I checked out the reviews for the titles that Dawn has thrown out. All but Suzanne Fisher Staples "Under the Persimmon Tree" are for ages 9 - 12. Staples book is recommended for ages 12 and up. I couldn't view the excerpt at Amazon but could at the 4cls website (4 county library system). It sounds very interesting, particularly because the content about the Taliban is so current. I think this book is fine for our first one. (And the jacket is very appealing to the eye with its bright colors).
Nancy