Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World... One Child at a Time Review

Written for kids 8 and up, this young reader's edition of Three Cups of Tea tells the inspirational story of Greg Mortenson and his selfless mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson's original book, Three Cups of Tea, has become a worldwide bestseller. Since the goal is about building schools and educating kids, this book and the newly published picture book Listen to the Wind are naturals.

When mountaineer Mortenson got lost in the Pakistani mountains after a failed attempt at climbing K2, he was rescued by the villagers in impoverished Korphe. As he was nursed back to health, Mortenson was shocked to learn that Korphe's children had no school, with lessons taught outdoors just three days a week. Kids learned to write using sticks in the dirt. To repay the village's kindness, Mortenson promised to return, and help build a school.

Mortenson did come back to Korphe, and has indeed helped build not just one but fifty-five schools -- many for girls -- in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The idea of "three cups of tea" comes from Korphe's village chief, Haji Ali. "With the first cup of tea you are a stranger, with the second you become a friend, and with the third, you join our family."

Many parts of Mortenson's story are thrilling as he describes his adventures in such a dangerous part of the world. A trip to Afghanistan, for example, comes complete with red rocks that signal land mines: "There are millions of land mines buried all over Afghanistan, left there by armies after years and years of war. When one is found -- usually because it explodes -- rocks in the area are painted red, as a warning."

A story like this is both inspiring and eye-opening, and should help kids feel closer to children in other parts of the world.

Bonus features include maps of the region; a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall; an interview with Mortenson's teenage daughter Amira, who has traveled with him in his work; and two sections of color photos printed on glossy paper.

Here's the chapter list:

Maps
Foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall
Introduction
Chapter 1: Failure
Chapter 2: The Wrong Side of the River
Chapter 3: I'm Going to Build You a School
Chapter 4: Growing Up
Chapter 5: 580 Letters, One Check
Chapter 6: Hard Way Home
Chapter 7: Korphe at Last
Chapter 8: A Bridge Before a School
Chapter 9: Hunting Ibex
Chapter 10: Building Bridges
Chapter 11: Six Days
Chapter 12: Beginnings
Chapter 13: Haji Ali's Lesson
Chapter 14: A Smile Should Be More Than a Memory
Chapter 15: A Picture
Chapter 16: New Schools -- and More
Chapter 17: Running From War
Chapter 18: Too Much to Do
Chapter 19: A Village Called New York
Chapter 20: Afghanistan
Chapter 21: The First Educated Woman in Korphe
Chapter 22: Stones into Schools
Q&A with Amira Mortenson
Time Line
Glossary
Who's Who in Three Cups of Tea
Readers Guide

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