Today, I'm reviewing Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
. I read it for our World Lit group as our February book. We had our discussion a few weeks ago, and I really wish someone recorded it. It would be way more interesting to read here then whatever I'll end up writing! We had the weirdest, most random discussion (many tangents were gone on, including cat collars at one point near the end), but over two hours, a lot of really good points came up. It got a lot "deeper" than most of our book discussions in that we spent probably half an hour talking about memory, emotions, the effect of major world events on our lives, and more.Summary from Amazon.com
Winner, Arab American National Museum Book Award for Children's/YA Literature, among other awards and honors.
“When a war ends it does not go away,” my mother says.“It hides inside us . . . Just forget!”
But I do not want to do what Mother says . . . I want to remember.
In this groundbreaking memoir set in Ramallah during the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War, Ibtisam Barakat captures what it is like to be a child whose world is shattered by war. With candor and courage, she stitches together memories of her childhood: fear and confusion as bombs explode near her home and she is separated from her family; the harshness of
life as a Palestinian refugee; her unexpected joy when she discovers Alef, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. This is the beginning of her passionate connection to words, and as language becomes her refuge, allowing her to piece together the fragments of her world, it becomes her true home.
Transcending the particulars of politics, this illuminating and timely book provides a telling glimpse into a little-known culture that has become an increasingly important part of the puzzle of world peace.
But I do not want to do what Mother says . . . I want to remember.
In this groundbreaking memoir set in Ramallah during the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War, Ibtisam Barakat captures what it is like to be a child whose world is shattered by war. With candor and courage, she stitches together memories of her childhood: fear and confusion as bombs explode near her home and she is separated from her family; the harshness of
life as a Palestinian refugee; her unexpected joy when she discovers Alef, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. This is the beginning of her passionate connection to words, and as language becomes her refuge, allowing her to piece together the fragments of her world, it becomes her true home.
Transcending the particulars of politics, this illuminating and timely book provides a telling glimpse into a little-known culture that has become an increasingly important part of the puzzle of world peace.
My Review
Considering that this is a memoir, it doesn't really seem fair to judge the characters and plot of this book in the same way I normally would. The characters in this book are real people, and so it doesn't feel fair to judge their actions and personalities. What I can say is that I was impressed with the way she wrote about them. She managed to portray her family in the light that she saw them, as a young child, but also in a way that allowed the reader to see all the motivations and emotions that she was too young to understand.
Again, I can't judge the plot, as it is her life. I can talk about what parts she chose to focus on, though. I expected the focus to be on the war and the soldiers, and while it sort of was, it was much more on her. It was about her personal struggles, and the struggles she saw her parents and siblings going through. It became a very personal book, which by the end was focusing on her relationship with the written word, and the way those outside influences, like the soldiers, affected her as a person.
The book was well written to a point. It is a children's book, and so the reading level is lower than most books I read now. The vocabulary was relatively simple, and so were the ideas presented, but I was at times impressed by how she managed to impart a complex idea or feeling in a simple way.
Who Should Read This Book?
I would recommend this book to young teens and preteens looking for a window into life in the middle east. It's also a great discussion book for a book club, and there are many events and ideas that are jumping off points for casual discussion as well.
Again, I can't judge the plot, as it is her life. I can talk about what parts she chose to focus on, though. I expected the focus to be on the war and the soldiers, and while it sort of was, it was much more on her. It was about her personal struggles, and the struggles she saw her parents and siblings going through. It became a very personal book, which by the end was focusing on her relationship with the written word, and the way those outside influences, like the soldiers, affected her as a person.
The book was well written to a point. It is a children's book, and so the reading level is lower than most books I read now. The vocabulary was relatively simple, and so were the ideas presented, but I was at times impressed by how she managed to impart a complex idea or feeling in a simple way.
Who Should Read This Book?
I would recommend this book to young teens and preteens looking for a window into life in the middle east. It's also a great discussion book for a book club, and there are many events and ideas that are jumping off points for casual discussion as well.
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