CULTURE 6: INCLUSIVE LITERATURE

HABIBI

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. Habibi. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689801491

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Fourteen-year-old Liyana Abboud still feels warm inside from her first kiss. This warmth quickly turns cold when her Arab father announced that he would be moving his family from St. Louis to his birth place in Jerusalem. Liyana realizes that she will be the immigrant instead of her father. Now she will have to learn to live and abide by the guidelines of a new country that is filled with cultural prohibitions and tension. To make matters worse, while living in Jerusalem, she begins to fall for a Jewish boy. How will her family deal with this unorthodox news.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Award winning author Naomi Shihab Nye has eloquently written a novel that deals with cultural tensions that have existed for centuries. Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and now resides in San Antonio, Texas. Her father is Palestinian and her mother is an American. Habibi, which means darling, is a novel that emanates from her heart written from her inside perspective. Her story deals with an American family that moves back to their father’s homeland in Jerusalem. The Abbouds are Arab and fourteen year old Liyana and her family must adjust to old cultural customs of this country. Liyana mutters, “I’m just a half-half, woman-girl, Arab-American, a mixed breed…” Liyana feels overwhelmed by the customs and languages of this country. Her father explains, “Liyana, you must be patient. Cultural differences aren’t learned or understood immediately. Most importantly, you must abide by the guide lines where you are living. It is common sense. It will protect you.” The father is right, cultural differences are not understood immediately. Liyana has to open her mind and her heart to this land and its customs. Towards the end of the story Liyana can not quite remember what she dearly misses about the United States anymore. Liyana has fallen in love with Omer, a Jewish boy. This challenges to her family to look within themselves about their tension against Jews and their desire for peace. Sitti, Liyana’s grandmother, holds her fingers to Liyana’s forehead and states, “You have a powerful world in there. Be strong. Keep letting it out.” By the end of the story you can see how Liyana has evolved. She does not completely understand the family culture yet, but she believes that she can be strong and work towards change for peace.

As I read this book it left me with a desire to know more about how the American born mom really felt about moving to this country. She seems to embrace the prohibitions placed on women too easily. I didn’t feel that was very realistic. The book can also be a bit one sided with the authors sharp opinions of Jews. She seems to only speak negatively about the Jewish soldiers as if every single one of them is evil. This book really only offers a one sided view to the life of Palestinians living in Jerusalem.

Cultural Markers:
Naomi Shihab Nye uses authentic cultural markers through out this novel. She also offers one sided views to the ongoing tensions between Palestinians and Jews. Nye introduces us to the shocking struggles and injustices that prevail. Yet, she also reminds us of how change will not come about as long as everyone continues to live the same old way.
When Nye describes the scenery of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, she describes the buildings made with old stones. The homes have metal grill work, TV antennas, clothes hanging on clotheslines, and old wells for water. The streets are noted as paved unevenly and the signs for transportation directions in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. She also describes military check points as they drove from area to area. Throughout the novel you can visually see in your mind the beautiful rich history and culture of the area.

Nye used culturally authentic names throughout the story. Most of the names were Arabic and names that I have never heard of such as: Rafik, Sitti, Mustafa, Zaki, Amal, Daoud, Abdul, Tayeb, Fayed, Fowzi, Muna, Abu, and Hamaza.

The foods mentioned in the story had interesting names as well, Baklava, katayef, bareesa, booza, and baba ghanouj. It was intriguing how Nye describes a scene where Liyana and her mother go together to a butcher shop to get a chicken for dinner. It was Liyana’s first time and she was most overwhelmed. The chickens were all trembling alive in tight cages. The shoppers pointed out the exact chicken they wanted killed for dinner. It was at that moment, “full of rotten stench of the shop…Liyana became a vegetarian.”

Within the story Nye uses several Arabic words with the direct translation incorporated within the story. This helped emerge the reader into the cultural language. She used words such as Alham’dul-Allah - Praise be to God, Fordlack - One please, Ana tayyib - I’m fine, Shway - a little bit, or Ana asif I’m sorry.

Religion plays a big part in the lives of Palestinian families. In the story we learn about the blue prayer rug used on the floor to kneel and pray with the forehead touching the ground in reverence. The grandmother, Sitti, recites passages from the Koran and blesses her family. Liyana’s immediate family believes in karma, God, goodness and hope, and they believe in reincarnation. The Abbouds did not believe in the devil or hell or the fact that some people believe they are “chosen” over anybody else. They believe God is a “Big God” who has room for everyone.

The people are described in the story having weather beaten brown faces. The women wore long dresses made of thick fabrics in rich colors with embroidery. They also wore gold bangle bracelets and long scarves to firmly cover their hair. Liyana noted that the men wore boring black suits like normal men anywhere.

Nye does not shy away from discussing the tensions of these two cultures. She states, “Whenever adults started talking about the world the air grew heavy.” Yet the most gut wrenching but factual comment in the book is when Liyana asks her father, “Poppy, do you think there will ever be a time when all people get along just fine?” His reply, “Nope.” This factual, but grim comment, exemplifies the divisional hatred and tension that exists between these cultures a divide that has existed for centuries.

I do recommend this book. I enjoyed learning about this culture. The only thing I believe needs to be bared in mind is that it is told from only one side’s point of view of cultural tensions that do still exist today.

D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
1998 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
School Library Journal: Poetically imaged and leavened with humor, the story renders layered and complex history understandable through character and incident. Habibi succeeds in making the hope for peace compellingly personal and concrete...
Publishers Weekly: This soul-stirring novel about the Abbouds, an Arab American family, puts faces and names to the victims of violence and persecution in Jerusalem today.
Kirkus Review: Readers are left with hope for change and peace as Liyana makes the city her very own.

E. CONNECTIONS
*Familiarize students with Middle Eastern Culture and Geography
*Discuss the word peace. What does that actually entail?
*Have the students write a summary of where they believe Liyana will be five to ten years down the road.

Other works by Naomi Shihab Nye:
Honeybee: Poems & Short Prose. ISBN: 9780060853907
Sitti’s Secrets. ISBN: 9780689817069
This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from Around the World. ISBN: 9780689806308

To read a short biography on the life of Naomi Shihab Nye visit: http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Naomi-Shihab-Nye



EMMA AND MEESHA MY BOY a two mom story

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Considine, Kaitlyn. 2005. Emma and Meesha My Boy a two mom story. Illustrated by Binny Hobbs. TWOMOMBOOK.com. ISBN 9781413416008

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Emma is a delightful and rambunctious little girl who gets in trouble playing with her cat Meesha. Emma’s Mama and Mommy teach her how to respectfully care for their pet kitty.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is the first book written by Kaitlyn Considine. After desiring more two mom story books for her own children she decided to publish one of her own. The story focuses on Emma who like most children enjoys playing with her pet as if it were a human being or toy to clothe and have fun with. Emma has two moms. She calls one mom Mama and the other Mommy. The two mothers watch over their daughter as she plays with the cat and teaches her the proper ways care and love for the family pet. “They tell her to be sweet and to make sure he has water and food to eat.” At the end Emma reinforces that it is better to hear a Yes from your parents instead of a No.

Heterosexual parents may be uncomfortable with teaching their children at an early age about Gay/Lesbian families. This book offers a sweet way to introduce children to this culture without going into thick sexual terminology about the subject. It teaches children that there are families that are structurally different than their own. Yet both sets of family share common bonds of love and care. Children need to understand the fact that we are all different. The must also understand that we are the same in our need to be loved and our right to be loved no matter our differences. This book offers children a sweet introduction to this story about love within nontraditional families.

Cultural Markers:
The distinct cultural marker in this book is that it is a story about a little girl with two moms. The author helps the reader understand who is who by saying this mom is called Mama and the other mom is named Mommy. Through the story Mama or Mommy will guide their daughter by teaching her how to care for their cat. They also validate their daughter with praise and explain to her how she will know she is treating the cat right.

Illustrations:
The illustrations in this book to me are the most important part of this book because it displays what a two mom family looks like. Otherwise with just text, a child might be lead to believe the little girl was talking about a grandmother and mother. The two moms are illustrated by Binny Hobbs. The illustrations are adorable. She chose to use bright vibrant primary colors. The moms have bright happy eyes, smiles on their face, long hair, earrings, and simply look like your typical mom. The only difference a child will notice is that the two moms hug or hold hands. The illustrations blend perfectly with the text to offer a sweet introduction to the untraditional life of a two mom family.

D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Rosie O'Donnell: "I READ IT - I LOVED IT - CHELSEA READS IT EVERY NIGHT" -- Book Cover, 2003

E. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss how being different make you special.
*Celebrate the differences of each child.
*Discuss how to be a good mom or dad to your pet.

*Other related books :
Bryan, Jennifer. The Different Dragon. ISBN: 9780967446868
Parr, Todd. The Family Book. ISBN: 9780316738965
Parnell, Peter. And Tango Makes Three. ISBN: 9780689878459


RULES

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lord, Cynthia. 2008. Rules. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-439-44383-8

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Twelve year old Catherine is compiling a list of rules to help her autistic brother understand how the world works. Frustrated, and at times embarrassed by her brother, Catherine longs to have a friend who really understands her situation. When a new girl moves in next door her hopes for normalcy begin to flourish. That is until she is confronted by her new friend Jason, who helps her discover what the word normal really means.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cynthia Lord has written a refreshing award winning novel that conveys a truthful story about life. The story is narrated by a twelve year old girl who gives her perspective of living with a family member who has a disability. She begins each chapter with a rule she has written out for her autistic brother David. Within each chapter she accounts for her disappointments, frustrations, bewilderments, embarrassments, and personal revelations. There are many families that will relate to the story Catherine tells about how uncomfortable it is when people stare out of curiosity of the unknown. This family is no different than any other family. They breathe, eat, sleep, struggle, and rejoice together. The only difference is her brother happens to have a disability. Catherine feels frustrated with the fact that David has to be taught everything. So she compiles a list of rules to help him understand the world better. Such as, “Sometime people don’t answer because they didn’t hear you. Other times it’s because they don’t want to hear you.” She knows that expectations set for her are different than for David which makes life rough for her. At one point she confronts her Dad and explains, “Maybe David does need you more than me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need anything at all.” Kids will identify with Catherine’s feelings. Many children feel that their parent gives more attention to one child over the other. In order to cope with her frustrations she finds solace in drawing. “Sometimes I can change how I feel about something by drawing it. Drawing makes me find the curves, the shadows, the ins and outs, and the beautiful parts.” It helps her reconnect with the beautiful parts of her life. Something unexpected happens to Catherine’s life when she meets a paraplegic named Jason. Jason is a normal child stuck in an abnormal body. He helps her discover that we all feel incomplete and torn by life. Through his encouragement she discovers that sometimes the rules we set up for ourselves and our family need to be broken. We need to break the rule and simply dance. Dance to the rhythm of what life has dealt us and see the beauty that it within it. This novel is a beautiful tale of friendship, life, and discovering that what is inside us is what truly matters.

Cultural Markers:
Lord wrote clear cultural markers that demonstrates what it might be like to live with someone who has a disability. David hears everything extra loud so he covers his ears a lot. Catherine explains that talking to David, “can be like a treasure hunt. You have to look underneath the words to figure out what he’s trying to say.” David has to be taught and reminded about everything. Mom on the other hand doesn’t’ like that Catherine helps him with words, “David’ll never learn to talk right if we keep letting him borrow words.” But Catherine can see that “his face is so full of please?” David does embarrassing things according to Catherine like pull his pants down, scream out loud, and move into people’s personal space. Catherine then meets a new boy named Jason who is paraplegic. Jason is in a wheel chair and needs cards to speak. At first Catherine is uneasy around him as she assumes people are when they first meet her brother. Soon she realizes that Jason is trapped in his broken body. She helps him by making new word cards and wheeling him outside fast so he can feel what it might be like to run. The twist to this story is that Catherine learns from Jason what it truly means to be a friend and how to free herself from her rules. It is an engaging and touching story that I highly recommend.

D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Newbery Honor Book
Schneider Family Book Award
Booklist: Catherine see’s that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. A heartwarming first novel.
Kirkus Review: readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences.
School Library Journal: Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. This sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.
Publishers Weekly: A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others' points of view.

E. CONNECTION
*Discuss what it means to be a friend.
*Discuss the meaning of rules. How did they apply in this story?
*Discuss what the definition of normal is. Why do we fear what isn’t “normal?”

Other novels that deal about people with disabilities:
Connor, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. ISBN: 0060890886
Friesen, Jonathan. Jerk, California. ISBN: 9780142412039
Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn. Reaching for Sun. ISBN: 9781599900377

Visit Cynthia Lord at: http://www.cynthialord.com/