Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own destiny. This story combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See.

In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school and rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.

But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-aunt, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way. Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse tells the intriguing story of Father Damien Modeste, a priest who has lovingly served the Ojibwe people on the remote reservation of Little No Horse for over half a century. As he nears the end of his life, Father Damien is tormented by the fear of having his true identity discovered: he is, in fact, a woman living as a man.

His peaceful existence is disrupted when a troubled colleague arrives to investigate the life of Sister Leopolda, a perplexing and possibly false saint. Father Damien alone knows the complex truth of Sister Leopolda's piety. He faces a heart-wrenching decision: should he reveal everything he knows and risk losing it all, or should he create a protective history, even though he suspects that Leopolda's miraculous acts may be driven by evil intentions?

This novel delves into themes of miracles, faith, and the struggles between good and evil, as well as the power of secrecy to both corrode and redeem.