Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye

Bibliography
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. Habibi. New York: Simon & Schuster.

ISBN: 0-689-80149-1

Summary
Liyana Abboud and her family transplant from the United States to her father's birth place, a Palestinian village. Once there, they all endure changes in their lives and experience the world where there are struggles between Jews and Palestinians.

Critical Analysis
Gracefully written, Habibi is a story that opens eyes to topics that are hard for many to comprehend. Naomi Shihab Nye's writing style is one that captivates readers and enlightens with her poetically written words.

Nye's writing style makes, Habibi, a story with excellent literary qualities. Nye tells the story through Liyana, a fourteen year old girl, who contemplates about her world. At the beginning of each chapter, Nye presents a statement, question, or poem by Liyana to foreshadow the chapter, as well as present Liyana as a deep thinker and develop her character. Like many girls her age, Liyana has just experienced her first kiss and has "never imagined lips to be warm" (4). Nye also develops the familial bond intricately, but believably, so that many readers can relate. For example, Liyana is not excited about the move to a new country, however she does not disrespect her father by arguing about it. Also, when her father is jailed, Liyana stands up to the guards so that she can see him. When Liyana becomes interested in a boy, her mother quietly supports her, even though, in their new country, it is not acceptable for this to happen. Additionally, the relationship between her and her brother is strong and supportive. For example, when Liyana wants her family to meet, Omer, her Jewish boyfriend and her father is upset about how the family will react, Rafik exclaims, "Say he's MY FRIEND, not Liyana's." At other times, their relationship is also comical. When Liyana asks, Rafik is he is sick after he has vomited, he exclaims, "No dope-dope, that's how we say hello in my language. As the story progresses, the changes taking place in Liyana are developing. It becomes obvious Liyana is embracing change, and even making others begin to question the old ways. She says to her father, "What good is it to believe in peace and talk about peace if you want to live the same old ways?" (228).

Nye establishes the setting of the story vividly. The tone of the story is appropriate for people going through trials and tribulations of change. At the end of the story, when Sitti welcomes Omer, peace and acceptance of others becomes the obvious message.

Nye's ability to use superb literary qualities transfers to her use of cultural markers in the story. The entire story presents different markers, such as food, clothing, actions, language of the people. Early on, Poppy explains to Liyana and Rafik ice cream will be called "booza" after they move (7). They eat "baked lamb surrounded by rice and pine nuts" (51). They have plates of baba ghanouj and hummus (68) and baklava (69). Liyana discovers katayef, an Arabic dessert, too. All the examples are types of Middle Eastern food.

Another cultural marker is found in their clothing and features. When Liyana's family arrive they notice women wear long dresses made of thick fabrics and embroidered with multicolored threads (40)The women wear long, white scarves over their heads and some men wear kaffiyehs, (41) which are typical headwear for Middle Eastern men. Liyana and Rafik have inherited their father's olive skin (42). The men have brown faces (41). Liyana and Rafik discover their grandmother has tattoos.

More cultural markers are found in names of the characters. Nye carefully chooses appropriate names for her characters. Nye uses Kamal Abboud for father, Rafik for the brother. Some of the relatives' names are Fayed, Fowzi, Muna, Tayeb, Lena, Saba, Leila and Hamza. Some of Liyana and Rafik's friend's names are Bassam, Khaled, and Omer.

Other cultural markers are found in their actions. When the family greets other, they kiss twice, once on each cheek (39). When grandmother is emotionally moved, she trills loudly (39). Liyana discovers "everyone's favorite thing to do here [is] sit in a circle and talk talk talk" (50). When the big meal is served, everyone but Liyana's family eat communally (51). Later, Poppy's brother asks for Liyana's hand in marriage for his son. (56). Sitti carries a jug of water on her head, without using her hands (84). Nye even uses the fact that there is a division among the people in this part of the world as a cultural marker.

In the story, Nye forces the idea of change for peace, acceptace, and love through profound, thought-provoking comments. Nye's ability to present this story so poignantly, makes this story truly uplifting, and a rewarding read for everyone. Habibi is a definite story for every library. It is truly refreshing.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal reports, "Though the story begins at a leisurely pace, readers will be engaged by the characters, the romance, and the foreshadowed danger. Poetically imaged and leavened with humor, the story renders layered and complex history understandable through character and incident. Habibi succeeds in making the hope for peace compellingly personal and concrete...as long as individual citizens like Liyana's grandmother Sitti can say, "I never lost my peace inside."'

Kirkus Reviews states, "The sights, sounds, and smells of Jerusalem drift through the pages and readers glean a sense of current Palestinian-Israeli relations and the region's troubled history. In the process, some of the passages become quite ponderous while the human story- -Liyana's emotional adjustments in the later chapters and her American mother's reactions overall--fall away from the plot. However, Liyana's romance with an Israeli boy develops warmly, and readers are left with hope for change and peace as Liyana makes the city her very own."

Review Excerpts accessed from http://www.amazon.com/

Connections
Other works by Naomi Shihab Nye:
The Space Between Our Footsteps
What Have You Lost?
Nineteen Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East
A Maze Me: Poems for Girls
Never in a Hurry: Essays on People and Places
The Words Under the Words: Selected Poems
Sitti's Secrets