough research. Thunder over Kandahar provides a gripping, empathetic look at one of the most dangerous and misogynistic societies in existence today through the believable, inspiring characters of Yasmine and her friend Tamanna. As well as providing a satisfying reading experience, the book is a valuable supplement to various Social Studies curricula. (Michelle Superle Canadian Materials 2010-12-03)

Suicide bombers, land mines, and other horrors of contemporary war drive the action in this fictionalized account of two young teenagers in Afghanistan, torn from their families and then from each other as they try to flee the Taliban. Yasmine, 14, was born and raised in England by her academic Afghan parents who are attacked after returning to "help get their country back." She becomes best friends with Tamanna, who is thrilled to be allowed to go to school, even as she dreads an arranged marriage with an older man. Like sisters, the girls help keep each other safe, and together they resist wearing the burka and face hostility for going out in public without a male protector. Then their world explodes, literally. There may be just too much going on here for many readers. But the girls' alternating viewpoints capture the heartbreaking trauma and concerned young people will be caught up in the issues including the roles of foreigners and the UN, as well as the oppression of women. (Hazel Rochman Booklist 2010-12-01)

Informative and inspiring... well-constructed and believable... This novel should become essential classroom reading for students in Grades 7 and 8. (Canadian Children's Book Centre)

This is a novel of courage, love, sacrifice, and, most importantly, hope for a brighter future...Sharon E. McKay has written a wonderful novel of great importance. (edwardsmagazinebookclub.com 2011-01-31)

(starred review) This story, enhanced with black and white photographs and filled with drama and tension, realistically portrays contemporary life in Afghanistan. The oppression of women is one of the main issues in the book. Yasmine and Tamanna are brave young women with different opinions but with the same determination to overcome their struggles and hardships. Highly Recommended. (Judean A. Wise, Library Media Specialist, Woodwort Library Media Connection 2011-05-01)

In her powerful YA novel Thunder Over Kandahar, Sharon E. McKay tells the story of two young girls, bound together by friendship and then torn apart by the perilous realities of present-day Afghanistan. Illustrated with original photography by Rafal Gerszak. (Open Book Toronto 2010-12-03)