Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind

Fair Book

The thing that I like about this book is that anyone who reads it will learn a little more about the Muslim culture. In my opinion, the middle and beginning of the story could be a tad boring because it mainly tells about the future life of a girl and her sister which is about to get married. Then towards the end, more action starts to build and that is the only part where the story gets interesting and exciting. For anyone who would like to read this book, I will warn you something... it contains sexual harrasment and the ending is very sad.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing

Several times in the book I found myself reading passages and then having to reread them because I had gotten bored and didn't even know what it was I had just read. I know Staples claimed to do her research, but it doesn't seem like it to me. There's so much she seems completely unaware of: Islamically, there is no "bride price" (the only bride price there is has to do with the culture of the region, not the actual religion, and nowadays in Pakistan there is very little of this kind), but the dowry is given to the woman by the man she marries, instead of the woman giving the man a dowry (the latter happens in Hindu culture, not Islamic culture) and a marriage cannot take place without the consent of either the man or the woman, so Shabanu's marriage to Rahim could have annulled because it was organized without her consent. Also, Shabanu seems unnaturally obsessed with the physical attributes of men and women both - Islam teaches its followers to be modest (as in, no hip swaying on Phulan's part and clothes that completely cover a woman's body and do not reveal her figure) and for men to lower their eyes in a woman's presence (of course, when the woman is not someone of their immediate family) and for women to do the same in front of men.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great!!!

Oka first of all this book is wondefull. I thought it was well written. I usually dont read books like this but this one was actually really good. I have no clue what so ever were people are getting that this book is sexual. maybe one or two things. I too read this book when i was in seventh grade, and this book was definitly age appropriate. Whoever says this book isnt age appropriate must a little too immature for the book.the book is what really is going on over there.so i have to say to all those immature haters GROW UP! and it was a VERY good book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Good Read For Young Adults

I read this book when I was quite a bit younger for a summer reading project, and I loved it. It really opened my eyes to middle eastern culture, and how different things can be half a world away. Shabanu is a very interesting character, and as you read you experience all the heartbreak and happiness she does. I recommend it to any young adult who wants to learn about other cultures. Haveli, the sequel, is a good read also.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

THE BESTT

i first had to read this book for a school project and i absolutly loved it i was the only person who liked their book. THe seccond is even better Haveli i couldnt pit them down!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A beautiful work of art!

I read this novel when I was 14 years old and it has stayed with me for almost 10 years. The journey that this young Muslim girl experiences throughout the novel is captivating. Her spirit was strong and empowering. I will always keep this story close to my heart because it speaks to all nations and races about following your desires through a young innocent Muslim girl.

you must ck it out

I enjoyed it very much

Worst book ever!!

The author should never write another word. It was very boring and slighty gross. Many things about a girls body. Horrible read.

This book should be on your reading list!

In third world countries, adults and children are likely to suffer the common cruel poverty that possibly leads to the ruthless cultural restrictions that sometimes are very frightening but of the utmost sacredness to the people. Especially in a strictly religious nation like Pakistan, where almost everyone is a Muslim, people would definitely risk their lives to obey the traditional customs. Shabanu, the narrator who is an 11 year old girl when the book starts, is very fortunate to experience freedom in the Cholistan desert that most girls her age don't have. However, when it comes to the daughter role in the family, Shabanu has to obey everything that her loving Dadi decides, even if it means marrying a man who is old enough to be her grandfather to save her sister's marriage and her family's financial situation. Shabanu is very stubborn and attempts to run away from the situation, but only later finds out that she would cause too much grief along her path of personal freedom. Throughout the book, Shabanu has grown from a young stubborn girl to a young perceptive woman who understands that part of being an adult is to lose her nomadic freedom in the desert, to sacrifice her life for the people she loves, and to not let those who are innocent become involved with her rebellious acts. This is a great novel for anyone who would like to perceive the world in a different way through the strong-willed Shabanu's eyes. It is highly recommended for teenagers and anyone else who is interested in a story of making a crucial decision in life between personal liberty and family's honor. The author has cleverly embedded special native terms so the readers have an exposure to what things would have been called in the real situation. Generally speaking, there isn't anything that the author does to detract from the content of the book. Overall, this novel is quite remarkable because it fully describes the first stage of adolescence, which is often to question how the world works, but unfortunately, Shabanu bitterly finds out that she has no major role in the society because of the gender discriminated society that she is living in. I really enjoyed reading this novel because the author has a great way of writing to attract people and make them want to read more to find out what would happen next to the little girl Shabanu. However, the ending isn't really what I expected it to be, but it is a justifiable ending, which helps people to understand more about Shabanu's individual struggle against society. Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind is a highly recommended book that people should read to open their eyes about another part of the world.

Shabanu

I had this in my cupboard for a while,well actually a few years so i picked it up as i did not have any thing to read,I discovered that it was a good read with a emotional and intriguing storyline and i felt like twelve again,it also is a coming of age story and by finishing it i realise how different the culture is in the story.

Timely, despite it's original publication date. The series has been optioned for movies with the author writing the scripts.

Shabanu touches a lot of emotions in the characters and in the reader. The beauty of the desert is combined with the cruelty of a desert life.

A 8th grader's viewpoint

I read this at the age of 10, and while it was really hard to read as a ten year old, I think it is a very good read for a teenager or adult, full of realism and very good writing, though not for the faint of heart.

Horrible

This is the worst book I have ever read. I had to read it for school, and I think certain parts were incredibly inappropriate, especially how Shabanu goes into detail about her breasts, her sister's breasts, and touching herself. The main character was incredibly selfish and constantly crying over foolish things, although there are people in Pakistan with lives so much worse than her's. She was blessed with a family that had money, and didn't abuse her or hate her for being a woman (because families prefer sons). Not to mention, her family was not punished for what Shabanu and Phulan did to the landlord, and Shabanu gets to marry a man who seems truly kind, yet she is still complaining. THIS GIRL NEEDS TO GET OVER HERSELF. Note to author: start writing about real Pakistani problems!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I just chose this book for a couple of reasons. 1 it was on my book sugejust list for the project i had to do. 2 the name sounded cool and 3 the cover looked good. these are probly verey stupid thing to choose a book for but the choice led to an amzing book. The things i learned about shabnu's culter and they way of her life just made my world wider. before i knew these things happen but never really came to life before i read this book. Though a lot of bad things happen and i absolutle loved this book. I really hope to get the next book for christmas! I usally never read these types of book but i will defetily now. Once again I loved this book.

A reviewer

I loved this book. I usually don't read these kinds of books but I will now. This book Rocks!!

A reviewer

This book was amazing. There are sexual references, but they are required for the plot. How many adolesants do you know that don't wonder about that area? The only way these references can be uncomfortable is if the reader is not mature enough or interested enough to read it. It shows a lot about middle eastern nomadic culture, and draws the reader in...enthralling them in an ever-changing plot.

A reviewer

This was a pretty emotional book, it makes you think twice about how good we have it here in America. Shabanu is a young girl who has to get married at a very young age. She is to marry her older cousin by the name of Murad who is only a few years older than her, whom she does like. But her sister Phulan, who is only a year older than her also has a fiancé Hamir, who is Murad's brother. But when the brothers landlord finds Phulan and Shabanu, he want to take one of the girls to his bed. Shabanu throws water on him and she and her sister run for their camp. Now the landlord is very angry and wants to take out vengeance. Hamir finds out and is very outraged at the idea that his landlord is going after his fiancé. He goes after him and gets killed. Phulan is devastated and goes into a deep depression. But then later on the family decides that Murad will marry Phulan and they will find another husband for Shabanu later. Shabanu comes across the landlords brother who is fifty something and a sweet man, but when he sees Shabanu he wants to take her as his wife. He has four other wives and Shabanu is afraid she will be shunned. She longs to be free but she cannot escape her fate. I liked this book because Shabanu enters your heart and makes you yearn for her to be free. She is a wonderful girl who does not want to grow up for fear that she will have to marry this man. This story makes you want to sweep her away and bring her back to America, or to a country that she can truly be free and grow up into a beautiful young woman and love whom ever she chooses so she will not have to close her heart to love. These things really do happen to these young girls in the Middle East and in your heart you will want to change the ways of that kind of marriage and let the women pick whom ever their heart desires. They need the life they deserve.

Amazing Book

To be honest, I read this when I was in middle school so my views and perceptions from it may have changed since then, but when I read it it was honestly one of the most enjoyable books I've read. It kept my attention the entire time, never got boring, and I was able to easily connect with the main character. It remains one of my fondest memories of a book, and I recommend it to everybody, especially teen girls.

Intersting and over written

I read this book for my 9th grade summer reading program. I personally did not enjoy it because of the political issues.

Horrible Book!

I read this book for English class when I was in 7th grade and I have to say that this was the worst book I've ever had to read. I think that it was way too perverted for a 7th grader and that it would be too easy (accademically wise) for any student older than that. Honestly, I hear the 7th graders on my bus now (I am currently in 10th grade) and I hear the same story every year... in my opinion, save yourself and don't read this book!