A River Is Made, by Fazal Moneer Adil, is a powerful memoir that joins war, displacement, and a father's devotion to his child into a single, steady narrative. Fazal writes with clarity and a strong moral center. He traces his journey from Afghanistan through years of uncertainty, the collapse of Kabul, and the evacuation during Operation Allies Refuge. His account of service as an interpreter, and the risks carried by his family, gives readers access to a history often discussed but rarely told with this level of lived detail.

What distinguishes this memoir is its blend of historical witness and private struggle. Fazal writes honestly about rebuilding a life in the United States while navigating the healthcare system for a child with complex medical needs. The result is both personal and deeply public. It widens our understanding of Kabul's fall, refugee resettlement, and the quiet persistence required to begin again.

This book matters for Des Moines and Iowa because Afghan families have become part of the state's civic life, and their stories shape how communities understand resettlement, belonging, and responsibility. It matters for the country because it preserves an essential firsthand account of the Afghan war's human consequences and the long work of rebuilding that follows.

-Fred Darbonne