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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
What a gentle read! Beautifully written, almost poetic prose. Very slow pace, but it doesn't drag.
This was a really nice story. Living in Oman, I could picture and appreciate many of the scenes. The relationship between self & country was interesting and rang very true for what I have experienced here. I did feel like it was a bit limited for Nye, but a good (and pretty quick) read.
Sometimes middle-grade fiction just hits the spot for me. I have just started this book, but I already love the ways that Nye paints the normalcy and beauty of Oman. So often, all we hear about many Middle Eastern countries is negative. It's so refreshing to soak in the joy that a young boy has for his home, and his country. I also love a lot of Nye's writing and phrasing. I know she has a background as a poet, and it really comes through in her writing. Take this sentence. So simple, but so on point; "It was easy to share when you still had what you needed. When you had enough for yourself. Or when you could get whatever you had shared right back again-like his cars." There are many adults who don't have that self-awareness!
This was a leisurely paced, sweet read.
This was a leisurely paced, sweet read.
Aref is not looking forward to moving with his family to Michigan for three years. He loves his life and his home in Muscat, Oman and does not understand why his parents want to go back to school. This story takes place in the week between his father's leaving and he and his mother's flight. It is a universal story about a child's fear of leaving everything he knows, as well as a love letter to the country of Oman and the miracles it holds. Sidi, Aref's wise grandfather, takes him on a journey around the area, reminding him of everything that will still be there when he returns, as well as filling his mind with memories to hold on to while he is gone. Recommended for grades 3-6.
I did this as a read-aloud in class. Great characters, and a fun glimpse into life in Oman!
I read this with a fifth grade book club in mind. It’s not what I expected, but I think it could be relatable and good for beginning of the year. It focuses on the idea of home, family, moving.
So sweet and so relatable, as a kid that moved across the world at one time in my life. I wish I had had this book back then.
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is a very, very slow moving book about a little boy who does not want to move away from his beloved home in Oman to his new home in Michigan. I liked the writing, but my children and i all could not finish it as a bedtime book, because nothing was going to happen.
This was wonderful, wonderful. A story with a strong grandfather/grandson relationship, and also a younger middle-grade than I've read in a while. The author is a poet, and it shows -- the language and imagery are beautiful, and the detail of this Arab country made it come to life. (Nice to read something lovely about this troubled part of the planet.) A good story, too, about a child's reluctance to move. Beautifully done. And nice to see a quiet book!