My City Was a Sparkling Jewel

Brief Summary

My City Was a Sparkling Jewel by Tea Rozman offers a poignant collection of 19 moving stories that capture the lived experiences of Afghan youth displaced by the rising turmoil in their home country following the return of the Taliban to power in 2021. The book serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and spirit of these young individuals, aged fifteen to twenty, hailing from diverse ethnic backgrounds including Pashtun, Hazara, Tajik, and Pashai. Through a trauma-informed approach, these narratives chronicle their harrowing journeys to the United States and the challenges they continue to face in their new reality, with a particular focus on their resettlement in Minnesota.

Main Themes and Topics

Central to the book is the theme of displacement and its profound impact on young lives uprooted from familiar surroundings to face uncertain futures. The stories are imbued with rich cultural narratives detailing the unique backgrounds, customs, and traditions of the storytellers, painting a diverse yet unified portrait of aspirations and dreams. Another significant theme is resilience as the narratives unfold the trials and triumphs encountered by these youths as they navigate new worlds. Coupled with this is an exploration of identity, as these young individuals grapple with the tension between sustaining cultural heritage and assimilating into a new society.

Writing Style and Tone

Tea Rozman employs a deeply empathetic and respectful tone throughout the collection, which allows the authentic voices of the young storytellers to take center stage. The choice to utilize a mix of handwritten essays and oral storytelling provides a dynamic and genuine feel to the narratives, making them both accessible and relatable. The language, though varied due to the multilingual nature of the stories being told in English, Dari, Farsi, and Pashto, reflects the raw, unfiltered experiences of each individual, marked by emotional depth and sincerity.