Title: Shackled: A Journey from Political Imprisonment to Freedom

Author: Adam Siddiq

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

Publisher: Unknown

Format: Paperback

Pages: 300

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Khaled Siddiq “Charkhi” is only six years old when he and his entire extended family are imprisoned. Following a grand betrayal, Khaled’s father and uncles, the respected right-hand men to the King of Afghanistan, become targets of the new regime. Khaled’s father is exiled, his uncles are executed, and their families are locked away in a forgotten corner of Kabul.

So begins a decades-long struggle in captivity where Khaled faces the hardship of prison life while enduring tragedies as more of his loved ones are executed and succumb to diseases. Despite the tribulations he experiences, Khaled never gives up hope, choosing to make the most of his time by studying five different languages, advanced literature, and philosophy. Eventually, Khaled and his family are released from prison, but are they truly free? Forbidden from leaving the country, one thing continues to haunt Khaled: a longing to reunite with his father.

SHACKLED is a raw, heart-opening story about resilience. It follows the Charkhi family from the 1932 coup to the 1979 Soviet invasion. Amidst national and personal upheaval, Khaled finds his freedom by choosing to lead a life of optimism, kindness, joy, and love.

Adam Siddiq is the grandson of Khaled Siddiq. Adam wrote SHACKLED alongside his grandfather, Khaled–a shared journey they hope will inspire others to become more involved in the sacred bond between the youth and their elders.

Review:

Thank you so much to @theadamsiddiq for sending me a copy of his book! This was a touching story or the struggles his grandfather faced in Afghanistan as a political prisoner. I was really captivated by his story and I really enjoyed reading it! You could feel the emotion coming off of the pages and I felt empathy and compassion to his family that suffered! I have looked at the history behind what happens in Afghanistan but never saw a personal connection, and that connection is a great tool to learn about what happened. The writing is strong and I found myself immersed in the story! I highly recommend this book!!

Happy reading!