Naomi Shihab Nye

I. BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. HABIBI. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689801491

II. SUMMARY

Liyana and her family move from St. Louis to Jerusalem, after her father decides it is safe enough for them to return to his homeland. Liyana is apprehensive about the move and the new country she will be living in. She discovers a country unlike anything she has ever experienced. She experiences all aspects of life and cultures in Jerusalem, from her large Arabic family to her Armenian teachers and classmates at school. Liyana even begins a romance with and Israeli young man and learns about Jewish culture as well. Liyana’s adolescent experiences are juxtaposed to the realities of conflict in the region, and she questions why these people cannot have peace.

III. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

HABIBI is a poetic, insightful novel from the perspective of a likable and relatable teenage girl. Liyana experiences the typical teenage crushes, from her first kiss in St. Louis to her blossoming romance with Omer in Jerusalem. These experiences are interwoven into her discovery of Jerusalem’s diverse cultures. Through her eyes, the reader comes to learn about the different groups living within the city.

Each character is well thought out and presented fully. Liyana’s relationship with her parents is honest and relevant to many young teens today. HABIBI is a story that builds. The reader senses the conflict in the region, but when the conflict finally reaches the Abboud family, the reader is shocked and dismayed. First, Israeli soldiers destroy the interior of Liyana’s grandmother’s house. Then, Liyana’s father is jailed when he interferes with Israeli soldiers who have shot one of their friends at a nearby refugee camp. The dramatic climax is engaging and genuine. The story is a cry for peace in a world full of conflict. When Omer joins Liyana’s family and meets her grandmother, the reader feels the desire for peace among each of the characters.

There are many cultural markers in the text adding to the authenticity of the work. First, the character’s names are indicative of their Arab heritage. Liyana and Rafik are the Abboud’s two children. Liyana meets a Jewish boy she mistakenly believes is named Omar. Only later she learns his name is actually Hebrew and is Omer. There are other cultural markers as well. The descriptions of the food are examples of food found in the region. Even the description of the house they rent is an example of a cultural marker. The house is white stone in the countryside. It is near a refugee camp.

Other cultural markers include the descriptions of religious beliefs. Liyana notes that her extended family each carries prayer rugs and kneels to pray in Arabic. Other descriptions include their visit to the Dead Sea. The water is so salty; they float as if on rafts. Along the way, they meet with Bedouins, who share goat cheese with them. Each of these descriptions of Liyana’s observations adds to the authenticity of the work. Because Liyana is discovering Jerusalem for the first time, the author is able to describe in great detail the intricacies of everyday life. The comparisons to American culture make the reader aware of the differences.

Overall, HABIBI is a well-written, insightful novel about a region torn with discord. Liyana’s character is relatable and typical of many teenaged girls. Her experiences moving from America to Jerusalem offer readers the opportunity to learn about the varied cultures within the region. Hopefully, as well, readers understand the call for peace in the region as well.

IV. REVIEW EXCERPTS

“Though the story begins at a leisurely pace, readers will be engaged by the characters, the romance, and the foreshadowed danger. 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...as long as individual citizens like Liyana's grandmother Sitti can say, ‘I never lost my peace inside.’”—School Library Journal

“Adolescence magnifies the joys and anxieties of growing up even as it radically simplifies the complexities of the adult world. The poet and anthologist Naomi Shibab Nye is meticulously sensitive to this rainbow of emotion in her autobiographical novel, Habibi….”—New York Times

V. CONNECTIONS

**Create a reader’s theatre script from an excerpt of the book.
**Share in a booktalk.

Other Groups: Disability Picture Book

I. BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Seeger, Pete and Paul Dubois Jacobs. 2006. THE DEAF MUSICIANS. Ill. by R. Gregory Christie. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 039924316X.

II. SUMMARY

Musician Lee plays jazz with his band. One night, his fellow band mates notice that Lee is losing his hearing. They tried to cover for him, but it became too difficult and he quit the band. He finds a school for the deaf and learns sign language. He meets other deaf musicians, and they start their own band. They rehearsed in the subway, and people really enjoyed their music.

III. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

THE DEAF MUSICIANS is a well-written sensitive story about a musician becoming deaf. He thinks he has lost his ability to play music forever, but he meets new friends who are deaf musicians. They form a band, and play to large crowds near the subway. The text has a singsong quality, and the Seeger and Jacobs have done an excellent job of bringing the sounds of jazz into the words. For example, the trumpets are described as going “doodle-bop-bop, boo-bang-bing” and the bass goes “Boomba-bum, boomba-bum.” The reader can almost hear the rhythm.

The illustrations by three-time Coretta Scott King Honor winner R. Gregory Christie are colorful and bold. The characters expressions are vivid and represent a multicultural view of urban life. The faces are not necessarily true to life, but the present the diversity in American culture. Some of the faces are purple, blue and gray.

As a work representing disabilities, the topic is covered in a realistic authentic way. Lee gradually loses his hearing, and he experiences some personal embarrassment about it. However, upon finding the school for the deaf and sign language, he once again has his dignity and ability to communicate. He even realizes an advantage to being able to sign on the loud subway. By using sign language, he can easily communicate to his friends over the sounds of the crowds and train. THE DEAF MUSICIANS presents a positive view of people with disabilities. Through the story, it is clear that just because someone is deaf, they do not have to stop doing something they love…even playing music.

IV. REVIEW EXCERPTS

"Christie's snazzy style matches perfectly with the book's vivacity. The expressive faces and bold use of color make the story sing. This is a great read-aloud that begs for enthusiastic performance and audience participation. Both uplifting and inclusive, it is a celebration of music and resilience"—School Library Journal

V. CONNECTIONS

**Include in a storytime. Teach the children some words in sign language. Sing a song using sign language.

Other Groups: King and King

I. BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

De Haan, Linda and Stern Nijland. 2000. KING AND KING. Berkeley: Tricycle Press. ISBN 1582460612

II. SUMMARY

When the Queen is tired of being queen, she demands that her son marry and become King. They put out a search far and wide, but the princesses do not catch the prince’s attention. Finally, Princess Madeleine and her brother Prince Lee visit the palace. The prince fall sin love with Prince Lee and the two marry.

III. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

KING AND KING is a retelling of a Cinderella story with a homosexual perspective. The prince says to his mother “I’ve never cared much for princesses” in the beginning of the story, making the reader aware that this is not going to be a traditional fairytale. The story is similar in format to tradition fairy tales in its sequence of events. The text is narrative and ends predictably with the phrase “everyone lives happily ever after.”

The illustrations in this picture book are vivid, brightly colored multimedia collages. The pages are sometimes overly busy with the collage effect. The expressions on the characters are drawn and sometimes seem unattractive and somewhat sloppy. The interpretations of the princesses are somewhat stereotypical. The opera singer is huge and the princess from Mumbai is dark black, tall and thin. These exaggerations may add to the humor of the work, but some readers may be offended by them.

There are some markers that add to the authenticity of this work as a representative gay or homosexual picture book. The story itself is a timeless classic with a twist. The reader should understand the concept from the title. KING AND KING is clearly not a traditional tale. As the story progresses, it is clear that the prince does not care for princesses. The subject is not addressed subtly, and some children may be put off by the abruptness with which the prince changes his mind. This takes away from the authenticity of the story, and may seem insensitive to the issue of homosexuality.

Overall, the illustrations in this work are distracting and cluttered. The story is a unique take on a traditional fairy tale, but it is not particularly interesting or compelling within the narrative. This is not the best example of a picture book with a gay or lesbian perspective.

IV. REVIEW EXCERPTS

“Unfortunately, the multimedia collages are cluttered with clashing colors, amorphous paper shapes, scribbles of ink and bleary brushstrokes; the characters' features are indistinct and sometimes ugly. Despite its gleeful disruption of the boy-meets-girl formula, this alterna-tale is not the fairest of them all.”—Publisher’s Weekly

“The book does present same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale. However, those looking for picture books about alternative lifestyles may want to keep looking for a barrier-breaking classic on the subject.”—School Library Journal

V. CONNECTIONS
**Include the book in a display promoting awareness of “Banned Books Week.”