Behind the Lens - (Annie Hawkins) by Jeannée Sacken (Paperback)

About the Book

Photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green barely survived a Taliban ambush that left her military escort dead and a young Afghan girl dying in her arms. She returns to Afghanistan to teach a photography workshop at a secondary school for girls.

Book Synopsis

2024 Best Book Club Selection, The International Firebird Awards

2024 International Pulpwood Queen and Timberwood Guys Bonus Book of the Year

2022 Hawthorne Prize, American Writing Awards

2021 Book of the Year (fiction), Best Women's Fiction, Best Suspense, American Writing Awards

2021 Best Debut Fiction, Winner Women's Fiction, Winner Suspense, Firebird Awards

2021 Winner Notable Book of the Year, Shelf Unbound

Eight years ago, seasoned photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green barely survived a Taliban ambush that left her military escort dead and a young Afghan girl dying in her arms. Since then, she has managed to suppress her memories of that brutal day-until she returns to Afghanistan to teach a photography workshop at the secondary school for girls run by her expat best friend Darya Faludi. As the Taliban gain prominence in the once peaceful region, Annie's nightmares from her last time in-country come roaring back with a vengeance. But are they just dreams? The unshakeable feeling of a grim, watchful presence makes Annie think otherwise.

As Annie struggles with her nightmares, more trouble brews with the suspicion that Darya's teenage daughter is sneaking away at night to meet her shadowy boyfriend. Meanwhile, Annie's own daughter wages war with her father and stepmother back home, feeding Annie's all-consuming mom-guilt. Her only comfort, a poetry-writing U.S. Naval officer who saved her life all those years ago, is now at the other end of a satellite phone 7,000 miles away. How can he possibly keep her safe?

How can anyone?

Review Quotes

"A gripping Afghan tale starring a strong hero wielding a camera." -Kirkus Reviews

"A powerful, heartbreaking story of an American woman seeking redemption . . . this vivid novel is an absorbing read." -Shauna Singh Baldwin, author of What the Body Remembers, The Tiger Claw, and The Selector of Souls

". . . Behind the Lens will top your list of unputdownables." -Jennifer Trethewey, author of the Highlanders of Balforss series

"I dare you to read the first chapter of Behind the Lens and put it down. It can't be done." -Judy Bridges, author of Shut Up & Write!

"Jeannée Sacken reminds us of the steep human cost of war and the deep human connections that can be forged there. This book will stay with you long after you finish the final page." -Kim Suhr, Director of Red Oak Writing and author of Nothing to Lose

" . . . Intricately entwined with the culture of the country, it's a story you'll savor from beginning to end." -Roi Solberg, author of The Caretaker and Spirit of Archetypes

". . . a poignant and riveting work of art . . ." -Heba Elkobaitry, Muslim Cultural Advisement Consultant

"Anyone interested in examining other cultures will appreciate the accuracy with which Sacken presents many of the complexities of a country with a mix of cultural traditions." -Myles Hopper, author of My Father's Shadow

". . . Sacken takes us into Annie's world and keeps us rooting for her from beginning to end." -Carol Wobig, author of The Collected Stories

"Not only does this story take readers on an adventure Behind the Lens and into Annie's life, it transports them to the heart of Afghanistan and into a battle for equality, freedom, and justice." -Rochelle Melander, writing coach and author of Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing