The juvenile Fiction book ‘Half a World Away’ (2014) by Japanese-American author of children’s books Cynthia Kadohata, an inspiring story that celebrates hope and second chances has been published in Persian and is available to Iranian children.
The book has been translated into Persian by Maryam Hassanzadeh Arabani. Alachiq Publishing has released ‘Half a World Away’ in 208 pages and 1000 copies.
Eleven-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows he’s an “epic fail.” That’s why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby—to replace him, he’s sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession with electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels…nothing.
When they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they’ve traveled for has already been adopted, and literally within minutes are faced with having to choose from six other babies. While his parents agonize, Jaden is more interested in the toddlers.
One, a little guy named Dimash, spies Jaden and barrels over to him every time he sees him. Jaden finds himself increasingly intrigued by and worried about Dimash. Already three years old and barely able to speak, Dimash will soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be as hopeless as Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually feels something that isn’t pure blinding fury, and there’s no way to control it, or its power.
From camels rooting through garbage like raccoons, to eagles being trained like hunting dogs, to streets that are more pothole than pavement, the vivid depictions in ‘Half a World Away’ create “an inspiring story that celebrates hope and second chances” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
Cynthia Kadohata was born on July 2, 1956. Kadohata was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was a high school drop out. She attained a BA in Journalism from the University of Southern California and went on to attend graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University.
Kadohata won the Newbery Medal in 2005 for her title, ‘Kira-Kira’. She also won a PEN award in 2006 for ‘Weedflower’ and in 2013 she won the U.S. National Book Award for ‘The Thing About Luck’.
Source: IBNA