The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi

 An eye-opening fictionalized glimpse at the largely secretive society of Afghanistan. This story takes place during the first years of the 20th century when girls and women faced extreme limitations and ends with the advent of a era under King Amanullah when women's rights appeared set to expand. The main characters are two women, related but from different time periods whose lives describe the horrific reality of a country that relegates women to a life that places them in the category of slaves. Each woman struggles to rise above her seemingly doomed status. Compelling and poignant.