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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
ADORABLE, SWEET, LOVE IT! I am obsessed with the sounds of oman, the writing was so easy yet descriptive and I felt like i was in Aref’s pocket next to his stones along for the ride. Siddi is just the best character, everybody deserves a Siddi in their life!
Side note: Icompletely understand how he feels: being a child and subjecting to big changes is hard and the thing is it never gets easier growing up you just kind of get desensitized to it. Letting go is never a total joy on the heart even when it’s the best option for you.
Side note: Icompletely understand how he feels: being a child and subjecting to big changes is hard and the thing is it never gets easier growing up you just kind of get desensitized to it. Letting go is never a total joy on the heart even when it’s the best option for you.
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I thought it would be more about Aref adjusting to life in Michigan after moving from Oman, but it focuses on the last week of his time in Oman, saying goodbye to his life and some sweet moments with his grandfather, Sidi.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
I lloved this book filled with adventures of Aref and his Sidi as they made memories of Muscat, Oman for Aref to cling to as he travelled to Ann Arbour Michigan while his parents study 3 years for their doctorates. I learned so much about the flavour of a place we will visit in January. It will give me insights in what to look for such as the many types of butterflies. Also their trip into the desert gave me the anticipatory feeling for our drive in the sand dunes near Dubai. What a treat this children's novel was!
reflective
slow-paced
A boy coming to grips with moving to a new country could be interesting, but the laid-back whimsy of this book didn't exactly make for compelling reading. I could see it working as a really beautiful movie, but it didn't work for me as a full-length juvenile novel.
I got the chance to sit down and chat with this author. Listen in here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/interview-with-naomi-shihab-nye
I got the chance to sit down and chat with this author. Listen in here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/interview-with-naomi-shihab-nye
Aref and his parents are moving from Oman to Michigan for three years so his parents can attend a university and earn their doctorates. The book starts with Aref's dad leaving while Aref and his mom stay for a week to finalize packing and cleaning. Aref, who loves lists and turtles, does not want to go to America and spends the week avoiding packing and also spending time with his grandfather, soaking up memories and sights of Oman. They go to a desert campground to see the stars and the turtle beach as well as some time on a boat and sleeping on the roof.
I spent the entire book wondering when Aref and his mom were going to be boarding the plane, but the week of goodbyes and memories continued to drag on. I'm not saying this is not a good book, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I think part of that had to do with it being written in third person, a dislike I've recently discovered about myself. Aref and his grandfather have a great relationship, a strength of the book as Sidi helps Aref realize all the great things that are waiting for him in America.
I spent the entire book wondering when Aref and his mom were going to be boarding the plane, but the week of goodbyes and memories continued to drag on. I'm not saying this is not a good book, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I think part of that had to do with it being written in third person, a dislike I've recently discovered about myself. Aref and his grandfather have a great relationship, a strength of the book as Sidi helps Aref realize all the great things that are waiting for him in America.
Aref"s family is moving to Michigan in a week. His parents will be doing graduate work but seven year old Aref doesn't want to leave. He spends this last week with his grandfather, seeing places he loves and talking. This would be a delightful free read, maybe for an older child who can read it and feel it themselves. The deep connection to place, the love of family, the emotions of loss and maybe of new adventure make this book moving and memorable.
"Aref kept thinking that no matter what you say, there is something more inside that you can’t say. You talk around it in a circle, like stirring water with a stick, when ripples swirl out from the center. You say something that isn’t quite right and that’s worse. Then you want to say, sorry! But no one knows what you mean."
"Aref kept thinking that no matter what you say, there is something more inside that you can’t say. You talk around it in a circle, like stirring water with a stick, when ripples swirl out from the center. You say something that isn’t quite right and that’s worse. Then you want to say, sorry! But no one knows what you mean."