Author’s Note

      This book is a work of fiction. Although the photograph by Steve McCurry of the Afghan refugee commonly referred to as Afghan Girl that appeared most famously on the cover of National Geographic served as inspiration for certain aspects of this novel, in no way are the characters of Ethan and Setara depicted in these pages meant to represent McCurry or his subject, Sharbat Gula. All the characters and events in the novel are entirely the products of my imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental.

       For my mother

       Evelyn Mason Newberry (1933–2018)

       who shared my love of booksand for my father

       Thomas Lee Newberry (1933–2018)

       who told me I could do anything I set my mind to

      You just missed it.