Shabanu : Daughter of the Wind

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Summary: Adi says...
Review: I was required to read this book for summer reading, and it ended up being good. It is really helpful in telling the reader about Muslim tradition. Well the low-down on this book is....Shabanu is a young 11-yr-old girl living with her family in the Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. She has one older sister, Phulan. Phulan is betrothed to cousin Hamir, but when the unexpected hits, Phulan is betrothed to Murad, who was Shabanu's husband-to-be. Shabanu is sacrificed to keep the family safe from Nazir, an abominable landlord who, out of spite, threatens to ruin Phulan's life. Shabanu is forced to marry the landlord's brother to keep the peace. The brother, named Rahim-sahib, has three other wives and is in his 50's. Along her journey to self-discovery, Shabanu is counseled by her dear aunt, Sharma. During her little counseling session, Sharma tells Shabanu that she has a choice. The choice is not what Shabanu expected, but she will have decide on her own in order to choose her path to her destiny. This book is somewhat boring in the beginning but towards the middle it begins to get interesting. I thought the book was an average read, but who knows, it may be your next favorite book. Check it out, and see for yourself.

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Summary: Truly moving
Review: This is an amazing book that tells the story of Shabanu, a nomad. This books portrays the culture of Pakistan. Shabanu is groowing up and she must now take resposabilities for her actions and adopt the Pakistani code of conduct for women. This book is extremely moving and amazing.

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Summary: I can't believe I found it again
Review: I read this book ten years ago, when I was in the fifth grade. I don't know why I thought about it tonight, but for some reason everything, except the title, swept into my mind and I had to find it again. This is the sort of book that children should be reading, if for no other reason than that the instant I thought about it the images were sharp again in my mind. And I found it again easily, even remembering what prize it had won. This is a book that can inspire the imagination of a child, and still bring about a smile in the memory of an adult.

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Summary: Awesome book!
Review: This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Most books about this country are stupid, and the readers head is filled with notions of India that are not true. But this book was not like that at all!The charactors were so real, that I felt myself being swept up in the book, grieving and jumping for joy right along with Shabanu and her family. This book is must-read for anyone who has ever loved and lost something.

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Summary: A Very Good Look at Life in the Desert
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I liked it because there was an element of truth to the fiction. Since it was about an actual group of people in Pakistan, and I was learning about the Cholistan desert and its people and their traditions, it was especially interesting to me. I recommend it to anyone, because it is important to learn about cultures of people other than yourself.

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Summary: Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind
Review: In the introduction, strong-willed Shabanu has to give birth to a weakling camel and is forced to travel along with her family and the plummeting monsoon rains. In the fascinating account of Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind, you will learn amazing facts and beliefs of Pakistani desert nomads. In the book, there were some impetuous and mature context that would be disturbing toward American culture, but not toward Pakistani culture. This book is crammed with immense detail and well written text. We strongly advise that immature children do not read this book...

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Summary: Shabanu Thoughts
Review: I thought this book was amazing. It definatly deserved the award it got. I felt like I was there!!!! Shabanu is probally the one of my fvorite books. It was made for someone who likes camels and has a free spirit. I really enjoyed this book of complicated marrages, confusion, uncertainty, famiy, and culture of other places. You should definatly read this book. You won't regret it

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Summary: Shabanu
Review: Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples is about a 12 year old girl raised with her family who where traveling camel herders that were called the Desert People. They where from the Cholistan desert in Pakistan. In her house she lives with her 13-year-old sister Phulan whose beauty she admires, she also lives her parents, her grandfather, her aunt and her two sons. Because she is the youngest in the family she gets more freedom then an average teenage girl would be getting.
Shabanu enjoys the desert and loves to taking care of her camels and nothing having as many chores as the other woman of the family. Even with all her happiness she know that like her sister she is going to have to marry in a year or so. So it's a reality check knowing that she won't be given this freedom she loves for long. Shabanu wants things for her to be different from other girls but she deals with everything as best as she can.
Shabanu and her sister Phulan are both engaged to brother Hamir and Murad. Pulan is to be wed to Hamir first the Shabanu. While the planning for Phulan's wedding is taking place they soon discover her soon to be husband is killed by a wealthy landowner, Nazir Mohammad, destroying Shabanu's life forever. Because Phulan's the oldest she has to marry Murad. Shabanu is hurt because knowing he was her husband to be she had already fallen in love with him, leaving Shabanu lonely. After this Nazir brother, Rahim, who meets Shabanu, falls in love with her. Because she is wealthy Shabanu say yes to his marriage proposal cause they believe he will make her happy.
Soon to discover Rahim is four times her age with 3 wives and 7 sons. Shabanu then refuses to marry him and wants to listen to her heart and escape but in doing that might give her sister troubles. Will Shanbanu listen to her heart or stay loyal to her family?
I think the book gives very descriptive pictures of the characters that's makes the book seem very real. I think the plot is very good and keeps to you on your toes, but the begining of the book can be a little slow but if u sick with it you'll enjoy it. I didn't enjoy the book too much at first but then it got very interesting and seems very real. I really enjoyed the fact that it has to do with modern daytime and true sencearials these days

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Summary: Warning to parents of middle school boys!
Review: I read this book because my 12-yr. old son was assigned Shabanu in 7th grade Pre-AP LA. It is one of the novels on the 7th grade reading list for Glencoe Literature Text Books. My son commented that it was very sexual, and I could tell that the book had disturbed him. Shabanu includes much discussion of girl thoughts, specifics regarding girls' developing bodies, speculation of being with men, beating girls, as well as descriptions of camels fighting and mating. I agree with the reviewer who said Shabanu didn't show much courage when she sat down and cried, waiting for her father to find her and beat her, when she ran away rather than marry a 55 year old man she didn't know. I do not think any boy should be required to read this book. It is very long, and the subject matter has no appeal for boys. Boys of this age do not need encouragement to think of girls' developing bodies! I live in the Bible belt, and feel certain my school board members would be appalled to think our students are reading this book. I'll soon find out.

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Summary: Shubanu.....One of the best books I have read in highschool
Review: Shubanu, was one book I really enjoyed all the way. It had so many cultural values in the book, that would not let you put the book down for even a sec. I personally finished the book in 2-3 days, which I usually don't do with other books. Shubanu, I believe touched me because I could relate to some similar customs. I am from India therefore some of the customs she faced are still around in Indian cultures today. Over all this was one book that carried a great deal of emotions as well as logic. It expressed how one young girl has to go through so much turmoil and pain just to reach her destiny. How's she is purposed by so many men, how her father and mother treat her, it just goes on to explain the life of a young girl living in a desert. This is one book I recommend for everyone to read.