Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Life as an girl in Pakistan
Shabanu, Haveli, and The House of Djinn by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Three books about life as a Pakistani woman
Suzanne Fisher Staples has written an excellent portrayal of life for women in Pakistan. The three novels cover the life of Shabanu, who at the start of Shabanu, is an 11 year old desert girl whose greatest joy is her life with the camels and freedom of the desert. Descriptions of Muslim tenants of behavior, arranged marriages and what they signify are carefully laid out throughout the three stories. Shabanu must rely on her inner strength to navigate the complex web of relationships and tribal traditions. A must read for 7th grade and above for descriptions of Muslim life and a story of a girl/mother’s courage and determination.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Returnable Girl
Returnable Girl by Pamela Lowell
A teen in foster care must choose between the woman who wants to adopt her or the mother who abandoned her amidst the cliques and bullying of middle school.
EXCERPT FROM RETURNABLE GIRL
“Veronica Hartman has been returned nine times between the ages of eleven and thirteen.”
That’s what it says in my file, but if you include the return by my uncle and Raylene the week before Christmas almost two years ago, then it really has been a total of ten times--so far. The last time, I got kicked out of Lancaster Academy for throwing a pair of scissors at my art teacher. And the time before that, I buried my foster mother’s keys in the backyard behind the barn. That number doesn’t include the times I had to stay at the shelter, or the overnight emergency placements; I can’t even remember most of those.
“All that returning can do some damage,” Alison says, “but you’ve got to find ways to cope.”
Alison Hauser is my foster mom (at the moment) and she’s also a therapist. She hasn’t returned me yet, and I’ve been with her over three months, but that doesn’t mean she won’t. Lately, I guess, she’s been considering it. Like this morning, for instance, after I threw the frozen can of orange juice across the kitchen.
“I’m not a thief!” I screamed at her as I let the can fly.
“Veronica Hartman has been returned nine times between the ages of eleven and thirteen.”
That’s what it says in my file, but if you include the return by my uncle and Raylene the week before Christmas almost two years ago, then it really has been a total of ten times--so far. The last time, I got kicked out of Lancaster Academy for throwing a pair of scissors at my art teacher. And the time before that, I buried my foster mother’s keys in the backyard behind the barn. That number doesn’t include the times I had to stay at the shelter, or the overnight emergency placements; I can’t even remember most of those.
“All that returning can do some damage,” Alison says, “but you’ve got to find ways to cope.”
Alison Hauser is my foster mom (at the moment) and she’s also a therapist. She hasn’t returned me yet, and I’ve been with her over three months, but that doesn’t mean she won’t. Lately, I guess, she’s been considering it. Like this morning, for instance, after I threw the frozen can of orange juice across the kitchen.
“I’m not a thief!” I screamed at her as I let the can fly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
