Bibliography
Johnson, Angela. 2004. Bird. New York: Dial Books.
ISBN: 0-8037-2847-6
Summary
Thirteen year old, Bird wants so badly for her step-father, Cecil to return to Ohio she will do anything she can to find him. Alone, she travels to Alabama, where she hides out in a farmhouse waiting for Cecil to show up. While she is waiting, she befriends Ethan, a boy who's sickness has kept him from ever having a real friend. Along the way, she encounters another boy, Ethan, who is saddened by the loss of his brother. The interesting connection among the three will help each child begin to heal. Bird has to decide to what to do when she finally sees Cecil again.
Critical Analysis
Angela Johnson's story, Bird, as told through the eyes of three youth looking to heal their wounded souls, is peaceful, yet mesmerizing.
The story takes place in a town in Alabama, where Bird has traveled to find her step-father, Cecil. The chapter heading of each chapter denotes the viewpoint the story is being told. Johnson does a excellent job at developing each character, where the reader makes inferences about the connections between the three. The author quickly develops Bird as a strong, but sad character. Bird misses everything about her life back in Ohio, but she is determined to find Cecil. The second chapter is Ethan's chapter, where Johnson explains Ethan has been sick his entire life, which has left him friendless. As the story continues, it becomes obvious Ethan has gotten a new lease on life with a new heart, but he is still lonely. The third chapter is Jay's chapter, where it is apparent he is deeply hurt by the death of his brother. As the story continues, the characters develop chapter by chapter, where the three souls help one another begin to heal.
There are very few African-American cultural markers throughout the entire story. At the very beginning, Bird says, "My people don't smile." At this time, there is no explanation for Bird's use of words, but it does show Bird sees a distinction among types of people. Later in the story, when Ethan and Bird go swimming, Ethan looks at Bird and sees her "wet face, wet braids." This is the first mention of Bird's hairstyle. At the end of the story, Ethan realizes Bird is wearing an Afro. This is the definite confirmation that Bird is African-American, since this is a typical hairstyle of people of indigenous African descent.
Another glimpse at an African-American cultural marker is seen when Jay describes his mother. She has beaded braids that she wears back in a scarf. Beaded braids is a typical African-American hairstyle.
The last Africa-American marker in this story is found in the list of food, which includes collard greens and corn bread, Mrs. Pritchard has prepared. According to The African American Registry, found at http://www.aaregistry.com/, collard greens and corn bread are food traditionally eaten in the south by African-Americans.
The African-American cultural markers are so slight, it is more a story of sweetness and healing, than a lesson in African-American culture. Delicately weaving their lives together, while not fully embracing, Johnson's poignant story of these three wounded characters is truly uplifting.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus states, "Told through the alternating voices of Bird, Jay, and Ethan, this moving journey follows four lonely people as they touch each other's lives. A lovely and sad glimpse of individuals caring for one another in an imperfect world."
Horn Book comments, "The lives of each of these three teen narrators intersect, under unusual circumstances and with lasting effects. Johnson's prose is eloquent and poetic in this spare, powerful novel about matters of the heart."
Review excerpts accessed from Follet's Titlewave site: www.titlewave.com
Connections
Other books for young adults about runaways:
The Blue Mirror by Kathe Koja
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn
Ghost Boy by Iain Lawrence
Tallulah Falls by Christine Fletcher
Other young adult stories by Angela Johnson:
The First Part Last
Heaven
Looking for Red
Friday, June 22, 2007
Danitra Brown Leaves Town by Nikki Grimes
Bibliography
Grimes, Nikki. 2002. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. New York: HarperCollins.
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
ISBN: 0-688-13156-5
Summary
It's summer vacation and Danitra is off to visit family. Danitra and her best friend, Zuri stay in touch through a series of letters, where they record their thoughts in poetry.
Critical Analysis
Author, Nikki Grimes, and illustrator, Floyd Coooper, do an excellent job of preparing a story children can connect with. Through the letters the girls write each other and the colorful illustrations, the reader begins to understand each character.
The illustrations provide the primary evidence of this being a story about African-Americans. The illustrations show the two main characters to be young, average African-American girls. Their clothing is typical of girls their age, what distinguishes them as African-American is the dark skin tone and appropriate hair texture and hair style. The hairstyles of other characters in the illustrations are accurate, as well. For example, accurate representation of African-Americans is seen near the end of the story when Danitra is visiting with her extended family. The boys' hairstyles are clipped close to their heads and one of the girls' hair is braided and fastened with beads. Both types of hairstyles are typical of modern day African-Americans.
There are only a few African-American markers in the text of the story. For example, Danitra describes her mom with the "pretty brownness of her eyes and face." Although, without the illustrations to define the looks of the characters, mother's face could be a white, yet summer-tanned face. The other African-American marker in this story is Zuri's name. Zuri is a Swahilian name meaning beautiful as noted on http://www.namesite.com/index.php, a site that lists African names and meanings.
Through the ease of the text and the liveliness of the illustrations, both author and illustrator do a fantastic job relaying a message about friendship any child can relate to.
Review Excerpts
Booklist announces, "The best friends from Meet Danitra Brown (1994) celebrate summer apart and together in this warm story, told in simple free verse with big, joyful oil-wash paintings"
Catherine Threadgill in School Library Journal reports, "Cooper's photo-realist artwork in soft hues against glowing backdrops is a lovely complement to the girls' many moods."
Reviews accessed through Follett's Titlewave at http://www.titlewave.com/login/?side
Connections
Danitra Brown Leaves Town is a good accompaniment to Meet Danitra Brown and Danitra Brown, Class Clown by Nikki Grimes. These books would be perfect for a girls' reading club.
A third grade student explains, "I love the Danitra Brown books. They are my favorite." ~Briana
Grimes, Nikki. 2002. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. New York: HarperCollins.
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
ISBN: 0-688-13156-5
Summary
It's summer vacation and Danitra is off to visit family. Danitra and her best friend, Zuri stay in touch through a series of letters, where they record their thoughts in poetry.
Critical Analysis
Author, Nikki Grimes, and illustrator, Floyd Coooper, do an excellent job of preparing a story children can connect with. Through the letters the girls write each other and the colorful illustrations, the reader begins to understand each character.
The illustrations provide the primary evidence of this being a story about African-Americans. The illustrations show the two main characters to be young, average African-American girls. Their clothing is typical of girls their age, what distinguishes them as African-American is the dark skin tone and appropriate hair texture and hair style. The hairstyles of other characters in the illustrations are accurate, as well. For example, accurate representation of African-Americans is seen near the end of the story when Danitra is visiting with her extended family. The boys' hairstyles are clipped close to their heads and one of the girls' hair is braided and fastened with beads. Both types of hairstyles are typical of modern day African-Americans.
There are only a few African-American markers in the text of the story. For example, Danitra describes her mom with the "pretty brownness of her eyes and face." Although, without the illustrations to define the looks of the characters, mother's face could be a white, yet summer-tanned face. The other African-American marker in this story is Zuri's name. Zuri is a Swahilian name meaning beautiful as noted on http://www.namesite.com/index.php, a site that lists African names and meanings.
Through the ease of the text and the liveliness of the illustrations, both author and illustrator do a fantastic job relaying a message about friendship any child can relate to.
Review Excerpts
Booklist announces, "The best friends from Meet Danitra Brown (1994) celebrate summer apart and together in this warm story, told in simple free verse with big, joyful oil-wash paintings"
Catherine Threadgill in School Library Journal reports, "Cooper's photo-realist artwork in soft hues against glowing backdrops is a lovely complement to the girls' many moods."
Reviews accessed through Follett's Titlewave at http://www.titlewave.com/login/?side
Connections
Danitra Brown Leaves Town is a good accompaniment to Meet Danitra Brown and Danitra Brown, Class Clown by Nikki Grimes. These books would be perfect for a girls' reading club.
A third grade student explains, "I love the Danitra Brown books. They are my favorite." ~Briana
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Goin' Someplace Special by Patrica C. McKissack
Bibliography
McKissack, Patricia C. 2001. Goin' Someplace Special. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
ISBN: 0-689-81885-8
Summary
Finally, Mama Frances allows 'Tricia Ann to venture to Someplace Special all by herself. Along the way, she is reminded of the Jim Crow laws by the "white only" signs or by comments made by people. Contemplating going home, she remembers all the things Mama Frances has told her. After regaining her composure, she continues on, reaching her special destination--the public library.
Critical Analysis
In Goin' Someplace Special, the author, Patricia McKissack does an excellent job portraying the main character, 'Tricia Ann, as a sweet, determined, and impressionable young girl who is deeply hurt when she experiences racism.
McKissack's setting is appropriate for a story about segregation: a southern town in the 1950's. A specific town's name is never mentioned, but the southern locality can be verified through the mention of the Jim Crow sign: Whites Only. The mention of Jim Crow is the first clue in the text that this is a story about an African-American. The main cultural markers in this story revolve around the main plot line, which is 'Tricia Ann encounter with the Jim Crow law. One example would be when Mrs. Grannell explains to 'Tricia Ann, "Those signs can tell us where to sit, but they can't tell us what to think." Another example would be when 'Tricia Ann notices the signs again when she sits on the bench at the park. The last, and most difficult situation 'Tricia Ann experiences, is when she is shooed out of the hotel lobby, with a man saying, "No colored people allowed!"
However, McKissack does possibly provide subtle African-American language markers. For example, "Carry yo'self proud" and "I'm gon' think..." are two phrases found early in the story, but these types of phrases could just be a southern language pattern, rather than strictly African-American. Throughout the rest of the text there are a few subtle language patterns, but nothing that is blatant African-American.
Additionally, the illustrations by Jerry Pinkney are clear African-American cultural markers. The characters struggling with the Jim Crow law are portrayed as a dark-skinned. For example, there is apparent skin differences between 'Tricia Ann and the crowd in the hotel lobby. Pinkney does show skin variations between the dark-skinned characters, too. The street vendor, Jimmy Lee is darker skinned than 'Tricia Ann, making the reader aware of shade variations among African-Americans.
The ease of the linear plot, the depth of the main character, and the details of the superb illustrations, makes Goin Someplace Special an outstanding story to help children better understand African-Americans' frustration and pain endured during segregation.
Review Excerpts
Mary Elam in School Library Journal reports, "In an eye-opening journey, McKissack takes the child through an experience based upon her own personal history and the multiple indignities of the period....Pinkney re-creates the city in detailed pencil-and-watercolor art angled over full-page spreads, highlighting the young girl with vibrant color in each illustration. A thought-provoking story for group sharing and independent readers."
Emilie Coutler with Amazon.com states, "Drawing on her own Nashville childhood, Newbery Honor-winning author Patricia C. McKissack (The Dark- Thirty) brings the injustices of segregation to life in this bittersweet picture book. Illustrator Jerry Pinkney, four-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor Medalist, captures the spirit of the '50s with his lovely watercolors."
Reviews accessed from http://www.amazon.com/.
Connections
Goin' Someplace Special would be an excellent glimpse of young, African-American girl's life during the segregation era. Other books to read on similar subjects would be:
McKissack, Patricia C. 2001. Goin' Someplace Special. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
ISBN: 0-689-81885-8
Summary
Finally, Mama Frances allows 'Tricia Ann to venture to Someplace Special all by herself. Along the way, she is reminded of the Jim Crow laws by the "white only" signs or by comments made by people. Contemplating going home, she remembers all the things Mama Frances has told her. After regaining her composure, she continues on, reaching her special destination--the public library.
Critical Analysis
In Goin' Someplace Special, the author, Patricia McKissack does an excellent job portraying the main character, 'Tricia Ann, as a sweet, determined, and impressionable young girl who is deeply hurt when she experiences racism.
McKissack's setting is appropriate for a story about segregation: a southern town in the 1950's. A specific town's name is never mentioned, but the southern locality can be verified through the mention of the Jim Crow sign: Whites Only. The mention of Jim Crow is the first clue in the text that this is a story about an African-American. The main cultural markers in this story revolve around the main plot line, which is 'Tricia Ann encounter with the Jim Crow law. One example would be when Mrs. Grannell explains to 'Tricia Ann, "Those signs can tell us where to sit, but they can't tell us what to think." Another example would be when 'Tricia Ann notices the signs again when she sits on the bench at the park. The last, and most difficult situation 'Tricia Ann experiences, is when she is shooed out of the hotel lobby, with a man saying, "No colored people allowed!"
However, McKissack does possibly provide subtle African-American language markers. For example, "Carry yo'self proud" and "I'm gon' think..." are two phrases found early in the story, but these types of phrases could just be a southern language pattern, rather than strictly African-American. Throughout the rest of the text there are a few subtle language patterns, but nothing that is blatant African-American.
Additionally, the illustrations by Jerry Pinkney are clear African-American cultural markers. The characters struggling with the Jim Crow law are portrayed as a dark-skinned. For example, there is apparent skin differences between 'Tricia Ann and the crowd in the hotel lobby. Pinkney does show skin variations between the dark-skinned characters, too. The street vendor, Jimmy Lee is darker skinned than 'Tricia Ann, making the reader aware of shade variations among African-Americans.
The ease of the linear plot, the depth of the main character, and the details of the superb illustrations, makes Goin Someplace Special an outstanding story to help children better understand African-Americans' frustration and pain endured during segregation.
Review Excerpts
Mary Elam in School Library Journal reports, "In an eye-opening journey, McKissack takes the child through an experience based upon her own personal history and the multiple indignities of the period....Pinkney re-creates the city in detailed pencil-and-watercolor art angled over full-page spreads, highlighting the young girl with vibrant color in each illustration. A thought-provoking story for group sharing and independent readers."
Emilie Coutler with Amazon.com states, "Drawing on her own Nashville childhood, Newbery Honor-winning author Patricia C. McKissack (The Dark- Thirty) brings the injustices of segregation to life in this bittersweet picture book. Illustrator Jerry Pinkney, four-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor Medalist, captures the spirit of the '50s with his lovely watercolors."
Reviews accessed from http://www.amazon.com/.
Connections
Goin' Someplace Special would be an excellent glimpse of young, African-American girl's life during the segregation era. Other books to read on similar subjects would be:
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
Abby Takes a Stand by Patricia McKissack
Dear Mr. Rosenwald by Carole Boston Weatherford
Rosa Parks by Eloise Greenfield
Thursday, June 14, 2007
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Bibliography
Dahl, Roald. 1961/2002. James and the Giant Peach. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
ISBN: 0-375-81424-8
Summary
After James' parents are killed, he is sent to live with his nasty aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. An old man gives James magic crystals to keep James from being miserable for the rest of his life. James' new life begins when he accidentally drops the magic crystals near a peach tree. A giant peach begins to grow on the tree. James crawls inside the peach and finds new friends: grasshopper, ladybug, glow-worm, spider, centipede, silkworm, and earthworm. After they break the peach free from the tree, James and his new friends go on an adventure of a lifetime that brings them to a new world.
Critical Analysis
Throughout the story James and the Giant Peach, Dahl presents subtle cultural markers. The most obvious cultural marker found is in the name of the main character, James Henry Trotter. The name is of English origin.
There are other cultural markers throughout the story, such as the word use of spectacles for glasses and short trousers for shorts.
Some of the comments in the story are cultural markers, too. When the crew on the ship see the huge peach, the captain states "Send a message to the queen." The queen is the head of the country in England. Proper English phrases such as "I do believe," Off with you at once" and "My dear boy" were used throughout the story.
The cultural markers throughout Dahl's story are very slight, probably because much of the language is similar to that of the United States. Dahl's story would be a good tool for comparing the culture in the United States and the culture in England. In the story James and the Giant Peach, Dahl does a fantastic job of making a simple, sweet boy escape the evils of his existing life. Many children will enjoy reading about James and cheering him on while he is having his adventures on the giant peach.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal states, "Fans of Dahl will not be disappointed in this briskly paced tale that is a delight from beginning to end." (2003)
Amazon.com reports, "Roald Dahl's rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that parents will not tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do over and over again!"
Reviews taken from http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0375814248/sr=8-2/qid=1181853742/ref=dp_proddesc_0/104-3110597-7016730?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1181853742&sr=8-2
Connections
After presenting this book to a group of elementary students, they had a variety of comments:
"I loved this book. What else does this author write?" ~Doris
"I was so happy James got to start a new life, his aunts were so mean." ~Jimmy
"I've read James and The BFG. I really liked them both. I can't decide if I'm going to read The Twits or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory next!" ~Gustavo
Other books by Roald Dahl:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
The Twits
The Witches
The BFG
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Boy
Danny the Champion of the World
Matilda
George's Marvelous Medicine
Dahl, Roald. 1961/2002. James and the Giant Peach. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
ISBN: 0-375-81424-8
Summary
After James' parents are killed, he is sent to live with his nasty aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. An old man gives James magic crystals to keep James from being miserable for the rest of his life. James' new life begins when he accidentally drops the magic crystals near a peach tree. A giant peach begins to grow on the tree. James crawls inside the peach and finds new friends: grasshopper, ladybug, glow-worm, spider, centipede, silkworm, and earthworm. After they break the peach free from the tree, James and his new friends go on an adventure of a lifetime that brings them to a new world.
Critical Analysis
Throughout the story James and the Giant Peach, Dahl presents subtle cultural markers. The most obvious cultural marker found is in the name of the main character, James Henry Trotter. The name is of English origin.
There are other cultural markers throughout the story, such as the word use of spectacles for glasses and short trousers for shorts.
Some of the comments in the story are cultural markers, too. When the crew on the ship see the huge peach, the captain states "Send a message to the queen." The queen is the head of the country in England. Proper English phrases such as "I do believe," Off with you at once" and "My dear boy" were used throughout the story.
The cultural markers throughout Dahl's story are very slight, probably because much of the language is similar to that of the United States. Dahl's story would be a good tool for comparing the culture in the United States and the culture in England. In the story James and the Giant Peach, Dahl does a fantastic job of making a simple, sweet boy escape the evils of his existing life. Many children will enjoy reading about James and cheering him on while he is having his adventures on the giant peach.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal states, "Fans of Dahl will not be disappointed in this briskly paced tale that is a delight from beginning to end." (2003)
Amazon.com reports, "Roald Dahl's rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that parents will not tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do over and over again!"
Reviews taken from http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0375814248/sr=8-2/qid=1181853742/ref=dp_proddesc_0/104-3110597-7016730?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1181853742&sr=8-2
Connections
After presenting this book to a group of elementary students, they had a variety of comments:
"I loved this book. What else does this author write?" ~Doris
"I was so happy James got to start a new life, his aunts were so mean." ~Jimmy
"I've read James and The BFG. I really liked them both. I can't decide if I'm going to read The Twits or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory next!" ~Gustavo
Other books by Roald Dahl:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
The Twits
The Witches
The BFG
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Boy
Danny the Champion of the World
Matilda
George's Marvelous Medicine
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Koala Lou by Mem Fox
Bibliography
Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. San Diego: Gulliver Books.
Illustrator: Pamela Lofts
ISBN: 0-15-200502-1
Plot Summary
Koala Lou loves hearing her mother say, "Koala Lou, I do love you." As time goes by and more children arrive, Koala Lou hears it less often. She devises a plan to hear her mother say it again.
Critical Analysis
Mem Fox's warm, delightful story is a tale that all children can understand through her use of animals as the characters. The story, Koala Lou, can reassure any child that worries about losing the love of a parent.
Fox uses animals as the characters in her book. The animals Fox uses in Koala Lou are found naturally in eastern Australia or lands off the eastern coast of Australia: the platypus, koala bear, emu and kookaburra. Also, the title of the race Koala Lou competes in is called the Bush Olympics. The bush is undeveloped area of land. The animals Fox uses as the characters are consistent with animals found in the Australian bush. Also, Koala Lou is training to climb gum trees. Gum trees make up the tree flora of Australia.
The illustrator's rendition of the animals are accurate in colors and markings, although cartoon-like in pictures where they are wearing a hats to watch the Olympics or Koala Lou wearing tennis shoes while training.
The consistencies in the text and illustrations found in Koala Lou make this story a good choice of international literature. The lesson and simplicity of this story makes it a good choice for quality literature for young students.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review states, "This satisfying reworking of a familiar and ever-important theme is appealingly illustrated--bright colors, soft-edged sculptural forms, precise detail, dozens of expressive animals" (1989).
Horn Book comments, "In a gentle tale set in the Australian bush, Koala Lou wants to win the Bush Olympics. A good choice for story hour, bedtime, or reading aloud" (1990).
Reviews accessed from Follet's Titlewise, http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=60b11f0b2c36faef18be75cd47420e72
Connections
Koala Lou would be a good book to read while learning about parent/child relationships. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and Love You, Forever by Robert Munsch would be good accompaniments.
Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. San Diego: Gulliver Books.
Illustrator: Pamela Lofts
ISBN: 0-15-200502-1
Plot Summary
Koala Lou loves hearing her mother say, "Koala Lou, I do love you." As time goes by and more children arrive, Koala Lou hears it less often. She devises a plan to hear her mother say it again.
Critical Analysis
Mem Fox's warm, delightful story is a tale that all children can understand through her use of animals as the characters. The story, Koala Lou, can reassure any child that worries about losing the love of a parent.
Fox uses animals as the characters in her book. The animals Fox uses in Koala Lou are found naturally in eastern Australia or lands off the eastern coast of Australia: the platypus, koala bear, emu and kookaburra. Also, the title of the race Koala Lou competes in is called the Bush Olympics. The bush is undeveloped area of land. The animals Fox uses as the characters are consistent with animals found in the Australian bush. Also, Koala Lou is training to climb gum trees. Gum trees make up the tree flora of Australia.
The illustrator's rendition of the animals are accurate in colors and markings, although cartoon-like in pictures where they are wearing a hats to watch the Olympics or Koala Lou wearing tennis shoes while training.
The consistencies in the text and illustrations found in Koala Lou make this story a good choice of international literature. The lesson and simplicity of this story makes it a good choice for quality literature for young students.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review states, "This satisfying reworking of a familiar and ever-important theme is appealingly illustrated--bright colors, soft-edged sculptural forms, precise detail, dozens of expressive animals" (1989).
Horn Book comments, "In a gentle tale set in the Australian bush, Koala Lou wants to win the Bush Olympics. A good choice for story hour, bedtime, or reading aloud" (1990).
Reviews accessed from Follet's Titlewise, http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=60b11f0b2c36faef18be75cd47420e72
Connections
Koala Lou would be a good book to read while learning about parent/child relationships. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and Love You, Forever by Robert Munsch would be good accompaniments.
The Shadows of Ghadames by Joelle Stolz
Bibliography
Stolz, Joëlle. 2004. The Shadows of Ghadames. Translated by Catherine Temerson. New York: Delacorte.
ISBN: 0-385-90131-3
Plot Summary
This story is set in Libya, at the end of the nineteenth century, where women and men are segregated. The woman’s lives exist among the rooftops, where their gardens are painted and they gather for market at each other’s homes. The men interact with each other at the street level, traveling about the city or even venturing outside the walls of the city. Malika, a girl nearing the age of twelve, accepts and enjoys the role of women in her society, while at the same time questions the limitations expected of her as she enters adulthood. While Malika’s father is away, her father’s second wife, Bilkisu rescues an injured man. Malika’s mother, Meriem and Bilkisu, help this man recuperate, knowing their actions could have detrimental effects for them. During his recuperation, Malika gains a richer understanding in the way of her people.
Critical Analysis
The story The Shadows of Ghadames is eloquently written and the main character is well-developed. The main character, Malika, is a girl in transition from youth to womanhood, and struggling with the role she will have to take as a woman as forced on her by her culture.
The Shadows of Ghadames is full of cultural markers that assists the reader in understanding the way of life in Ghadames in the nineteenth century. (Although, the reader does not know the story is set in the late nineteenth century until the end of the story when the author's note is presented.) The entire story is an explanation of one girl's journey into womanhood, which was typical during this time period.
At the beginning of the story, Stolz explains Malika's father has two wives and each has born one child. They all live together in one house with a servant. All main characters are Muslim and practice the traditions of the Islamic faith. The names of the characters, Malika, Bilkisu, Meriem, Jasim, Abdelkarim are all names found in middle eastern countries.
Stolz describes the characters in traditional clothing for Muslim countries. For example, father wears a burnoose, Jasim is dressed in a djellabe, and the women are all veiled.
The reader begins to notice specific culture identification very early in the story. For example, the women/girls and men/boys live separate lives, and have different privileges. Malika's mother does not allow Malika to go to the city edge to see her father off on his travels, but Jasim, her brother is allowed to go. Malika desires to learn how to read and write like her brother, but it is only customary for males to learn. Malika experiences different events from her brother. Her brother is sent to the uncle's home, while father is gone. Malika and the women stay on the rooftops where the women are allowed. While father is away, a lamp is lit near the doorway to express to any visitors, the man is away.
Stolz accurately describes food in the story. In one scene, Meriem stores the wheat and barley that will be needed for meals during fathers absence. It is in their custom to only take what is needed while the men are gone. Once the men have returned celebrations and feasts can occur.
Additionally, the celebrations in the story are accurate for the Muslim way of life. Malika attends a ceremony where jinns are summoned. Spirits are known as jinns in this area. Also, a wedding ceremony is called an arous ceremony. A bride is an arous in middle eastern countries.
Stolz does a wonderful job of portraying the Muslim way of life in her story, The Shadows of Ghadames, even though the way of life is from the nineteenth century. This story provides a glimpse into the past and provides interesting background knowledge to better understand the current culture in the Middle East.
Review Excerpts
Booklist reports, “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”
Horn Book comments, “In this novel translated from the French, the wealth of cultural detail is sometimes distracting, and the author is too obvious in her selection of a gift for Malika from her father: a telescope, to see beyond. But then Stolz's whole story, which is steeped in the syncretic Islam of Ghadames, revolves around changing visions of people and places.”
Reviews accessed through Follett’s Titlewave site: http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=60b11f0b2c36faef18be75cd47420e72
Connections
The Shadows of Ghadames would be useful book for young adults and adults to learn about the ways of life of the Islamic people during the late nineteenth century. The time period of this book provides insight concerning the segregation of men and women in this society, the ways of life of each gender, and how they existed together, yet separately. The Shadows of Ghadames would be a good tool to develop discussions about the changes in the past 100 years in the Islamic faith in the area of Ghadames.
Other stories with Muslims characters:
A Stone in My Hand by Cathryn Clinton
My Name was Hussein by Hristo Kyuchukov
Stolz, Joëlle. 2004. The Shadows of Ghadames. Translated by Catherine Temerson. New York: Delacorte.
ISBN: 0-385-90131-3
Plot Summary
This story is set in Libya, at the end of the nineteenth century, where women and men are segregated. The woman’s lives exist among the rooftops, where their gardens are painted and they gather for market at each other’s homes. The men interact with each other at the street level, traveling about the city or even venturing outside the walls of the city. Malika, a girl nearing the age of twelve, accepts and enjoys the role of women in her society, while at the same time questions the limitations expected of her as she enters adulthood. While Malika’s father is away, her father’s second wife, Bilkisu rescues an injured man. Malika’s mother, Meriem and Bilkisu, help this man recuperate, knowing their actions could have detrimental effects for them. During his recuperation, Malika gains a richer understanding in the way of her people.
Critical Analysis
The story The Shadows of Ghadames is eloquently written and the main character is well-developed. The main character, Malika, is a girl in transition from youth to womanhood, and struggling with the role she will have to take as a woman as forced on her by her culture.
The Shadows of Ghadames is full of cultural markers that assists the reader in understanding the way of life in Ghadames in the nineteenth century. (Although, the reader does not know the story is set in the late nineteenth century until the end of the story when the author's note is presented.) The entire story is an explanation of one girl's journey into womanhood, which was typical during this time period.
At the beginning of the story, Stolz explains Malika's father has two wives and each has born one child. They all live together in one house with a servant. All main characters are Muslim and practice the traditions of the Islamic faith. The names of the characters, Malika, Bilkisu, Meriem, Jasim, Abdelkarim are all names found in middle eastern countries.
Stolz describes the characters in traditional clothing for Muslim countries. For example, father wears a burnoose, Jasim is dressed in a djellabe, and the women are all veiled.
The reader begins to notice specific culture identification very early in the story. For example, the women/girls and men/boys live separate lives, and have different privileges. Malika's mother does not allow Malika to go to the city edge to see her father off on his travels, but Jasim, her brother is allowed to go. Malika desires to learn how to read and write like her brother, but it is only customary for males to learn. Malika experiences different events from her brother. Her brother is sent to the uncle's home, while father is gone. Malika and the women stay on the rooftops where the women are allowed. While father is away, a lamp is lit near the doorway to express to any visitors, the man is away.
Stolz accurately describes food in the story. In one scene, Meriem stores the wheat and barley that will be needed for meals during fathers absence. It is in their custom to only take what is needed while the men are gone. Once the men have returned celebrations and feasts can occur.
Additionally, the celebrations in the story are accurate for the Muslim way of life. Malika attends a ceremony where jinns are summoned. Spirits are known as jinns in this area. Also, a wedding ceremony is called an arous ceremony. A bride is an arous in middle eastern countries.
Stolz does a wonderful job of portraying the Muslim way of life in her story, The Shadows of Ghadames, even though the way of life is from the nineteenth century. This story provides a glimpse into the past and provides interesting background knowledge to better understand the current culture in the Middle East.
Review Excerpts
Booklist reports, “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”
Horn Book comments, “In this novel translated from the French, the wealth of cultural detail is sometimes distracting, and the author is too obvious in her selection of a gift for Malika from her father: a telescope, to see beyond. But then Stolz's whole story, which is steeped in the syncretic Islam of Ghadames, revolves around changing visions of people and places.”
Reviews accessed through Follett’s Titlewave site: http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=60b11f0b2c36faef18be75cd47420e72
Connections
The Shadows of Ghadames would be useful book for young adults and adults to learn about the ways of life of the Islamic people during the late nineteenth century. The time period of this book provides insight concerning the segregation of men and women in this society, the ways of life of each gender, and how they existed together, yet separately. The Shadows of Ghadames would be a good tool to develop discussions about the changes in the past 100 years in the Islamic faith in the area of Ghadames.
Other stories with Muslims characters:
A Stone in My Hand by Cathryn Clinton
My Name was Hussein by Hristo Kyuchukov
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