The Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan

Ahmadi-Miller's debut memoir begins with her idyllic childhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, describing days filled with school, social activities, and the comforts of a home with loving siblings and doting parents. Her life is upended during the 1980 Soviet invasion and the ensuing civil war that ultimately tears her family apart, as her mother makes the difficult decision to leave Kabul for India, seeking urgent medical treatment no longer available in Afghanistan. With the conflict at home escalating, the remaining family members realize they, too, must flee to escape the intensifying violence. Ahmadi-Miller details the harrowing five-year journey to reunite with her mother in India. Facing incredible hardships, the family navigated brutal terrain, often on foot, in punishing circumstances, frequently lacking basic necessities such as food and water. Throughout the odyssey, the author describes the physical and spiritual growth she experienced as a result of the astounding trek.