Under the protection of foreign forces, a special place has flourished in Afghanistan. The Marefat School is an award-winning institution in the western slums of Kabul, built by one of the country's most vulnerable minorities, the Hazara. Marefat educates both girls and boys; it teaches students to embrace the arts, criticize their leaders, interrogate their religion, and be active citizens in a rapidly changing country. But they are dependent on foreign forces for security. When the United States begins to withdraw from Afghanistan, they are left behind, unprotected.Acclaimed journalist Jeffrey E. Stern explores the stakes of war through the eyes of those touched by Marefat: the school's daring founder and leader, Aziz Royesh; a mother of five who finds freedom in literacy; a clever mechanic; a self-taught astronomer; the school's security director; and several intrepid students who carry Marefat's mission to the streets.We see how Marefat has embraced the United States and blossomed under its presence---and how much it stands to lose as that protection disappears. The Last Thousand tells the story of what we leave behind when our foreign wars end. It shows us up close the promise, as well as the peril, of our military adventures abroad. Stern presents a nuanced and fascinating portrait of the complex history of Afghanistan, its American occupation, and the ways in which once community rallies together in compelling, heartbreaking, and inspiring detail.

Contents1. Eleven Months Left2. The First Thousand3. Twenty- one Years Left4. The School5. The Student6. Four Years Left7. The Student8. The American9. Two Years Left10. The Mechanic11. Nine Months Left12. The Astronomer13. Eight Months Left 14. The Troublemaker15. Seven Months Left16. The Troublemaker 17. Six Months Left 18. The Driver 19. Five Months Left 20. The Student 21. The Mechanic 22. Four Months Left 23. Three Months Left 24. The Student 25. Two Months Left 26. The Driver 27. The Mechanic 28. One Month Left29. The StorytellerEpilogueAuthor's NoteAcknowledgments