Review: THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES by Joëlle Stolz

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stolz, Joëlle. 1999. The Shadows of Ghadames. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385901313.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Stolz gives the reader a glimpse into Muslim life through the story of Malika, a twelve year old girl living in the city of Ghadames. Malika and her father’s two wives secretly hide an injured man in their rooftop storeroom. The everyday life of the Muslim women is portrayed through the telling of what happens during those days of nursing this strange man back to health; hopefully in time to help him escape before Malika’s father returns from his journey.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Shadows of Ghadames not only tells the story of a young girl coming of age in Libya, but also recounts situations which are similar among various cultures, such as family relationships and the struggle for independence and individualism. Malika’s story is one that would be of particular interest to young girls in the Western culture because several of the customs are directly related to preteen girls. However, male readers will also be interested in the role of males in the Muslim culture shown through the eyes of Malika’s brother and father. The story also provides scenarios of treachery and courage through the story of the mysterious stranger who the women choose to help.

The descriptions of the rooftop lives of the Ghadames women give the reader a glimpse into this unfamiliar world. The reader also gains an understanding of how the women feel about these culturally defined roles through Malika’s father’s two wives. Meriem holds fast to these traditions, while Bilkisu is more daring and bends the rules a little suggesting change is soon to come. Stolz also provides cultural identifiers through her descriptions of the festivals, baths, and geography of the area.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “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 review: “Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl verging on adolescence. 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.”

5. CONNECTIONS
Students should research modern and ancient customs of the Muslim people to gain a better understanding the world that Malika lived in and how it has changed over the years.

Using web resources such as www.al-bab.com/arab/language/lang.htm or http://i-cias.com/babel/arabic/01.htm, students can learn some of the basic words and even learn to write their own name in Arabic.