Shabanu
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3.6 • 39 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
The Newbery Honor winner about a heroic Pakistani girl that The Boston Globe called “Remarkable . . . a riveting tour de force.”
Life is both sweet and cruel to strong-willed young Shabanu, whose home is the windswept Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. The second daughter in a family with no sons, she’s been allowed freedoms forbidden to most Muslim girls. But when a tragic encounter with a wealthy and powerful landowner ruins the marriage plans of her older sister, Shabanu is called upon to sacrifice everything she’s dreamed of. Should she do what is necessary to uphold her family’s honor—or listen to the stirrings of her own heart?
A New York Times Notable Book
“Staples has accomplished a small miracle in her touching and powerful story.” —The New York Times
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Staples's first book is a beautiful portrayal of the life of a girl growing up among camel-dealing nomads in modern Pakistan. Shabanu knows the way her people, the Cholistanis, have always lived: a daughter abides by her father's decisions, a wife obeys her husband's wishes. Yet Shabanu is strong-willed and independent, and her mother warns, ``Shabanu, you are wild as the wind. You must learn to obey. Otherwise . . . I am afraid for you.'' As the arranged marriage of Shabanu's sister Phulan approaches, and with her own wedding planned for the following year, Shabanu confronts her fear and apprehension. She scarcely knows the man she is expected to wed. What if she does not obey? Before the ceremonies take place, however, disaster strikes. Shabanu and Phulan, out alone and threatened with rape by a powerful local landowner, escape but humiliate him. In revenge, he kills Phulan's betrothed and threatens to cut off the family's water supply. As one condition for restoring peace, Shabanu must marry the landlord's older brother. With the help of a wise, loving aunt, Shabanu learns to curb and conceal her powerful will and channel it to bring her peace of mind. Staples's depiction of desert life is breathtaking. She employs vivid, lyrical metaphors to create the potency of the family's joys and struggles. Shabanu's thorny, poignant coming-of-age will capture the attention of readers young and old. Ages 12-up.
Customer Reviews
Deeply Moving
While this book is not as exciting as some of Fisher's other novels, Shabanu holds its own. The story of the nomadic girl forced to chose between her family's traditional wishes and reputation, and her own plan for her life, is both moving and heart-wrenching. It perfectly captures the despair, terror, and hope of a young woman in a desperate situation. This beautifully haunting novel is perfect for any teen or mature pre-teen girl who is culturally aware.
Not to bad
At the beginning it was really boring but as it progresses it gets better and better. It was a weird plot but it was different and I liked that a lot. Try it and do yourself a favor.
Horrible
Suuuuuuuuuuper boring.