THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES

Stolz, Joelle. The Shadows of Ghadames. New York: Yearling, 2006. ISBN 0-440-41949-2.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Almost twelve-year-old, Malika, lives in Libya at the end of the nineteenth century. As Malika approaches marriageable age, she struggles to understand the traditional Muslim customs that are expected of her. In her culture, women do not leave their homes to be seen in public; they cover themselves almost entirely, have virtually no contact with men except for their husbands, and socialize only with other women on the rooftops of their buildings. Her father has a second wife, Bilkisu, who has a son, Jasim. Malika is jealous of Jasim who gets to go out in public, learns how to read, and will soon explore the world with her merchant father. When a mysterious, wounded stranger appears while Malika's father is traveling, the women in Malika's family hide him and nurse him back to health. Malika's more traditional mother, worries about the exposure to this gentleman, and the risk he exposes her family to. Malika and the man, Abdelkarim, form an unlikely friendship, and he teaches her to read. In turn, she teaches him much he doesn't know about women's traditions, and he expands her mind to the world outside of her home.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Originally titled, Les Ombres de Ghadames, this title is translated from French by Catherine Temerson.
Winner of the Batchelder Award

This is a beautiful tale from a world far away for most of us. It may be hard for Westernized readers to imagine the strict rules, complete separation of men and women, and the insistence upon women's modesty. While readers may initially think this story would never take place in today's society, there is an interesting Author's note at the end informing readers that residents have been in modern housing built by the government for only the last twenty years. These modern houses have brought about changes in customs such as allowing girls to go to school, and having males and females mingle more freely.

Each character in the story is well developed, with the main character, Malika, being one that children will like to learn about. They may not be able to relate to her circumstances, but they will see that as she is growing up, she is facing confusion regarding the expectations her family and her culture puts upon her. The fact that Malika's mother and her father's other wife, Bilkisu, have very different beliefs shows readers that while people of particular customs or religions may seem the same, in fact, they are different. Bilkisu is more modern and progressive than Malika's mother. Even though Malika's father isn't physically present for most of the book, his presence and hold over Malika is always there. Children will also identify with the sibling rivalry present between Malika and her brother.

The novel is seamless in its translation. The vocabulary and flow of the novel make it harmonious to read, and the reader can easily visualize the houses, the rooftops, the clothing, and Malika's lessons in reading. Each character is depicted fully and described in great detail, making the reader feel as if they are experiencing this different time and place.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

HORN BOOK GUIDE:
This French import tells an engaging story of changing visions of people and places.

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE:
Stolz gives prideful Abdelkarim real dimensionality; while he recuperates from his wounds, he teaches the eager Malika to read, forgetting that she is "just a girl" destined soon to marry and lose even the privileges of childhood. 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.

BOOKLIST:
But Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl verging on adolescence. 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.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:
This quiet story is notable for the intimate picture of the traditional Muslim world that it conveys; unfortunately, not until the author's note at the end is the time period made evident. The imprecise use of language may make it difficult for readers to visualize this distant world and to understand the characters' motivations. Still, this novel would be useful in schools studying this part of the world.

CONNECTIONS:

* There are many unfamiliar words that students probably haven't been exposed to. This book would make a great read-a-loud. While reading, stop and write down words that are unfamiliar such as burnoose, and Jinn. Research what these words mean and use the computer (google images) to look at images as well.

* The women in the book have many bluish tattoos with significant meanings. Research to see if women of Muslim culture still have tattoos. Look at images of tattoos and their meanings.

* Aishatou comes from a nearby village to help heal the wounded man. She uses herbs and traditional healings, and is highly respected and feared upon the women. She also reads coffee grounds to predict. Look at the history of reading tea leaves or coffee grounds and try it with your students.