Book Review: THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stolz, Joelle. 1999. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385901313

B. PLOT SUMMARY
The story happens in the late 19th century in Libya. A young Muslim girl, Malika, has two mothers. Her birth mother is responsible for the household. Her second mother is brother’s mother who is allowed to travel veiled through the city shadows as long as she does not speak to a man. In Malika’s culture, women are confined to the rooftops. Malika’s freedom is being curtailed as she approaches twelve years of age which is close to the marrying age. When Malika’s father is leaving home to venture to another part of the country to trade his goods, Malika and her second mother find and care for a severely wounded man which is forbidden to hide a man at home in their society. Finally, the man learns to respect women and teaches Malika to read.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Stolz’s story provides great cultural markers that connect to Berber culture. For example, women’s clothes and ornaments, veil to cover married women’s head and face when they go out or meet with men, and the material and purposes of containers and vessels. She also explores gender roles, courage, and gives a fascinating glimpse into Berber culture which is another cultural marker relating this culture.

Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl, Malika, verging on adolescence through living with two different types of female, tradition and modern, conservative and enthusiastic. She also creates an outsider, a young person, to provide a new life experience for Malika which enhances and presents her will to learn reading and writing. It finally persuade Malika’s mother to break traditional rules and support her desire. Instead of directly emphasizing how difficult to earn equal rights for female in this culture, Stolz uses a track of representing different clues for the same concept for readers to realize the difficulty.

Language is one element to make this book successful. Stolz uses the sound of words to describe an object which deepened mystery of it, such as youyouyouyouououou and zam-zam tap-tap zam-zam! It's a vivid and beautiful, and well-written book which provides information for readers to have their own pictures of the Middle Eastern culture.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: “This quiet story is notable for the intimate picture of the traditional Muslim world that it conveys; unfortunately, not until the author's note at the end is the time period made evident. The imprecise use of language may make it difficult for readers to visualize this distant world and to understand the characters' motivations. Still, this novel would be useful in schools studying this part of the world.”

Booklist: “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”

E. CONNECTIONS
When I read this book, I found the importance of having the prior knowledge of the story settings.
Know more about Libya
Terri Willis. 2008. LIBYA. ISBN: 9780531124802.
Paul A. Rozario. 2003. LIBYA. ISBN: 9780836831115.
Don Lawson. 1987. LIBYA AND QUADDAFI. ISBN: 9780531103296.
Ted Gottfried. 1994. LIBY: DESERT LAND IN CONFLICT. ISBN: 9781562943516
Francesca Davis DiPazza. 2005. LIBYA IN PICTURES. ISBN: 97808225493.