Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

I read this for class, and, wow, I didn't like it at all. Here is a summary (taken from the authors website):

Unlike the winds that sweep across the dunes of the Cholistan Desert, Shabanu has learned that it is not for her to determine the direction of her life. It is her father who will decide. For countless generations that has been the law of her people.

Soon her older sister, Phulan, will marry. By next year's rains, Shabanu too will have a husband. Her father has arranged it. Shabanu knows he means well, and she accepts his decision. As a daughter that is her duty.

But Shabanu's willingness to submit is tested when the marriage plans are wrecked and in a hastily arranged attempt to uphold the family's honor Shabanu is pledged to the brother of a wealthy but despised landowner. To accept her father's decision would bring prestige to her family but will consign Shabanu to a life of servitude and emotional bondage. But to follow her heart and rebel against her father would shame her family and betray her culture.

I had to read this for class and; as I said before, I don't like it. There isn't a certain reason why I didn't like he book. But, I think one of the reasons is because I had to read it for class and I didn't choose to read it myself. If I were to read it outside of school, I would probably have no problem with it. Some things I liked about the book were that I had never read anything like it, and it kind of let me see what life was like. So, I don't strongly recommend this book, but, it was refreshing.


Silence is silver, but Books are golden...