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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
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I chose this book because of the cover, my interests in sea turtles, and my familiarity with the author as a poetry writer. I also don't know if I've read any books from this part of the Middle East before or from a Muslim child's perspective in a chapter book. This book did not disappoint.
This book would be helpful for an intermediate reader that is going to be moving schools to deal with the complex feelings of moving away.
I want to visit the beaches in Oman now to see all those turtles and then drive to the desert to see the camels while sleeping under the stars.
This book would be helpful for an intermediate reader that is going to be moving schools to deal with the complex feelings of moving away.
I want to visit the beaches in Oman now to see all those turtles and then drive to the desert to see the camels while sleeping under the stars.
I wanted to read this book after I read Roger Sutton's interview with Naomi Shihab Nye. Even if a book isn't the type of thing I'd typically read, hearing about it from the author will usually spark my interest. Indeed, this isn't a typical "Miss Amy" book; it's a very quiet story in which not much happens. Aref's family is preparing to move from Oman to Michigan, and the book follows him for a week or so as he packs (or tries/pretends to), struggles with his feelings, and spends time with grandfather Sidi in the beautiful country he has grown to love. Even though the plot is relatively uneventful, the writing is stunning -- full of details and imagery that are a treat for anyone who loves the printed word. In terms of the characters, Aref's whining about how he doesn't want to move gets a little old, but Sidi is delightful. He's the patient, inquisitive, up-for-anything (despite his bad knees!) grandfather that everyone wants to have. The love between Aref and Sidi is really touching, and serves as a reminder that people stay connected even if they're separated by physical distance.
Kids probably wouldn't pick this one up on their own, so it's a good candidate for hand-selling. I'd recommend it to kids who are moving (Aref comes to terms with his own move by the end of the book), or to folks who are looking for books with diverse characters.
Kids probably wouldn't pick this one up on their own, so it's a good candidate for hand-selling. I'd recommend it to kids who are moving (Aref comes to terms with his own move by the end of the book), or to folks who are looking for books with diverse characters.
I learned more about Oman in this book than I ever expected, and found the characters charming. I kept expecting Aref to actually journey to the US, so I was surprised when that did not happen in the book, but it was a beautiful picture of a bittersweet situation.
I love the poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye, so when I needed a book set in the Middle East for my 2016 Reading Challenge, I chose this novel by her. Afer is a 3rd-grader who lives in Muscat, Oman and is leaving soon to travel with his parents to America. (His parents are pursuing doctorate degrees in Michigan.) Resisting the idea of moving away for 3 years, Afer refuses to pack anything in his suitcase. His grandfather, Sidi, takes him on small trips around their town and helps him see that traveling and then coming home again is not a bad thing. They visit the beach, camp in the desert, ride on a fishing boat, and even sleep on the flat roof of Sidi's house one night. All along they are also making memories of their time together.
There is nothing tragic or awful about this story, but it will make you feel the sadness that Afer and Sidi feel about their separation. It is a wonderfully told tale of the love between a boy and his grandfather, and also about leaving your hometown to see other places in the world. Afer loves the sea turtles that come to the beach nearby and lay their eggs. He marvels at their ability to go out to sea and always find their way back. His grandfather reminds him that he and his parents will also be coming back, and that Sidi will be waiting for them.
The descriptions of the city and all the places in and around it make you feel as if you are there. You can picture the moon "orange and full, like a big fat juicy melon"shining down on them as they have their sleepover on the roof. And when Afer goes to bed and begins "pressing his face into the pillow that smelled like sun and air," you can almost smell the fresh breeze clinging to the pillowcase. But the descriptions of their feelings might make you cry. Afer "wished he could tell Sidi, you are the king of my heart forever...I cannot stand the thought of being far from you, ever, ever, ever." Yet he doesn't say it, because he knows it will make Sidi sad to hear it. His grandfather is feeling the same way, and during their sleepover he had said, "Aref, I'm going to miss you terribly, you do know that?" Aref knows is must be true, because Sidi generally said only positive things, so this was "a rare comment from his happy tongue."
For those who enjoy stories about family relationships, this is a great book about a child and a grandparent who love each other and enjoy each other's company. For those looking for books that share cultures from other lands, this does a great job of showing how the new is mixing in with the old in Oman and weaving in details like the fishermen using nets to catch sardines from their small fishing boats, vendors selling paper cones full of roasted almonds, or the dust swirling over the desert outside the city. And it would be a good story to read with a child who is nervous about moving to a new place, or to recommend to someone who enjoys stories that highlight the pleasures of doing simple things together with a loved one.
There is nothing tragic or awful about this story, but it will make you feel the sadness that Afer and Sidi feel about their separation. It is a wonderfully told tale of the love between a boy and his grandfather, and also about leaving your hometown to see other places in the world. Afer loves the sea turtles that come to the beach nearby and lay their eggs. He marvels at their ability to go out to sea and always find their way back. His grandfather reminds him that he and his parents will also be coming back, and that Sidi will be waiting for them.
The descriptions of the city and all the places in and around it make you feel as if you are there. You can picture the moon "orange and full, like a big fat juicy melon"shining down on them as they have their sleepover on the roof. And when Afer goes to bed and begins "pressing his face into the pillow that smelled like sun and air," you can almost smell the fresh breeze clinging to the pillowcase. But the descriptions of their feelings might make you cry. Afer "wished he could tell Sidi, you are the king of my heart forever...I cannot stand the thought of being far from you, ever, ever, ever." Yet he doesn't say it, because he knows it will make Sidi sad to hear it. His grandfather is feeling the same way, and during their sleepover he had said, "Aref, I'm going to miss you terribly, you do know that?" Aref knows is must be true, because Sidi generally said only positive things, so this was "a rare comment from his happy tongue."
For those who enjoy stories about family relationships, this is a great book about a child and a grandparent who love each other and enjoy each other's company. For those looking for books that share cultures from other lands, this does a great job of showing how the new is mixing in with the old in Oman and weaving in details like the fishermen using nets to catch sardines from their small fishing boats, vendors selling paper cones full of roasted almonds, or the dust swirling over the desert outside the city. And it would be a good story to read with a child who is nervous about moving to a new place, or to recommend to someone who enjoys stories that highlight the pleasures of doing simple things together with a loved one.
Rarely do I give a book one star because usually if I don't care for a book that much I do not finish it and thus do not rate it. However, when you are a librarian you sometimes get assigned reading and this was one of the books that was assigned to me as a children's librarian. Everyone else in my grouped loved it. Of all the books we were assigned, this one I just could not get into it and I couldn't really imagine a child reader enjoying it every much. I gave it one star simply because I did not enjoy it.
I do not think this book was without merit. The prose is good. It taps into true childhood emotion of homesickness. It's a good peek into another culture and another part of the world. Despite all of that, I did not find it engaging.
I do not think this book was without merit. The prose is good. It taps into true childhood emotion of homesickness. It's a good peek into another culture and another part of the world. Despite all of that, I did not find it engaging.
This book wasn't what I expected it to be, and that's okay! I was expecting a story about a boy leaving Oman for Michigan, and for the book's setting to actually change as well. Instead, this is a story about a boy accepting his temporary move to Michigan. It's a lovely quiet story about Aref, his love of turtles, and his grandfather, Sidi. Lovely.
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I found the beginning of the book quite dull with dialogue and character dynamics that fell flat. Once Sidi, the main character's grandfather finally entered the story, the book thankfully picked up its pace and I could enjoy the light-hearted beauty of the prose, the way each scene was a love note to Oman, and the sweet exchanges between Aref and Sidi. I don't know if I would've bothered with this book if I was a kid, but my nostalgic adult self enjoyed it.